Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-05-07
An Ocean
PaSfim e
[Original.l

tOriginaL]
Two men We're sitting in the smok-
ing room of an ocean liner.
''There should be detectives" said
one to the other, aboard these steam
ers to protect innocent people. That
lean country Jake is being feeced at
cards by those sharpies."
"Why don't you warn him?'
"Td only get myself into trouble
The other fellows would tell him that
was trying to gain his confidence to
fleece him myself"
"I'll tell you what to do. You are
the best poker player in America, and
fatter myself I'm not far behind you
Well get the fellow to sit down to u
private game with US, win his money
and return it to him when we get to
Southampton. 1t III serve to amuse us,
and we will be doing the man great
favor
That's a good idea"
The next day the two men, Mr.. Ora
ham and Mr.. Tidball, met the green
carry out n veritable bunko game, so
they suddenly turned and stared at
him; then Graham rushed up to him,
grasped his hand and said:
Why, Skinner, l didn't know you
We're aboard."
Tidball came up and seized the other
hand. skinner, how are you, old
man?''
My name hain't Skinner said the
man, looking at them With eyes full Of
surprise, almost fear.
do you mean to tell me-" said Ora
ham, standing off and looking at the
countiyman from head to foot, that
you're not Amos Skinner of Pawtuck-
et:"
"Why, no; I'm Jim Robinson of Shell
byville, Tenn"
We'll, now" said Tidball, you'd
make 4 better likeness of Skinner than
his own photograph The wines on us.
Come along"
1t wasn't long after the wine was
opened that the two kindly disposed
| men had Mr.. Robinson seated at table,
Will CuIuS before them.
Shall it be poker?' asked Graham.
Not muchr' said the victim. I'm
| not a-goin to win the money of two
| gentlemen that has treated me so fine
almost like a brother. Why, Pm con-
sidered the best poker player in Shell
byville"
The confederates looked at each 9TH
nt. rl,o,- 4 ~ -,
different poker players. but insisted on
the game, and the stranger at last CON
sented to play with a low limit. But
he declared that as soon as he had Won
$50 the game must stop and he would
| spend his winnings in Wine
They played in the stateroom of the
| contederates. who felt very sure that
| they could win at a fair game, and, if
| caught ut any irregular proceedings it
| might get them into trouble Besides.
| it would be more fun to win fairly
They found the countryman easy prey
and soon won all his loose cash. Then
he Went for his gripsaclA and produced
a large number of crisp twenty dollar
bills. They played regularly every day
for three days, and when the ship was
nearing port the countryman confessed
that he was dead broke"
Then there was a scene Robinson
bemoaned his fate, while the two bun
koers enjoyed his discontinue. Then
when he seemed utterly crushed they
gave him lecture on trusting stran-
| gers and told him of their scheme tc
| r,Ii,, fp
glad light in his eye as he grasped
both their hands, tears streaming down
| his cheeks, and declared that they We're
| the finest men on the ocean. the finest
men in America, the finest men in the
whole world
Graham and Tidball emptied their
! pockets of the money they had won
and We're about to hand 1t back to the
loser when he stopped them.
"Iou gentlemen" he said, "have
shown me what a galoot am and how
little I'm fitted to take keer Of money.
But this is only one way of gittin' 1t
out of Inc. In week some Teller III
git it in some other way. Now, want
you to do me favor. Keep all eN-
Ctpl tllouSH W Take lue lO lOlluOu
You're gon' there; so am L. When we
git there, got friend, and I'm a. goir
to put it in his bank. I'll never truss
myself ag'in with more N enough tc
pay expenses"
The friends reluctantly consented
and with tears of thankfulness the
farmer departed.
The next morning the ship was IL
port. Mr. Robinson did not appear.
and the two friends hunted for him
high and low; then, leaving their Lon
don address for him with the purser,
they started to so ashore. Graham,
while on the gangplank. turning, saw
one of the men from whom they had
saved Robinson pointing to himself and
his friend. The next moment two men
clapped hands on their SHOULDERS. then
handcuffed them.
whats thts2" they Doth cried,
aghast.
There was no reply. They were TAX
| en- to q police STATION their hand hap-