The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-15
THREE sHoE-sTRING GAMBLERS.
How They Set Out to "ROpe In"
Farmer and How They Failed.

From the New York Times.
A resident of Detroit, who was formerly
a conductor on the Michigan Central
Railroad, while in a reminiscent mood the
other evening. told several stories. Among
them was the following;
"One trip down l had three shoe-stri1s
gamblers that had made a big killing with
the red-sash boys and were on their way TO
the city to blow 1t in. OF course they set
the trap just usual, getting their eards
out and playing among themselves. 1t was
innocent old sledge but l know from long
observation that they were only angling
for a sucker. Pretty soon the man IN the
country clothes with slouch hat and raw
hide boots put in an appearance. lie
grinned and chuckled and showed such an
interest in the game that he was asked
to Join in and make it four-handed. Same
old programme, you know. He accepted
with alacrity and showed by his manner
how grateful he was for an opportunity 10
pass the time pleasantly.
1.-The bottle went round and he grew
confidential. just as the victim does hlhe
cases out of ten. He had sold a nice chuuh
of pine and was taking the proceeds to de-
1,osit in Detroit bank where he knew the
teller that was cashier. He was wei hNeu
now. wouldn't have to work no more ana
could help the old folks back East. where
they'd had a hard scramble all their lVes'
1--WE had to give those thieves OF the
road a good deal OF rope in those days Tor
they spent a lot of money with the com
Danv. and we generally turned our pima
pIra Ia them unless it came to row.
EVEN then we. generally let matters take
their course after we had restored ofuer'
nut In this case my heart went out TO the
big. eood-natured farmer who remembered
the old folks in his time of prosperity 1
decided that he shouldn't be robbed, and
passed the word to the crew. For once
made up my mind TO be judge, jury, ana
executioner if il came to a show down.
I'm due time the inevitable cold deck
was rung in. the farmer getting four
kings and one Of the conspirating TRIO Tour
aces OF course the latter suggested that
he had a little poker and wondered II any
one around the board would like to invest.
Both the others intimated Willingness 20
take a chance, but the farmer threw ms
four kings on the board with laugh, and
said that he was no expert in that game,
but he was not the sort of critter TO take
advantage of a sure thing 'n1ongst friends
when they was Jest havin leetle SOCIAL
time. l was more determined than ever
that the honest old fellow should not be
swindled in cold blood.
I'm a little time one Of the sharks pro-
posed that the game be changed to poker.
They needn't play high, but 1t would put
some ginger into the sport and make IL
more interesting. 1 shook my head at the
farmer but he was bent on being socia-
BILE and simply served notice that il they
made it too hot for him he would drop
out They went from straight poker into
lack pots without anything serious occur
ring but / knew 1t would come and Kept
both eyes open. Pretty soon one of the
sharpers opened pot and everybody stald
in, the farmer because he had a good
hand and the others just to make the
thing look straight. | distinctly saw one
of the men hand card to another, but of
course could say nothing at that stage of
the game.
"The fellow that opened made a good
bet the other two simply staid in, but the
farmer raised, despite my warning look.
They had him hooked, and a game fish he
proved All remained in to keep up a show
Of fairness till it had gone around several
times with good stiff betting when the
farmer gave them a $500 'histe' at one
crack. and two threw down their cards
In order that they might keep the sure
thing man i'm money. The honest old farm
er kept hammering right away at them TIL
his delighted opponent had to call for want
Of funds Down went the hands, and the
shark reached for the pile, enough TO
| stock a young bank, when the farmer
| called a halt 1t was expected that he was
| to hold a jack fun against queen full, but
| he had held out with view to just such
| an emergency, and showed the four jacks.
You never heard such a howl and a
| kick. They were going TO annihilate him,
and 1 sprang up to protect the farmer. but
! Immediately saw that l was not needed
! He stood there laughing, but with his
| eyes ablaze and a gun in each hand. He
| had the drop and the way he combed
those fellows down for a lot of jays and
| blacksmiths was a caution. After he had
tainted them numerically and assured
them that all three put together didn't
| know enough TO beat a two-spot lie
stuffed the money into his pockets, tossed
| them a fifty-dolar bill, and told them to
| take "A drink on Canada Bill when they
| got to town. You've all heard of him, and
| that's the way first met him He was
the king bee in those days and one of the
incest old farmers ever you clapped youl
| eyes on"