The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-27
Games at the Fair of
Highway Sort.
BIG STAKES SNATCHED
Story of Stupid Countryman Who
Went for Policeman and One
Other Who Did the Fakir
at His Own
Game.

While it seemed that everybody in
the State was gaping at the stand
from which the President was speak
ing on Roosevelt day, accumulations
of stories since the Fair prove that
while the great crowd was jammed
in front of. the grand-stand and the
pick pockets were getting in their
gentle work, the gentlemen of the
pea, the cork bah, the rolling marble
and the turning arrow were reaping
a rich harvest on the outskirts of that
seething sea of humanity.
While. these gentry have in past
times lent to the fair a spice to the
daring, tinge of philosophy to the
observant and proved the downfall of
a multitude of fools, they were never
before conducted with the bravado or
with the reckless disregard of fair
play, which characterized their oper-
alton this year. Perhaps the crowds
were responsible for the taking off
of the lid, since everybody was too
busy in getting in somebody else's way
to attend to the President TO notice
them; but at any rate the games as
conducted were in many instances
equal to a Chicago hold-up. That
they had fools in plenty to operate
upon is no excuse for their having
been allowed on the grounds and con-
siderng the crowds no reflection on
the populace at large. man with Il
minimum of mentality should have a
certain assurance that when he buys
a fifty cent ticket his losses will be
kept within reason. Standards of
gaming went up or down according to
the victims purse, and when it was
all over there were few to tell the
tale. Fools rarely confess after self
conviction. How one of these games
worked was yesterday vividly related
by gentleman who watched fell
low citizen "bilked" to the tune of
hundred and twenty dollars. The
tale may be Illuminating to some
minds, and puZzling to others, but
cannot fail to picture a large class of
the Fair attractions accurately.
The gentleman with the loud vest
and the raven's-wing mustasche, was
standing behind a small board on
three legs which folded up at will
much after the manner of q Gamers
under -pinning when he sits down.
With this capital he made out-cry to
the crowd who sUrged about him and
occasionally one stopped to see, hesi-
tated to examine, followed his aVarice
20 play. The most of these lost their
small amounts. charged them up to
tryman IN question. however, tarried
longer than the rest and, when first
noticed. was demonstrating sheepish-
ly with the keeper of the board.
According to the conversation, il
seemed that the gentleman from the
farm had won, ION paper fifteen dol
lars These. his winnings. he was
apparently reached his limit. He
was willing to quit having trusted
the Snowman, he was then demanding
an account. Tho Snowman remon-
strated
"What." he exclaimed. "You come
here and risk fifty cents and want
to carry away SIS; give a fellow a
fifteen dollars, you'll have to put
down fifteen and play for it"
The countryman seemed dazed He
scratched his head and demurred. The
Snowman burst into lava-flow of
words. He spoke with a rapidity
which left his victim dazed:
How do you expect to win SIS for
so cents!" he cried exctedly. What do
you take me for? This is fair game.
Put down your money like a man.
You put fifteen on the spot. If the
ball falls in your place you win fifteen.
This is no charity bazaar!" He APP
pcaled to the crowd: Fair game,
f'ir stakes every man has the same
chance"
But" said the countryman. "I've
already won fifteen dollars!"
Listen at that" cried the Snowman,
"o~ v-hnt? fifty cents!"
At this the confederates came into
the play. They numerically guyed
the man from the fields who. fluster-
cd with much talk, still stood irreso-
lutte. Finally one CT the ''come-ons'
exclaimed
"Ah! let him alone, he's got no
money!"
That finished the victim. He might
not have sense. he might not have the
ability to explain what he saw and
knew--or thought he knew, but he
rrasped the top Of his trousers with
hand deep into his rocket When he
withdrew it he clutched a roll of bills
He counted them g-avcly-a hundred
and twenty dollars
The fakir's eyes glittered. play you
for that" said he. put it down"
As though hypnotized the countryman
placed it on the board. He stated
that he did not want to play What
he wanted was his fifteen dollars.
"Roll the ball" cried the fakir.
but the countrvman stood still.
well, I'll roll for you them"
There was a click, the little bali
went round it's path, stopped. and the
fa'lir cried out triumphantly Lost
that time, sir and appropriated the
(continued on Page Five.)