Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-09-16

to butt in. You don't have to tell. /
thought you ought TO tone down a lit
tie. so | tried to put You wise. Wish
you success at your graft. whstever
It is. Come and have a drink, any
how"
Il wouldn't mind havin' a glass OF
lager beer" acknowledged the other.
They went to a cafe frequented by
men with smooth faces and shifty eyes
and sat at their drinks.
I'm glad | come across you, mis-
ter" said Haylocks. How'd you like
TO play game or two Of seven up?
I've got the keerds."
He-fshed them out OF Noah's valise
"a rare. inimitable deck. greasy with
bacon suppers and grimy with the soil
Of cornfelds.
"Bunko Harry" laughed loud and
briefly.
'Not for me. sport" he said firmly.
81 don't go against that makeup Of
yours for cent. But still say you've
OverdOne II. The Rubes haven't dress
ed like that since 10. doubt II you
could work Brooklyn for a key wind
Ing watch with that layout"
"Oh, you needn't think | amt got
the money" boasted Haylocks. He
drew forth a tightly rolled mass Of
bills as large as teacup and laid 1t on
the table.
Got that for my share Of grandmoth-
er's farm" he announced There's
$3.50 in that roll Thought I'd come to
the city and look around for a likely
business to go into"
"Bunko Harry" took up the roll Of
money and looked at 1t with almost re-
spect in his smiling eyes.
To- I've seen worse" be said critically.
But you'll never do 1t in them clothes
You want to get light tan shoes and a
black suit and a straw hat with a COL
ored band and talk a good deal about
Pittsburg and freight differentials and
drink sherry for breakfast in order
to work off phony stuff like that"
whats his liner asked two~-w
three shifty eyed men of "Bunko
Harry" after Haylocks had gathered
up his impugned money and departed
"The queer, guess" said Harry, "or
some guy with a new graft He's too
much hayseed. Maybe that his-l won
der now-oh. no. il couldn't have been
real money"
Haylocks wandered on. Thirst prob
ably assailed him again, for he dived
into a dark groggery on side street
and bought beer. Several sinister fel-
lows hung upon one end Of the bar.
At first sight of him their eyes bright
ened. but when his insistent and ex.
aggerated rusticity became apparent
their expressions changed to wary sus-
picion.
Haylocks swung his valise across the
bar
Keep that awhile for me, mister"
he said, chewing al the end Of vir-
ulent claybank cigar. III be back
after l knock around q spell. And
keep your eye on it, for there's $3.50
inside Of 1t. though maybe you
wouldn't think so to look at me-"
Somewhere outside a phonograph
struck up a band piece, and Haylocks
was off for it, his coattail buttons
Hopping in the middle Of his back.
"Divvy. Nike" said the men hang
ing upon the bar, winking openly at
one another.
Honest, now" said the bartender,
kicking the valise to one side. "You
don't think I'd fall to that, do you?
Anybody can see he amt no jay-one
of McAdoo's come-on squad. guess.
He's a shine il he made himself up.
There amt no parts Of the country
now where they dress like that"
When Haylocks had exhausted the
resources of Mr.. Edison to amuse he
returned for his valise. And then
down Broadway he gallivanted. GULL
ing the sights with his eager blue eyes.
But still and evermore Broadway re-
iected him with curt giances and sar.
donic smiles. He was the oldest Of the
gags" that the city must endure. He
was so fiagrantly impossible, so ultra
rustic. so exaggerated beyond the most
freakish products of the barnyard. the
/ bayfield, and the vaudeville stage that
he excited only WEAKNESS and sus
picion. And the wisp Of hay in his
hair was so genuine, so fresh and
redolent of the meadows. so clamor
ously rural that even she'll game man
would have put up his peas and fold
ed his table at the sight of 1t.
Haylocks seated himself upon fligh'
of stone steps and once more exhumed
his roll of yellow backs from the va
lise. The outer one, a twenty, h
shucked off and beckoned to a news
boy.
SON." said he. run somewhere ant
get this changed for me. I'm mighty
nigh out of chicken feed. guess you'll
get a nickel If you'll hurry up"
A hurt look appeared through tn,
dirt on the newsy's face.
Jaw, watchert'ink. G'wan and ge
yer funny bill changed yerself. De,
amt no farm clothes yer got on
G'wan wit yer stage money"
! On a corner lounged a keen eyes
steerer for a gambling house. He saw
Haylocks. and his expression suddenl,
grew cold and virtuous.
Mister" said the rural one. "Tv
heard Of places in this here tow
where a fellow could have a goo,
| game Of old sledge or peg a card a
keno. I got $3.50 in this valise. and
come down from old Ulster to see tn
sights. Know where a fellow coul'
get action on about nine or ten dollars
I'm goin' to have some sport. and the
maybe I'll buy out business Of som