The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-25
SMITH WAS THERE ON TIME.
How Two Sharpe=s Beat Third in
Confidence Game.
Lon the Meaphis Commercial-AppeaL


The slickest confidence man that ever
perambulated down the pike was in Mem
phis last week and did some smooth bust
ness Of the bunco variety, according 70
PatrOlman Pat Koran, that makes the
clumsy Memphis method pale into inslg-
niicance. officer Koran refuses 20 give
names but he says that the victim in the
case was a kIng-bee Memphis con man
who thinks he is more than two or
three, and who happened to be out look
ing for hayseeds.
The con. man dropped into certain no
tel n Memphis to lay for fish and
had gotten himself up to pass for com
mercial traveller. He was soon spotted Dy
the slick one." who seemed to have
lofty scorn for the innocent "Rubes' and
loved TO make monkeys out Of the swell
head frauds who think they know 1t all.
Not long after the slick one spotted the
Memphis shark a hayseed Rube OF the
most harmIess-lookin type came into the
hotel lobby and glared through his spec
tacles at the men sitting around Failing
to see the face he was looking for the ola
Rube stood a moment in the centre of the
! floor and then walked over to the clerk
/ desk. He took a Iong-range chance at the
cuspidor and missed, and then, addressing
+ the clerk, asked: Has Bill Smith been
here looking for me?'
/ The clerk looked up and, seeing d chance
for some fun, began to humor the old man
| The Memphis shark grew interested and
| drew near. Soon the whole hotel knew
| the old mans story. Bill Smith was
| stranger he had net in the morning who
/ had borrowed $50 from him to pay
freight bill, promising tc meet RUDE at
| the hotel and pay It back. Rube was Ger
tain ne would be IN soon, because 1t was
| now past the appointed time.
TIE old mans apparent innocence
| amused the crowd and he was advised 10
| go and forget Bill Smith. as he would
! never see Bill any more. The old man re-
| piled, good humOredIy, that he guessed
! he would wait awhile for Bill, and, wink
| ing at the crowd, he pulled out we'll
filled wallet with the remark that he
had plenty left if Bill should go back on
his word.
The eyes of the Memphis shark glis-
tened at sight of the wallet, and, ap-
preaching Rube, he began to manifest the
tenderest sympathy in his case and as
sured him that Bill Smith was rescally
thief and that the town was full OF such
| sharks.
Rube grew nervous under the repeated
| filings al his friend Bill Smith and in his
excitement pulled his money and swore
he would bet every dollar Of it on
Smiths honesty.
Well" said the Memphis shark, I'll
just bet you $50 that Smith don't show
up with your money"
Reuben took the bet and, with tren-
| bling fingers pulled out the fifty, and the
stakes were put in the hands Of the clerk
| After this Rube grew silent and ner-
| YOusly passed up and down the lobby
| Presently. as Rube was standing some
distance from the desk pensiveIy rolling
| his quid and gazing through the skylight.
| smartly dressed man walked briskIy
| through the door and up 10 the
! clerks desk, cycling the bystand-
ers critically as he passed. Seiz-
ing a pen he rapidly wrote on
the register. William J. Smith, Hush
puckana, Miss"
AS ne was writing Rube had once more
advanced toward the desk. and, seeing
the form at the counter, he STROBE eager
" forward, peered into the face Of the
newcomer, and, shaping him on the
back exclaimed: BY gosh. II IL amt BIZ
Smith at last
The rest Of the story is simple. Smith
/ recognized Rube thanked him for the
loan. and Immediately pulled out his
purse and paid over the promised fifty he
had borrowed.
The Memphis shark turned pale as
Rube cIaimad the wager. but it had 70
/ 20 Later the Memphis shark got Ii tie
note advising him that Rube thanke3
him for the little dOrati0n ana advised
him 10 try the trick on some of his fell
Iow-sharks and play for even.