The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-02-20

more time. and Jim lost no time in get
ting back 70 the hotel He found Mr.
Smith waiting for the regular afternoon
checker game, and after awhile It start
Cd They hadn't been playing more than
fifteen minutes when in walked a man
whom Jim recognized az one he had seen
al the meeting the day before This man
informed Mr Smith shat he must have 81
al once in order 10 get a missionary Of 10
the South. SIR. Smith didn't have the
money right al hand, and, not caring 10
stop the checker game 20 90 and get 81.
Borrowed tho amount from jim That
night smith took Jim around 10 a rescue
for fallen men. where Smith gave up =
ten spot, and jim, not To be blanketei,
followed suit The next morning there
vas another session OF the foreign mis-
sion crowd. and Jim. not 80 be behind his
part. went around. Well I'm hanged II
they didn't get II on Jim again, and that
night be had 20 go around and touch his
Pal again. The latter made q horrible
kick and EWore that II the chicken wasn't
plucked az once he was going 10 quit the
game once and FOR all and hold Jim re-
tuTe.
Jim didn't think that this was treating
him exactly right. after All the tiresOme
meetings he had been obliged to attend
the les ne had 20 tell. and the amount sf
acting ne mad had 30 do. bur be agreed 10
push the matter at once and the turning
point was pat IN order and everything pre-
Jared for the proper separa ton Of Mr.
smith and his money. The game Was 10
get Smith when he had q lot Of money
with him and then steer him up against
brace lottery. II ne refused 10 inVolV.
himself after the proper methods Of per-
suasiOn had been applied why the two
WORTHLESS were TO forget the rzOifsh II the
bunko steerer and just reduce ;he victim
10 state Of mind where the retention or
DISAPPEARANCE OF his money vas q matter
OF al least temporary Indifference to him.
tndoing Of ''sIim Jim.''
well, Jim found Smith around he no.
tel and repeated his proposition that they
go around the town and see some Of the
dark side u life.
" II you've got any money with you
he said 1 know man who will show US
things that neither of us has ever seen or
even suspected
" Oh, I've got money all right said 8Ir
Smith. but who is this worldly wise friend
Of yours that can show US these marvels =
We'll said Jim. feeling Of impending
success coming over him. I'm not exactly
proud of my friend. because he happens to
be the turner Of a roulette wheel around
the corner. But he's ihe best man I'm the
world for our purpose: fer we can see the
first Of the marYels OF New York right in
the place where he works
Well. It's all very interesting said
Mr.. Smith, and I'm tempted 10 accom-
pany you on your little trip. / want to
90 up 10 my room first, however. and
write a note to an idiot that has been les
teTing me for a long time After I've dis
posed Of him. and you're stir Of a mind
TO make this little excursion, why, I'll 30
with you
Well. Jim said there was absolutely no
hurry about starting, and after Smith had
gone upstairs he saIlntered over TO the CT
gar counter and blew himself 10 a quarter
cigar / guess he had smoked about half
of it. while laying of in a big armchair
when a bellboy tapped him on the Shout
der.
Excuse me, sir he said, but are you
Mr.. Batesy'
That's my name said jim What do
| you want2'
"A note. sir said the boy. The gen.
| tleman said there might be an answer,
and that j was TO call back here IN five
minutes TO see!
Beaten ut His Own Game.
Without the slightest suspicion OF any
! thing but a formal communication from
some friend, JfIn opened the letter There
| is no use in my commenting on what was
| inside. I'll give you what it said. as near
as / can remember it now. 1t read:
Dear Mr.. Bates; You ore very bright young
man. but y0Ir methods are a little crude / have
met many scoundrels in my day. but never before
! one who was so easy TO work as you. Il would be
foolish for to tickle your vanity even TO the ex-
| tent Of pretending / deceived in you for mo-
| ment; also il would be a lie! I tempted 70
/ come down and give you fen lessons in the pro-
fession you have chosen but II | yielded to all Of
| the temptations that have come 10 me in the las
/ few days, I am afraid that you would be in the
| hospital now instead Of waiting to take me on a
trip around the town. Take piece of ai~ice from
/ who is old enough 70 be your father, and
] don't think that every who white wills
kers and goes TO church is fool There is nothing
more for 10 say excepting that the money you
contributed 10 the Of foreign missions will he
properly applied Thanks for It also for the money
you gave 10 assist in the elevation Of fallen men.
In fifteen minutes will be downstairs to take tina.
walk around town with you. Will you be ready
Ny messenger will call for an answer Yours '-uly,
JOHN SMITH.
Well. Slim Jim Bates took the largest
/ tumble TO himself after he read that let
: ter that he had ever take in his life lie
/ folded il carefully, put il in his pocket,
I and walked out of the house. How he
Z squared himself with his partner ] don't
! know, but | DO know how his partner
/ got square with Jim. He just told that
story 10 every friend and acquaintance
! that Jim ever aad, and the roasting that
Jim got on the strength of il was some
! thing terrible. | understand that Jim
mailed the old foreign-mission codger a
! letter before he left the town, swearing
that he would bunko some member before
he died if he spent the balance of his
! days in Jail for ii. ! never heard whether
I he carried out his threat or not, but
/ guess he didn't The whole thing was a
/ bluff, of course"