The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-03
tCopydEht. 1871. ~ thu Mcclure NewsrApss
eyndIcate.l

plain.
Jabez Bunker, having himself been the
victim of EoId-brick sellers and other
forms of confidence men. had come 10
New York to enter the confidence game
on his own account; 80 far he had oeeh
fairly successful in a small way, but MS
ambition was for larger fields II he hao
dared. he would have gone at once TO
Wall Street, where the guileless New
Yorker abounds; but because Of his mex
perience he had decided to approach that
Mecca gradually. working southwark
few streets at time and gaining skill
and dexterity in his chosen profession OF
bunco-man-
For yenrs he had been ouncoed. accept
ing his fate with utter good nature. until
he had come to feel that the eon-Inan
and the bunco-steerer were but pursuing
their legitimate and ordained careers
and when he sold his farm and had urea
of the idle life in the quiet village OF
Oroduna. he quite naturally decided TO go
to New York and become a bunco-steerer'
Dear Old Grandma Bunker, who loved
and worshiped her husband as only dear
old ladies can love and worship, agreed
to the plan with placid faith that her
Jabez could and would do no wrong;
an now. after a few unimportant adven-
lures, they were settled in good-sizeo
room on the top floor of an inexpensive
boarding-hou on West Fffty-seventn
street
For some days Grandpa Bunker had
lolled in the room. his red carpet-shppers
on his feet, his spectacles resting on his
nubbin of a nose and his kindly blue
eyes studying the pages Of that excel
lent book. THE Complete Confessions OF
the King of Grafters. Full Exposition
of the Methods of the Most Famous Con-
ndence Men. Price q Cents"
1t was Sunday morning. Dear Old
Grandma Bunker. who had remained In
the dinIng-room after breakfast to con-
verse with Mrs WINNER. who was the
keeper of the prime dispensary. returned
to her room with a beaming countenance.
PA" she said afrectionately. you won't
be workin' at bunco-business today,
will ye?"
Sabbath day7 No, indeedy." said Mr..
Bunker. feeling with his stockinged feet
for his red yslippers, which he had al
lowed to slide from his feet "If faint
too much trouble for you to dress an
ALL Ma. 1 fingered how maybe we might
go to chu' CHI
'TGint a mite O. trouble" said Mrs.
Bunker. happily, AN If twas. I'd feel
it my duty to dress up some anyway on
the Lords day. Mis- WINNER has just
been tellin' me there's a right friendly
chu'ch around the corner, as you might
say. with preacher that preacnes right
upliftin sermons So II you amt Eoin'
to work.
Laws sake. no." exclaimed Mr.
Bunker pleasantly but with a little show
of baby-like temper. The amt hardly
nothin' I wouldn't do to git my mind
onrn this wire-tappin' business a few
minutes Seems like can't hardly make
head nor tail of 1t. Seems like a bunco-
man that wants to work a wire-rappin'
game has got to have such an ALFRED
lot O. fixin's an such an ALFRED lot
of confederates the amt apt to be no
money into it. 1 been studyin' an
studyin' this book
Grandma Bunker put her soft hand
gently on his shoulder.
There. there now, Par she soothed
Don't go an git all worried up over it
First thing you know. you'll be usin'
swear words over It, an 1t amt wuth it
II man can't do bunco-business in a
nice. clean, honest. Christian way, he
oughtn't to go into it,
You're right, like always, Ma" he
said. Il wunt help nothin' by gettin'
riled up
As they walked to church, accompanied
by Mrs. WINNER IN her best purple silk
and by the thin and yellow-complexioned
Miss Druse, whose front-hall-roon win
dow always had a freshly washed hand
kerchief pinned to the shade-cord to dry,
Mr.. and Mrs Bunker looked what they
were. highly respectable couple recently
arrived from = country town. They
found the church as friendly as Mrs
WINNER suggested. Because Of the hot
weather the doors and inner doors ali
stood wide open; and the ushers, it be-
ing early. were standing In the vestibule
In order to catch the few moving zephers
One Of the ushers. i tall, slender gen
GN1nan in a black frock coat, came with
. smile and extended hand to greet
MIA. WINNER and Miss Druse. He clasp
ed Mr.. Bunker's hand with a firm, warn,
but rather bony clasp.
''Mr. and Mrs Bunker-Mr. Prefix said
Mrs WINNER. dulling the gentleman ;.
name so that It sounded like Prefix but
might have been anything else. for al
though for several years the gentleman
had escorted heI to q seat in the church
abe had never been quite sure of hi.
name Mr.. Bunker squared around ant
settled himself firmly on his two feet a,
* ne was in no hurry to enter the church
He took of his hat and wiped the Der
spring top Of his bald head with hi.
handkerchief.
This is suttnly a hot day, amt tt?'