The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-02-24
BIIL Smith CAME TO TINE.
How Two sharpers Got the Better Of a ThfF4
In a Confidence Game.

From tis Mon phis Commerc,1! AppsoL
The slick est confidence man that ever
peram bulated Town the pike was In Memphis
last week and did some smooth business OF
the bunCo variety, according To Patrolman
Pat Horan. that makes the clumsy Memphis
method pale into nsignihcance Oni'er
Horan refuses TO give names. bur he saws
that the victim in the case was a king-bea
Memphis con. man who thinks he Is mora
than two or three, and who happened 10 Ia
out looking for hayseeds.
The con man dropped into a certain hotel
in Memphis 10 law for "A Ash" and had gotten
himself up 10 pass for a commercial traveller.
He WIS soon spotted hv the slick one. who
seemed 10 have II lofty sCorn for the innocent
"Rube-" and loved TO make monkeys out OF
the swell-head frauds who think they know
il all. Not long after the slick "one' spotted
the Memphis shark q hHvseed Rube Of the
most harmless looking tyne came into thu
hotel lobby and clarcd through his epertacI"s
az the men sitting around. Failing To soc
the face he was looking for the oid Rube
stood a moment in IN" centre Of the DOR
and then walked over To the clerks desk.
He took n long-range chance at the cuspidor
an missed. and then. addressing the clerk.
asked Has Bill Smith been here looking
for me-"
ne clerk looked up and. seeing n chance
for som. fun. hegan to humor the old man.
The Memphis shark grew interested and
drew near soon the whole hotel knew thr
old mans story. Bill Smith was a ~trangtI
he had met In the morning who had borrowed
$50 from him To pay a freight bill, promising
Ia meet Ruhe a the hote! and pay II back
Rube wa certain h" would be w -2onn. h@-
cause II was now past the appointed time
The old mans apparent Innocence" amused
the CROWD and he was advised TO go on auni
forget Bill Smith. a. he would never see hll
any more The OLD man replied Eont nv
morsdly that he guessed he would wait aw hls
fnr BIIi. and. winkiug al the crowd. he pulled
ont a we'll filled wallet with III" remark that
he had plenty left II Bill should 40 back On
his word
a. sight OF the wallet, and, approaching Ruha.
lee began to manifest the l"nderest .HSmuni' .
~ his cas-" 9nd assured MN MAJ b.I Sin.'l
WIS u. ~ra-Cally thief and that the town " .
fun or such shark.
Rube grew nervous. under the, repeated
fing- ~ hi friend Bill Smith and In his 9 -
oit"uueut pulled hl- money and .swore 10
would bet every dollar ui II on smiths honest.
We'll. said the Memphis shark. TN rlst
bet YOU $50 that Smith don't show up vita
yoIr money
Rrubrn ,?ok Tho bet nud. with ,remhrns
I'm g-r.. pulled out the fitN. aud the stakes
wrr. put IN ~" hands Of the clerk
After thi1 kYbe grew silent and n%eryonsl-
Rub. was standing some distance from fhs
desk. pei,sivclv rolling hi~ uUId aud gazing
through the -kyllcht. Il smartlv dressed mari
walked hrls klN through tie door and NJ -
III" clerk desk. evening IA" by~taudrr>.oi'-
i,,alIN a. h" passed N"iIng pen he nm
idly wrui" gu the register, William j. Smith.
Hu~hpuckHra, Mis-
rs he wu~ writing Ruhe had once mora
advanced toward Ma" deck and. seeing 80
form ~ ia" counter, 70" ~frpd" eagerly '.'-
ward. p""r"d into III" ll'" ~ to" new ""'r"
aud. >lHpptug Inn un the bach. exclaimed
BY gosh. u It amt HIl Smith ~ last
The resi- ol the story va simple" Sm.'i
recognized Ruhe. thanked him Tor tho lrI.
and immediately pulled out h~ purs" H"i
paid over M" promised iilv be- had borr"N'af
The Memphis shark turned Iaic ~ E.'a
claimed 'he WAGER. hg' o. had to go lI''-
H." Memphis shark guf e ava" not" ndvl~I' =
him that Rub" thanked him Tor TIE I'Is
donation. and advised him to try the ir"k a
some If M fellow sharks and play for ','t.