The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-31
THE MAGIC KNIFE GAME.
An Old story With VariatiOns-Jamcs
Frazer Visits the City Again.

From the Buffalo Express.
Twenty years ago. when James Fraser
went TO the city he spurned every stranger
who accosted him because he had been
told that cities were full of thieves and
sharpers. AS he aged his suspicious les
sened till week ago he felt that he
was as mart as any one and had moth
ing to fear The fact that he had never
been in the city more than a dozen times
did not impress him that he might still
be just a wee bit ignorant His farm Is
i'm Ohio He left 1t several days ago to
visit his daughter in Oneida N. Y, and
stopped in Buffalo three hours on Friday
to change cars He was idhng in the
Erie station about O'Clock in the after
noon when a one-eyed man sat down be-
side him. The man appeared 10 be wait
ing for a train. He was quiet for a long
time. Finally, he threw his paper down
beside him. turned to Fraser and said,
indifferently:
"Tiresome waiting for trains, isn't it?'
yes, sir; I've found it so. How long
you been waiGng?"
Nearly all day. I'm waiting for fast
train to take me to New York
Fraser was pleased with his one-eycd
acquaintance. and the latter saw many
good things In Fraser. So the two talked
and talked and became so friendly that
family histories were divulged. At last
the one-eyed man looked all around, like
a man about to make great disclosure,
and said:
by Georgei ! had an experience this
afternoon that did my heart good. You
mustn't say anything about 1t. You've
heard that there are in every city sharks
| who are always trying TO catch country
people like you and me and get their
money? Well, sir, | had the satisfaction
] fNv or
ed me. You see, l was done on the same
game a year ago in this same city, and
/ was dead on to 1t. Fellow met me in
a saloon over here and got talking with
me same is you and are now. Finally,
too a knife out of his pocket and said
he'd bet me SIS to $40 1 couldn't open 1t.
Why, I've got one of the very same knives
in my pocket now. l had to laugh. put
up $40 and he put up $25. Then he hand
ed me the knife and l opened 1t in
jiffy"
And did he let you get out with the
1857" asked Frazer.
ooh. yes; he was honest Said l was all
right"
"By George! you had that thing down
pat! Why don't you try him again?''
"Oh, no; he'd know me"
"Wen, say, couldn't L? He wouldn't
know me-"
I'm show you how to open the knife il
YOU want me TO anu you can use gOht pNfA
Judgment about trying the game. II you
can find the fellow it's easy money for
YOU. There's no mistake about that"
The one-eyed man took from his pocket
a magic knife, which he explained in eV-
cry detail Frazer fused with II III ne
couldn't help opening II. Next he looked
in his wallet TO make sure that his bills
were safe. Meanwhile, the one-eyed man
| apparently had found something In his
paper to interest him.
Now" said Frazer, III you will show
me that place, I'll go over and make a
few dollars"
Lets see said the one-eyed man, look
ing at his watch, yes. I've got time If
can find that saloon Now, II you thlak
you want 10 try 1t, we'll 60"
''Why. certainly" rejolned Frazer, Il
can't lose, can ~
Fraser and the one-eyed man went out,
As they walked the one-eyed man gave
| this advice TO Fraser:
"You just hang around the place ana
! when YOU see a tail man with glasses and
a heavy black mustache you just gel IN
] conversation with him. He'll do the rest.
Fraser entered the saloon The tall nan
/ with the black mustache was inside, sit
| ting at a table Fraser sat beside him End
( ordered a glass Of beer. He invited the
/ stranger 10 drink with nm, when the
stranger did.
I'm Just hanging around waitin' for my
train" Fraser ventured; I'm from up in
Ohio. Big city, this?"
yes, this is quite a town, they tell me;
I'm a stranger here
And thus the two men talked. At length
the stranger leisurely took out small
knife of fancy handle which he purposely
/ exhibited. Fraser jumped at the bait like
a trout after the first fly Of the season.
by George; that's a pretty knife you
got there"
The stranger passed It over 10 Fraser,
| first unlocking it so anyone could open IL
| AT viii. Fraser handled II several mo-
ments and passed It back. He saw, for
certainty that II was the counterpart of
! the knife that his one-eyed friend had
explained to him. In moment the
/ stranger laid Il on the table and said:
| I'm bet you can't open IT,"
Fraser picked It up. glanced at 1t and
retorted:
How much7'
'Tn put up 800 TO s25 you can't"
| "Weu, pat W"
The stranger at once laid 800 IN bills
on the table and IN a jiny Fraser lay two
| tens and a five on the heap.
but say" said the stranger, picking up
the money and the knife carefully. let's
| sion into this side room where no onel u
/ see w. The police might arrest rs for
gambling"
Fraser followed yard behind the
] Granger. The latter went through a side
door which cl0sed behind him. When
fraser opened tho door be saw that u led
10 an alley. No one was 10 be- seen IN this
alley. And thus had James Fraser. cru
dlie in mis- own mind, been bpncoed lie
rufhei % tbe street 20 md ~ ono'eyed
Buf tho one-eyed friend had gone 20 a.
t.lIa iaD Trae0rIa al. nlfn fhf fHlf man