The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-07-19

that fact. He had placed upon his per-
son all the outward evidences of the ur-
banite; but silk purse never yet was
manufactured of a sow's ear, and this
man, without a hayseed in his hair, was
a hayseed beyond all question.
When the New Workers looked upon
this man they knew they had something
superfine. and they remembered the ad-
vice Of Shandy. They determined to give
him plenty Of rope until he hung him
self.
What's this?" exclaimed Farmer
Vredenburgh. siding up to Franks
faro outfit. I've lived in st. Louis all
my life, but don't just know this thing"
Frank solemnly cracked up the game
"Do-do have to put up any money!"
asked the farmer. in an uncertain voice
Frank shook his head. Not unless you
lose" he said.
Il amt a-goin' to lose" exclaimed the
/ farmer. Frank didn't intend that the
farmer should-not for awhile. So he
! started up game, and the farmer won a
dollar; another, and he won two dollars;
another, and he won five I After the
farmer had won perhaps half dozen
small games, Frank concluded it was
just as well to let the next game be a
/ losing one for the victim and a winning
one for him.
Now for another" he said But the
farmer. who had won every game. shook
his head. NO" he answered. 'T've won
whole lot of your money; blamed if 1
want to clean you out. I'll quit, and lei
you up. So long"
After that he struck the shell game
that Schley had going in a tent. "Ill
pick out that there ball every time" he
announced. Schley bet that he wouldn't.
But he did, because Schley let him.
Schley in all gave up SIS to this green
horn millionaire. Finally Schley waved
his hand.
Bet you $50" exclaimed Schley, "that
you can't place the little ball this time. i"
The farmer dropped his hands. BET |
can't either" he responded, $50 I'll
leave" And he did.
But Ebbsmith, the envelope man. had
an experience that was absolutely hu-
initiating. Ebbsmith had not been so
well heeled as the others. and when the
farmer put up a quarter and Ebbsmith
let him pick out an envelope with a $50
bill in it, Ebbsmith was tossing big bait
over the side-big bait for him. The
farmer pocketed 1t without word. and
went away. Ebbsmith followed him
about all the afternoon, trying to get
that $50 back by fair means or foul. but
he couldn't make it. The farmer refused
to bulge an inch
| Then the New Workers put their heads
together. Day after day went by without
the farmers indulging further in the
games which were to have proved his
reason They watched him for awhile
and found that he patronized all the 9TH
er crooks upon the ground. So they
concluded that it was time to act.
Mickey Walters was detailed to way.
lay and rob him. Mickey started out tc
do 1t. He came back.
"I can't find him." walled Mickey:
he's disappeared. I can't find him any.
wheres-that's what. Though if 1 found
him" Mickey swung a vicious fist
into the unoffending air "Say what
The farmer, it is true, had disappeared
But he was not far away. For one day
he bought short lease on little side
show tent in the middle of the grounds
Then he closed the flap and stepped In
side. Then he disrobed In five minutes
Vredenburgh. the farmer man, had dis
appeared. And another man stood in tn,
farmers place. In five minutes the fiaJ
was open once more and the lessee o.
the tent was ready for business. Two O
the New York crowd who passed tina
way stopped and held their breath.
Good Lord" they exclaimed, IF oil,
Sol Shandy didn't get out here, after all
Shandy, helloi Who staked you
Shandy. What's the graft with you"
Shandy mysteriously smiled 81 cam
out here to st. Louis shorn," he an
swered; "but. say, I've gathered in con
siderable wool"
When the rest Of the New York crow,
heard about It, they groaned. "Gee,
they said, "if Shandy's here, he'll ge
all the good that's going" Then an idei
occurred to them Mickey" the,
yelled. "get that farmer man and sicl
him onto Shandy. That chap'n hav
old Shandy cleaned out in just abou
three licks."