The Tupelo journal., 1905-09-22

.ng ia came to nv section. brushed
nv ovareoat carefnilv ard rayA tha
clothes / was wearing j slight brush
imp. when ha had finiahed Il handed
him the only 50-cent niece had.
The instant f,id 81 I observed that
he half turned hia hack Ii mo = he
stepped nearer the window and began
carefully scrutinizing the silver niece.
and that very instant II flashed
through nv mind that the cnlored
gentleman was planninr "a graft me.
After taking 4 careful look at the
money. and having had lust about
time enough to shift the coin / rave
him for anv old thing ha might have
about him he said.
.Say mistah. / euess Won done zone
and made q mistake and gin me q sill
yer niece with a mug in il besides its
very badly won and hatte,ed tno-"
as that sop answered (knowinq
very we'll that I had given him an al
most new silver piece). .Let's see.'
said /. and. as he handed it to me,
Cant Won use it?"
.No sab" he nuicklv answered. IL
don't want that kind of money!
"Do you want me to keen it?" /
asked.
eyes. I'd rather you would keep it,
cob
every we,lo zaid 81 can use itn
and dropped il into nv pocket.
He stood there anxiously watching
and waiting for me to give him an.
other 5O-cent piece. and at last dis.
covering that | apparently had no in
tention of replacing it. he said:
as Won all gwine to give me nothah
half dollar mistah?"
Certainly not" | answered. ssIs
there any reason why I should give
YOU q new half dollar, Just because
YOU were foolish enough to give me an
o1o one9 WHY. of course not. You
said that YOU could not use it, and ]
think 7 can"
"Well then--well. then"-he STAN.
mered-"J reckon I'll take it back
~Well" replied 81 reckon YOU
won't take it back. There is no Indian
ahout me. when I give a thing away
or receive a thing from anyone. never
give hack nor take back"
"But" said he. "you took back the
| so cents you gave me-"
"Indeed. I did mott" / answered
.sTbe one 7 gave Won Won have in youl
nocket. and the one you gave me is &
direrent one entirely AT any rate"
went on az think 7 shall turn in this
nl,,gqed 70 cent niece to the sleepins
car comnanv when 7 report this little
| enisode IN themD
The moor darkey became excited anG
turned almost white and was SO beside
hi,r,olf with .bis anoloeies and excuses
tbst ba forgot every other passenger
nm tba car
AS I was leaving the car, on our ar
rival in Chicago. he brushed up agains
mo and stammered. "Sa-sa-say mis-
| tah please don't say nofin' bout dis
yer 'greement tween YOU and me, fel
T cot a wife and fou' little chilluns tt
snort. and CANT lord to lose ms
iohn
On raturning home I told this little
exnerience to nv employees in the of
flee. Our colored porter rolled his
chalky ewes about and, with a broad
grin. said:
"Mistah Johnston, you got that fel
lah all right. suah 'nuff; | nevah heart
,bout de plugged silver piece racke
befoh but q fellah what used to room
] with tol me bout a mighty good hold
up scheme he used to wo'k. aimos' lik'
dat when he was Pullman po'tah."
"WelI. Gene" l said, ''go ahead ant
eynlain it to u.s."
He did SO. and the graft was this.
The porter had a die struck, exactly
tine size of a 5O-cent piece, upon which
he had stamped John Miller. Denver
! Col"
he alwavs had one of these in th,
i mir, 81 his hand. while brushing
nassenger's clothes. The tip, at tn,
end of nights journey. is seldom les!
was given him he would instantl.
; ,,,.,,,.,,z near ,ne vindoy. as If to ge
| ,