Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-08
DAILY SHORT STORY
MY UNCLE THg BUNko sTEERER
$1,000
TOrigiual.l

Twas born on a farm, and till l was
twenty-three years old llad never beenl
TO the city. Being Of aitimid and nerv-
Gus temperament, what 1 read of the
city made NE feel that 1 didn't want
to go there. Items in newspapers of
country people being cheated in the
shops, robbed, bunkoed. made 4 deep
impression upon me. L determined that
if ever 1 was obliged to visit the city
1 would turn deaf ear TO all persons
claiming to have known me before and
keep a tight grip on my pOcketbook.
All this was disappointing to my
mother. My uncle, Samuel Trask, an
old bachelor with Il profitable business,
lived in the city, and my mother was
very DESTROYS that l should cultivate
him, but 1 resoluteIyt declined TO leave
my home, and my uncle was not likely
to come to the country in order that l
should become Il favorite with him and
inherit his money.
However, one day news came of the
failure of i greengrOcer in town who
owed us considerable money for farm
produce, and my mother shamed me in
TO going to look out for cur interests.
/ was SO reluctant and took so much
time In getting off that l was not likely
to meet with much success in securing
my claim. but my mother was glad to
see me depart and would he satisfied
with whatsoever l might do.
TO Il, InF
set about the business Oh which had
come with sufficient energy and
adroitneSS to secure the payment of my
claim within Il years time. I had closed
the matter up and was sitting i'll the
rotunda of my hotel waiting for
train TO take ne home when 81 Old
gentleman of vecy respectable appear
ance walked by ne on his way to the
| office and, seeing me, stopped and
looked ut me scruunizingly. Then lie
came up to me, putting ont his hand.
well. upon my word,'' he said. 1T
| seems to me rs if | was looking at my
brother instead of my nephew. Your
| father wasn't much older than You
when he died. and you look enough like
him tc " his twin
was considerably set up by my busi
| ness success, SO instead of turning on
my heel and walking away from Il
case of bunko l was cmboldencd to
play the Steerer for awhile in order to
see how he would work me.
Il don't play cards l remarked.
Cards? OF course nOt-that Is, not
| for money" he said. with Il puzzled
| look which | thought was very we'll as
suned. How did you leave your
| mothcr:"
"We'H leave my mother out of the
discussion" l replied sharply. for I
| adorcd her and it seemed Il sacrilege to
permit the rascal TO drag her in.
What do you mean" exclaimed the
| man. Then, breaking into Il smile. he
| added: Il see. I haven't explained. I've
forgotten that you don't know me. I'm
| your uncle sam
| Thinking that n request for loan
might follow. l resolved to fOrestall the
man with his own impudcnce.
/ say. uncle, could you let me
have SO to get home with? I'm a
..reenhorn from the country and fell
into the hands Of sharper this after
noon who took all l had at three card
monte.
The old gentleman fired up.
See. here" he said sharply, "are YOU
not Benjamin TraskE'
! Il am.
Then when 1 tell you that I am
your fathers brother what do yOu
mean by such talk: If you have really
lost your money. as you say, you are
welcome to all you need"
"Very we'll, III take $40"
=. He looked at me curiously for a mo
ment. then took out his pocketboOk
and selecting a SO bill handed it IL
me. at the same time informing Inc
. that my mother had written him that
l would be in town. This satisfied me
, and / apologized and returned his loan
and consented to remain overnight
with him. He gave me Il fine dinner
at restaurant, with plenty of cham
payne after which we went to his
rooms. where he produced more wine
l told him what l had done i'll my deG
with the greengrocer and showed hin
the papers. a check for $500 and note:
for $ 100 more. payable in monthly in
stallments. He commended me for my
business ability, and we went 10 bed.
The next morning awoke in a dingy
room l had never been in before.
heard the putting of engines, and goins
| TO the window discovered that / wa:
near the railroad station at which
| had arrived the morning before. Al
| my papers We're gone, and what wa:
J worse all my money. l dressed auC
; went downstairs TO be informed tina
, an old gentleman had left me there til,
J night before.
D Well, l telegraphed to my mother fo
- funds, but was almost starved fo
? want OF a meal before 1 received them
p went home. and on entering th'
house was astonished to see the MAJ
who had robbed me sitting in the liv
+ ing room. My mother was with him
= His face took on a grin. but my mother
: with maternal pity, embraced me sym
=. pathetically.