The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-20

on n modern equipped farm seven miles
north Of this city. He IS quiet ard uapre-
| t~entious. the last man that one would pick
OF: as a mark for an INSCRIPTIONS swim
: dior. Yesterday morning, a ~well-groomed
! man of middle age drove 20 Homann's
I place. but the farmer was helping a neigh
Dor repair Il pump.
As he was returning he met the stranger
in the highway.
You are Mr.. Homann. aren't your
sm!lingly Intercepted the stranger.
The farmer asSented.
Il am Mr.. Johnston Of the Second Ma
tlonal Bank OF Charleston explained the
stranger. Il represent a wealthy widow
who desires to buy the farm OF your neigh
Dor. Newt Ames, and. as / understand. no
one is a better judge OF land than your
self 1 would esteem It a distinct favor
II you would accompany me and help me
make the deal"
Homan demurred at first and the
stranger accompanied him TO Homann's
home. where the hospitable German treat
cd him to some rare old wine. The pseudo
banker produced some fragrant cigars and
they Smoked and chatted. Then they drove
TO the Ames farm. but Ames was not at
home.
As hey drove back toward Homann's
place they met another stranger In q buggy
coming from an opposite direction He
halted them and asked TO be shown the
NAl ~ u Vel AdALA AdLm. NQEEE ne SAIL MS
relatives lived.
I've got oceans OF money he said. with
a foolish leer. and exhibited a roll OF green
backs
Col darn it," he hIccoashed. II may not
be able 10 read or write. but 1 got the
sponduiicks for a hill Of a time The
women like me and they can get my money.
I'm a card player. too" and he accom-
panied the remark with a conscious grin
that convinced Homann hat he was not
far removed from imbecility.
Say. I'll show you the siickcst game that
to me yesterday at Nation It's a win
ner."
Il don't care 10 see the game" re-
marked Johnston frigidiy. Homann said
he didn't care 10 either.
oh. but just let's play at It for fun" per
sisted the "imbecile," and he opened his
coat and displayed belts llnsd with green
backs. Then he produced q tin box and
showed two rolls Of money. There Is So
Co In those lunches" he said.
FARMER WON $4,000, But
DID NOT L THE MONEY.
After some talk and half-hearted encour-
asement from Mr.. Johnston" the game
was played The 'imbecile' lost 500 TO
Homann- Before paying him the money,
he told honann that he wanted some as
surance that Homann would have been
able 10 pay the age had he been IN
fortunate enough TO have lost.
The money Is in the bank at NATION"
said Homann.
at this t~uncture the "fmbecIle' gave q
superb exhibition Of an easy thing ripe
to be plucked. and succeeded In arousing
the farmers cupidity to the highest pitch.
II was arranged that Homann and Mr..
Johnston should drive to this city. Ho- I
mann was to get the money from the ban.S
and then the 'fmbecIle" would pay over
the 5000. Strange TO say. the 'imbecile"
was willing to allow them to take the TN
box containing the $1,000 with them, and
agreed TO wait at the spiel" place until
they returned.
As Homann and the urbane Johnston"
were driving UP Broadway In this city. they !
happened to pass Newt Ames, who was J
standing with his back toward them. Ho- /
mann called iJohnston's'' attention to the
net mat there was the man whom lie