The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-30

smiled, winking furtively at the listener as
he did So Then he reached over and tapped
the man on the shoulder.
'See here, he said, this is no good"
'Hey2" exclaimed the man, with an ac.
cent of surprise. He took the coin rendered
him, glanced at the clerk suspiciously. and,
squirting up one eye, rubbed the silver
piece with his thumb and gave it criticali
examination.
.B'gee: It's lead. amt it? Huh! Won
"Ha! ha! I'm sure don't know" vouch-
safed the clerk, suavey; femme look at 1t
again.
/ The coin was passed back over the coun-
| ter again and received another critical ex
animation.
''Y-e-e-s-s," said the clerk. sagely. ana
| with an accent of conviction, cts counter
felt all right, You'll have to give me good
| one for it?"
But at this the man flushed. stammered,
| and appeared to be embarrassed
'W-e-e-l-l, the fact is, you see" he COM
menced, laughing nervously. that was the
only quarter / had"
"Ah-h" said the clerk. ambiguously.
Yes" supplemented the man in tone
such thing as that's not being good. or
| else 1 wouldn't have bought the cigars
But-er--I'H tell you'll come by here every
| cigars, see, and the next time / come by
III hand you some of the genuine stuff for
| that piece of COIN"
He took the two cigars from his pocket
as he spoke and laid them on the counter.
then he reached forth his hand for the
U1OUeY.
IT might just as we'll take It along" he
said
But the clerk replied with little laugh
and smile much like that OF a man in a.
poker game with four aces in his hand and
three-quarters of a deck up his sleeve.
.Oh, mo- he said, placing the coin on the
window ledge back of him and putting the
two returned cigars in the showcase. 'Ill
just keep that until / hear from you again.
oh. we'll, of course began. the man
somewhat disappointedly. ''that'li be all
right, of COURSE
Yes responded the clerk, with an air
wish you'd just femme have e that other
And he indicated the weed which the man
"Dh?" faltered the man weakly. taking
the cigar from his lips and gazing at the
clerk in thunderstruck manner, "why-er-
II can put the fire out" determinedly re-
piled the clerk with another motion OF his
''Ohi Ha, ha All right" responded the
man savagely He flung the smoking weed
upon the showcase and pulled his hat down
way you do business here, all right. know
where to get my cigars next time"
talizingly and placing the smoking weed
safely behind the showcase out Of reach,
IF any one'l let you have them
Say do you know who amp"
No responded the clerk. coolly and
looking the other squarely In the eye; NO NO;
are a skate You're the same guy that
worked this game on me when ] was over
on Adams street last year. and ] haven't
forgotten it, L know you; you're cheap
| lobster and"
But the customer wilted. gave a half
frightened glance at the triumphantly
beaming clerk and fled for the door.
II thought / recognized him. said the
| cigar man. THAT little bluff about leav-
| ing the other two cigars most generally
works. He gets the one weed and his quar-
| ter, and that's all he wants. You never
see him again. I'll bet he's had that quar-
ter over a year. I'll just keep 1t and pass
| 1t going through the tunnel"
| And, as he placed it carefully in his vest
pocket, it is safe to presume he did.