St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-06-19
The Gold Brick
copyright. 1909. by Daily Story Pub, Coz
By DON MARK LEMON

you're thief" he painted, and threw
the bills to his feet
What's the matter with your" The
other man came upright, glazing stu
pidly.
These amt the bills you got
Them's some Off our own bat. You've
slowed the old girls goods in your
vest and passed me the queer. Come,
split or I'll split you!"
The heavier man stopped with un'
expected alacrity and gathered up the
counterfeit bills.
Damn" he cried. hoarsely. Then
he threw up his hands. Search me!
I've been picked! Some of the boys
must have done the rubes, and they
have handed it back to the firm.
Search me! Gawd, l amt no thief"
A pair of deft hands went rapidly
through the pockets of the man with
the purple-checked vest, but all OF
value that they brought to light was
a nickel watch, some dice and trifie
in silver change.
Quick" commanded the man called
| Bill, pulling his companion from the
entry and explaining his plan as he
hurried him down the street in the di-
rection that the country couple had
taken. Were detectives! See?
They may be wise that these were
green goods, what they passed up to
you. Well scare 'em to dig UP the
price O. their farm"
! But the countryman and his wife
were no longer on the street, and the
partners turned into Grand Central
station, confident that they would find
them there. Their search and inqui-
ries, however, were in vain.
While they were searching, several
trains drew out of the station, one
Of them, no doubt, bearing Hiram and
Cynthia" safely back to the farm.
Finally they gave over looking and
returned to the street in disgust.
THE lemons on our Christmas tree
this time, Bill" surlily growled the
heavier of the pair.
ut amt no easy-mark joke to lose
hundred, when you're dead broke"
rejoined the man called Bill. Hell!
they must have just sold their farm
and had the price on 'em. We've
missed the big bus for Easy street.
Sect"
His partner drew him into saloon.
Halo, jack" he nodded to the bar
tender. 1.-TWO forgets and sodas."
They drank their whisky and soda
in silence, then seating themselves
at card table, fell to studying the
frequenters of the saloon, on the
lookout for possible dupe.
About Is minutes later young fell
low of 20 came through the swinging
doors and two-stepped up to the bar.
Halo, Jack!" he noisily greeted the
bartender. Haven't seen any of the
boys with gold brick in his vest
have you?"
Whats up, sport?" The bartender
filed a glass and pushed it towards
the young fellow.
The latter drank the liquor and
smacked his lips.
"One of the big manufacturing jew
elers just lost $1,000 gold brick
somewhere along this busy end of the
old burg. Come out and join the
merry throng, hunting for the stuff
that nobody but everybody needs"
In less than ten seconds there were
only three men remaining in the
saloon-the bartender and the two
partners seated at the card table.
The bartender dared not leave the
cash register unguarded, while the
green goods men were too weak in
their knees to rise and take part in
the search for the lost $1,000 gold
brick, that had slipped through their
hands only half an hour before