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

STANDING OVER THEM oEsTIcuLA
with? We are here among strangers.
and not a cent in our pockets.
Whereupon the "spieler" would hand
back enough to take them ont OF town.
On the way up town the "steerer
would declare that an officer must De
found and the swindler placed unoer
arrest at once.
AS they rushed along they would
encounter on the street corner large.
portly man, wearing marshais badge
(another member of the gang) and the
.steerer" would explain the incident
and demand the swindler's arrest.
After asking all sorts OF questions
and getting full description OF tne
swindler, the marshal would say:
..Well. | suppose you know the law
of Michigan about betting. 1t doesn''
make any difference whether a mar
wins or loses. II he bets at all, NJ
laws himself liable to a fine and I'M
nrisonment, and as you men acknowl
edge that you have been betting shall
have to first lock you up and then lool
for the other fellow. You may con
slider yourselves my prisoners
of course they would both protest
each offering to let the matter orol
rather than go to Jail themselves.
Rut the marshal would say:
r,t afford to let you 60. My fees Il
a case like this amount to at least tel
dollars"
IF the "steerer" was aware that tn
victim had more than enough none
left to get him out of town, he woul
begin negotiating settlement, assul
ing the marshal that all they wante
| was to get out Of town and escape 5ai
when asked by the marshal" no.
much they would give him to kee
ouiet the "steerer" would offer abot
half the amount he thought the victil
still had. The marshal" would the
agree to settlc for just double II
amount, and the "steerer" would al
neal to the victim, saying that lie hin
self was entirely stranded. and woul
point out how necessary 1t was
avoid exposure and disgrace.
Only too willing to settle. the stra
ger would offer to compromise
making the settlement the marsha
was always generous enough to lea
them sufficient money with which
get out of town The swindlers,
course. being as anxious as their vi
tim that the latter should get out
the way as soon as possible.
This game was what the giraffe
called: The double cross"
On the evening of my first visit
Howard City l made my notion a.
ton sale from a carriage in front
the hotel. During the day had motto
that several prosperous-lookine N
were stopping at the hotel, and VIC
dered what was their business. WI
arranging my street lamps and p
pairing my stock they gathered abo
and in a friendly way inquired wi
my name was, where l was from 9
which direction l was travelling.
was plain that they were educated n
of more than ordinary ability, but
addicted to the excessive use OF sls
, phrases. asked the landlord
they were, and he said they were
L. from Grand Rapids, and were moth
more nor less than confidence men.
That evening, when mounted
carriage to open my sale, there be
,a DO crowd, one of these men said
~ the others: Come on, boys; let's
,;a him a 'front.'" and they gathe
a around, apparently much interested
~ Soon large crowd had gathered
Ia made my introductory talk and ope
m the sale. AS is always the case,
or the first day in town, one waited
the other, and things were . u
on slow.
We Stepping ny to the carriage, hrst
he and then another of these tour
,r- purchased batch of handkerchl
nm after which had fine run on Ia
lie kerchiefs, ard thereafter they We
ger ba among the first 70 purchase e'
ION new article offered.
ow After closing the evenings sale,
Knoll while strengthening up my stock,
the whole gang gathered around With I
rockets and arms filed with so
ger saying:
uld ~WelI, Johnston. didn't We Z
your game al right al right"