The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-11-25

= congenial gentleman With whom to !
pass the waiting hours.
II Mr.. Hampton, of Battle Creek.
should happen to mention that ne nad
known Joseph" for q number OF
years, then the "steerer" would say
that he was a nephew of Mr.. Smiths;
II. however, Mr.. Hampton should say:
well, Joseph is fine young man, or
"Joseph and my son went to school
together" then the steerer wouio
say that Joseph was his cousin.
Having ascertained the direction the
stranger was going, the "steerer'
would announce that he was going the
same way and would suggest that they
take a walk. Leading the way, the
"steerer" would go in the direction OF
the single mill. and would begin DIS
cussing the enormous quantity OF
shingles, manufactured in Howard
CITY. their superior quality, ETC., ana
entering the shed would begin exam
| lining the shingles.
Directly they would come upon
tall man with SLOUGH hat and long
coat standing over bunch OF shingles
ON which he was throwing three cards
hack and forth. The steerer and
stranger. somewhat curious, would
draw nearer to the tall man, who
would laugh, and say in his southern
dialect:
ION my way up from Kaintuck, with
a load of mules, a Teller won a ten
dollar bill from me, with three little
keerds, an I was ies' practizing the
! game maself."
The "steerer," somewhat interested,
would say: Lets see what it is"
The Kentucky mule dealer would
| pick up the three cards, and marking
one with cross in the center, would
explain that he was practicing the
holding the three cards between the
3 thumb and forefingers, and Their
!, throwing them one over the other sc
8 quickly that the eye could not follow
r the card with the cross on 1t. HI
would then say:
9 Nov you gentlemen try and watci
a the card with the cross on, and see |
Q you can pick it out"
" Throwing the cards he would say:
Nov pick out the one with tn
Q cross on It,"
The "steerer" would select tn
|. wrong card, after which the 'spieler
e would laugh heartily and say:
l. "Wall. you see, thet's jes' how los
II ma ten dollars"
% At this juncture he would be SUD
denly taken with fit of coughing, an
r while his head was turned, the "steel
le err would pick up the card with To
II cross on it and turn up the very II
N end of one corner, making sure tina
the stranger saw him do 1t.
r After his coughing spell the "spie
Ie er" would again throw the cards, an
,r pretending that he hadn't noticed til
st turned UP end, would say:
m Nov, mistah, I'll bet you $500 thi
in you can't pick out the card with II
as cross on it,
~ With this he would produce a lars
he roll of bills just received for carlos
en- of mules.
mo" the "steerer'' would say,
Id haven't got $500, but I'll bet you tt
lis dollars"
"All right" the Kentuckian won
r.. answer, I'VE will put the money
in this mans hands," pointing to Z
y: stranger.
ne AS the "steerer" put up his mon
he would say to the stranger: "Y
,al are in with this" and then of cour
he would pick the right card.
IN. this juncture the "spieler" would aga
be taken with a coughing spell a
en- meanwhile the stranger would pass t
iii stake over to the "steerer."
,as Hold on here" the latter would sa
half of what won belongs to yo'
ire and he would hand back ten-doll