Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-18

Friends" -- ,hc editor turned to the
crowd. sss ing-"fricnds. here's a man
we ran out of town oErn because he
knew too much about things Of this
sort. He's come back TO us again. and
he's here to stay. He'll Aive us an OBJ.
jcct lesson on the shell game"
ITS pretty simple" remarked Mr..
Watts. "The best way is to pick up
the ball with your second finger and
the back part of your thumb. as you
pretend to lay the shell down over IT
this way" He illustrated and showed
several methods Of manipulation with
professional sang froid, and as he
made plan the vulgar swindle by which
many had been duped that morning
there arose an angry and threatening
murmur.
you all see" said HAIRLESS, raising
his voice, what a simple cheat it is
an old, wornout one. Yet a lot of you
lost your own money on it and then
stood by, staring like idiots, and let
Hartley Bowlder lose $685. and not one
of you lifted hand. How hard did
you work for what these two cheap
crooks took from you? All" he cried.
"it is because you were greedy that
they robbed you so easily. You know
IT'S true. It's when you want to get
something for nothing that the con
ndence men steal the money you sweat
for and make you the laughingstock
of the country. And you, Jim Bard
lock, town marshal; you, who con.
fess that you went In the game GO
cents worth yourself His face was
wrathful and stern as he raised bis &C.
cusing hand and leveled 1t at the IN.
happy municipal.
The town marshal smiled uneasily
and deprecatingly about him and. see.
ing only angry, frowning brows, hear
ing only words Of condemnation, passed
his hand unsteadily over his fat mus.
tache. shifted from one leg to the other
and back again. looked up, looked
down, and then, an amiable and pleas.
ure loving man, beholding nothing but
accusation and wrath in heaven and
earth and wishing nothing more than
to sink into the waters under the
earth, but having no way Of reaching
them. and finding his troubles quite
unbearable and himself unable to meet
the manifold eye Of man, he sought re-
lief after the unsagacious fashion OF
larger bird than he. His burly form
underwent series OF commissions not
unlike sobs. and he shut his eyes tight
and held them SO. presenting 4 picture
Of misery unequaled in the memory OF
any specta ter. The editors outstretch.
ed hand began to shake. YOU" be
| tried to continue; you, a man elected
| to-
There came from the crowd the sound
| of sad, high keyed voice drawing.
| That's q nice vest inns got on, but it
| amt hardly the feathers fitten for an
ostrich, is it,
HAIRLESS broke into ringing laugh
and turned TO the shell men. Give up
the boys money. Hurry"
Step down here and git it," said the
one who had spoken.
There was turbulent motion in the
trowd, and cry arose: Run 'em ont.
Ride en- on n rail. Tar and feathers
Run EN- out o town.
II wouldn't dllydally long If were
| ton" said HarllesS. \ roll Of bills vas
,ulcnly placed in ~ hand. which lie
counted and tuvnnd bvyr 20 The elder
Rowdor Ono o. 80 ~ n mon clttchoi
the editors sleeve Win uls dirty hand.
I'VE hain't don - youSc.' he said
hoarsely. "Don't belief il, not for
minute. see:'
The town marshal opened his eyes
brisllly and. placing q hand on each OF
the gamblers, said. Il do hereby arres,
your said persons and declare you my
prisoners
The cry arose again louder: run 'em
out String ON up. Hang 'em. Hang
them .AnC forward rush was made.
This way. > m. Quick cried Hark-
less, bending down and jerking one OF
the gamblers half way up the steps.
Get through the hall TO the other side
and then ruu cRl 10 the lookup. No
one will step YOU that way. Watts and
! will hold this door"
BarGiori, hustled his prisoners through
the doorway. and the crowd pushed UP
tho steps. while HAIRLESS struggled "a
keep the vestbule clear until Watts
got the double doors closed. "stand
back. there he shouted. ITS all over
Don't be foolish. The law IL good
enough for us. Stand back, will you
He was showing vigorously with open
hand and elbow, when a compact little
group OF men suddenly dashed up this
steps together. and heavy stitch
swung out over their heads. A straw
hat with a gay ribbon sailed through
the air The editors long arms wen,
out swiftly from his body IN several
directions. the hands not open. bu,
clinched and hard. The next instant
he and Mr. Watts stood alone on the
steps. and Il man with bleeding. bias,
pheming mouth dropped his stick and
tried to lose himself n the crowd. Mr.
Watts was returning something he had
not used TO his hip pocket.
prophets OF Israeli exclaimed Will
liam Todd ruefully. ut wasn't Ept
Watts pistol. Did you see Mr.. Hark
less? ! was up on them steps when h.,
begun. | don't believe he needs al
much takin' care Of as we think"
WASN'T II one of them CrOssro d.
devils that knocked his hat OFF," asked
Judd Bennett. Il thought l see Bol
Skillet run up with club"