Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-09-23
A NEAT BUNKO GAME
HOW The MAN WHO THOUGHT HI
KNEW IT AL WAS FOOLED.

Betting Went and Gave No clsw
ss 60 How the TIP Was Passed TO
Break or Not so Dr~sk the J.x.
It's good thing for ms, 1 suppose.
that whenever we get IL ell settled and
arranged I'm our minds that were too
'sverlastingly bright and crafty to be
done by anybody we usually get fall
that takes the perklness out OF u.s." said
Washington department store buyer
who makes frequent trips TO New York
Up TO n certain day last week. for ex-
ample. had pretty thorough under
standing with myself that there was no
old kind OF New York bunko game
that I'D bite on. I'D been going 20 New
York too often and for TOO long a time
for anything like that. Well. listen.
"a week ago Monday morning last
was standing after breakfast on the
Thirty-sixth street side OF the MARI
borough hotel, i'm New York. taking a
sun bath for myself and mapping out
my programme for the day. Two or
three other men were standing near me
doing the same.
Our attention was lazily enlisted as
we stood there 10y the spectacle OF a
boy wearing chefs cap and apron
recklessly swinging an empty crockery
pitcher above his head. The boy was
rugged up Ike a hotel kitchen appren-
ticc.
What Internal whelps most boys
are. anyhow remarked a sporty look
ing man standing near me TO n plain
looking individual who was standing
alongside OF him. Now. just look at
that cub fooiing with that pitcher It's
cinch that he'll drop II and smash Il
TO smithereens before he gets to Sew
enth avenue
oh. dunno was the reply OF The
plain looking man. L guess the kid
knows what he's about He's got
pretty good clutch ON the handle Of the
pitcher. He'll hang on 10 II all right
Bet you five he drops IL before he
reaches Seventh avenue was the quick
response Of the man with the sporty
look.
I guess I'll take that bet answered
the plain looking man. and he produced
his wad. The sporty looking citizen
peeled V from his roll and both men
put up their money with the uniformed
carriage opener stationed outside the
Marlborough. Then they took up the
jog together toward Seventh avenue to
keep an eye on the boy. who was still
swinging the pitcher wildly. | held
my ground and watched the proceed
ing. Ii looked like a pretty good bet
Tor the plaip looking man until. when
the boy was only about ten feet from
the corner OF Seventh avenue. the
pitcher few out OF his hand as he was
trying some singularly difficult piece
OF Juggling with II and was dashed
into hundred fragments on n door
step. The sporty looking man and the
plain looking individual returned to
where ! was standing and the former
took the two VS. from the stakeholder
with a grin. saying:
i thought sure | was going TO lose
out on that when the Kid got so near
Seventh avenue without anything hap
pening 10 the pitcher
Two days later l was standing
alongside a hotel AT the corner OF
Eighth avenue and One Hundred and
Twenty-fifth street. in Harlem. waiting
Tor downtown electric car. when I
saw that selfsame youngster. with the
identical kitchen apprentices toggery.
going along Eighth avenue. again Wild
ly swinging pitcher. Then I cast
my eyes about me. and there. only
three feet 10 the let OF me and leaning
against an l. stanchion, was the sporty
looking man. He blinked laziIy at me
when he saw that had observed the
boy with the pitcher.
What Internal whelps most boys
are. anyway he said To me in precisely
the same words and the same tone he
had used In making the remark cou-
pie or days before TO the plain looking
man who had lost his V Now. lust
look ut that cub fooling with that
pitcher. It's cinch that he'll drop II
and smash IL 10 smithereens before he
reaches the next corner
what foxy way this fellow has
OF making a livingv l unused. But III
Just give him little run for his money.
so l will
That's the betting end OF it, said
aloud TO the sporty looking man. that
I'd be willing 10 take myself
oh, well,' he replied laughingly,
any old thing 10 pass the time away.
It's about an even thing one way or the
other. suppose
Just about said l.
Well he said good naturally, then
I'll bet you V that he doesn't smash
1t before he reaches the next corner
You're on, said /, and we put W
our five spots with the news dealer on
the corner.
This said TO myself as fell into
step with the sporty looking man, is
like wheedling gran'ma out of a nickel
for cookies. There's no way that this
crafty con man can pass the tip TO that
Kid not 10 drop that pitcher. according
to the usual frame up. without my get
ting next 10 the dodge and calling him
down on it, | think / see a new five
dollar hat for myself this afternoon
MY reflections along this pleasant
lllne, however. were interrupted. The
boy was already crossing the street,
still swinging the pitcher wildly and
whistling merrily. He reached the 9th
er side and went right along his way,
taking tremendous chances with the
pitcher and whistling with all the fer
vor OF youth. and had lost.
How had the sporty looking man
passed the signal to the kid not to 6ror
the pitcher on that occasion? | give IL
up. | didn't stop to inquire OF him.
felt too cheap TO stop for any purpose
whatever, but swung on board the
downtown surface car with a whole
lot OF the kinks of conceit combed out