davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24

uS HAT part Of my boyhood included In
i the late '7os and early '80s, mostly
l. on the early side OF the fifteen-year
mark, was spent in Middle Western
sgn Of about $4,000 population. There was
ate excitement in such a town. Unless
boy was in school or ''had job he was likely
70 get pretty restless.
had an indulgent father who did not in
il. on my going to school nor did he insist
N MY going to work. There was little legiti-
nate amusement in such towns in those days.
I. vas not surprising that a good many youths
md grown men turned to cards for recreation.
That might be called the poker-playing era
IN the Middle West. Plenty of poker is played
aov but in different way. Now, as in larger
communities, it is mostly confined to "clubs"
But there were open games going on in every
little town In the Mississippi Valley in those
days, and the place in which I lived was no
exception to the rule.
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24

:he locals. We needed considerable time to
work up game for high stakes, which obv-
ously could not be done with local travellers
Then, too. the "short trippers' were not so
we'll fixed financially as rule as the persons
going on longer journeys.
took $3.50 once from stockman bound
for some town in Wyoming. I was assuming
the role of a rustic, with broad native twang
peculiar to Texas, which had studied assidu-
ousy and which found effective in more than
one confidence game. When Mr.. Stockman at
last woke up to the fact that he had been
trimmed by the supposed countryman he
laughed heartily and told my partner that the
joke was on him.
/ had gone back to another seat, still wear
ing my look of innocence. My partner told
me that the stockman wanted to see me.
drifted back and got to chatting with him.
He was perfectly good natured about his loss,
but it came out incidentally that he was COM
petey Cleaned and that he could not stop
off in Omaha and buy his wife few things
as he had planned.
Glow much did you figure on spending?"
asked.
ooh $40 or s15," he said cor thereabouts."
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24

handed over $15 and he took my address,
and in few days he sent the money to me.
AS / said, the trainmen knew and often
helped us along materially. We had one
ductor out of st. Joe who was the most oblig
ing man in that way. The truth is he
extraordinarily greedy for money. He knew
that we could be depended upon to hand him
over percentage of winnings, so he did
not scruple to round up business for u.s.
Going through the train, he would give an
extra punch to the seat-checks of passengers
who were going long distances and whom he
considered likely prospects. We could follow
after and drop into the seats with these pros
poets and start friendly game" which might
enrich us materially. The conductor would
have $50 slipped to him before we left the
train, but he earned every cent Of the money
he received from / never knew another
such conscientious worker.
Our games on the trains were usually
played at night. The non-card playing ele-
ment would be enjoying sweet dreams, while
the gamblers would be in the smoking roora,
contributing to our living. But apparently
they were willing to be robbed of sleep rs
we'll as money
In card playing as we'll as anything else in
my line ! found that the way in which the
game was presented was even more important
than the game itself An innocent exterior,
with little touch of country makeup here
and there, and the drawling dialect of one
used to expressing himself among rural sur
roundings proved invaluable.
Like prospector,I had learned that general
values could be counted on in certain fields.
Other fields were not so good l had played
poker and monte, behind the fence e-nachine
camoufage or on trains, in Illinois, Iowa. Mis-
souri,, Kansas, Nebraska and Montana, but had
found that the people in the last-named State
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24
illustrations by WILL CRAWFORD

urday nghts-that is, the best from a fnan-
ciai standpoint. The social end of "social
game never interested me particularly.
mad various ways of marking cards
Scratches or shades were the most effective
the shades particularly SO. In using the
scratches one simply utilized pin pricks in
the corners of the cards. The shading is done
with aniline dye on the backs of the cards I
found an expert in the use of the camel's hair
brush whose work defied detection. The
shades were usually in the form of an ANGELS
figure. The angels head meant aces. the
angels arm something else, and so on through
the card sequences, Some other figure besides
an angel might have been used, but the card
sharper is not beyond his little Joke.
The fence patent-right game, with poker as
the main issue, was all right for considerable
time. In fact, the old patent-rights game is
still in existence to-day, as will point out in
a later article. 1t changes only in the form Of
the article offered to the prospective customer.
Most Of the games that are in operation to-
day, and by which millions are taken from the
unwary, are simply variations of the oldtime
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24

stuff There is little new in the confidence
game, if one inquiries into the matter. 1t is
all in the way a game is presented, more than
in the game itself, thus contradicting Kiplings
line that
"The game is greater than the player of
the game"
But to get back to poker. AS l say, I fol-
lowed the patent-fence "stall" for some time
with success, and then I got to playing on
trains. There is little playing on trains to-
day, but in those times it was easy to find
victims among travellers. My partner and
were never what is known as "one-day men,"
We always figured that there was to-mor-
row, and we never found it necessary to re-
sort to trough stuff" Some Of the train
gamblers would resort to snatching
money and jumping from train with it.
They were what was known as "antelopes."
because Of the way in which they raced across
the landscape after snatching the stakes and
jumping from train.
We settled down to more or less regular
runs, however, and the tranmen knew us and
were by no means averse to having us along.
We provided many of them with extra spend
ing money, making it point to give up GER
tain percentage of the money we won.
In consideration of this rake-off the con-
ductors would often act as confederates. The
run from Chicago to Omaha was profitable,
and there was another run which yielded US
steady returns, between ST. Louis and st. Joe.
We chose the trains that carried plenty Of
ong-distance travellers, and always avoided
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24
Direct Action Was the Rule
In the Frontier Days

The White Elephant proprietor sent 20
Ogallalla and induced Luke Short to come TO
Fort Worth He gave Luke an interest in
the resort Luke had not been installed
more than a week when the marshal came IN
and demanded hundred dollars Luke re
fused to give it to him, and the marshal
threw down" a six-shooter on him. In
stantly Luke said Don't shoot--I'm un-
armed" AS he spoke he pulled up his vest
to show that there was no gun at his waist
band The marshal lowered his gun, and IN
stantly Luke drew a revolver from holster
under his left arm and shot his man dead.
Playing the steamboats, on the Ohio and
Mississippi gave a good deal Of recreation
and some profit. There were two lines out
Of Cincinnati, one to Memphis and the other
to New Orleans. We knew most of the cap
tains, and they were glad 10 have US along
in consideration of the customary financial
arrangements One old captain, however,
swore that no gambler should set foot on his
boat. One day when his craft was laid up
at Evansville, where much farm machinery
was shipped, sometimes keeping the boats ten
twelve hours, slipped aboard and
managed to win considerable money from q
"chump" among the passengers. Somebody
tipped off the captain, who In the texas
and he came raging after us with heavy
club in his hand. Ny partner saw him first
and managed to get ashore. lodged around
behind the boilers, but the captain cut me
of in front. 1 stopped and broke off n
two-by-fou which, fortunately, had a knot in
II. Holding this waited the captains arrival.
What are you going to do with that club7"
he growled, stopping
sim going 10 keep you from hitting me
with the club you've got," said.
He compromised by ordering me of the
boat, which command was only too willing
to obey.
On one of these boats bound for Evansville
we were playing for 8 sawmili man who was
on his way to buy machinery About 4
o'clock In the morning, when we had gone
to our staterooms, the steamer ran on
sandbar. The negro crew worked hard till
o'clock, under the directions OF the second
mate, trying TO get the boat off, but all to
no effect. The negroes wanted to knock of
to eat, but the mate insisted that the boat
had to be SPARED off" before any one had a
bite. The crew became sullen and finally
made rush at the mate, who drew a gun
and killed two and wounded two others. The
negro roustabouts at that time nearly all
carried old-fashioned "pepper-box' revolvers.
The fusillade from these and the shots fired
by the mate reused ali of us. When looked
out, the mate had retired to the texas and
the crew was gathered about the woundeS
men.
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24
Wealth Just Tyifes With
Inc Confidence Man

That line fits the case of the average con-
| 'ssnce man. He thinks the stage is set for
big blow -off"-the final coup that is to
~ase him wealthy. Apparently nothing can
-&fVene, but, one way or another, that fatal
saesaing happens. 1t may not mean arrest,
~sFate gives jog to the elbow, spelling the
''as Then there is nothing to do but drift
"asShere else and start something new.
remember once, when the biggest card
''4ie of my career was just ahead Of me, at
addle Western resort where there was
-Sa play for high stakes. Apparently the
~Sasy was just as good as in my pocket But,
az the game started, some one blew in
- recognized me and proceeded to spread
= information without delay that was
esahg card player.
-Ast is what / mean by saying that "some-
.as always happens"
suppose in all my years of the practice
'afious sorts of swindles I have not had
= taan $4,000 or $4,000 ahead at any
: ane ! have managed to live, and some
ave well, but for the risk involved
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24

not demur We know that he is good for it.
Middle Western health resorts were good
hunting grounds for us in those days. Stakes
ran high in such places, and we always had
the tantalizing prospect of rich prizes just
ahead of u.s. Sometimes these materialized,
but there were always other people to pay out
of our winnings. 1t was at one of these re-
sorts that I recognized and barred from
a game which was a cinch for thousands for
me if had so much as pulled chair up to
the table.
A state capital was fertile field when
legislature was in session. One such session
at Lincoln proved TO be particularly good
picking. The railroads were very anxious to
put man across as Senator--that was before
the direct primary-and money was being
spent freely. We were on hand to see that no
legislator got too much of this tainted money
or at least to prevent him from keeping it too
long. Everybody was playing cards during
that session, and we sat in with lawyers,
judges, doctors, business men and farmers.
Even the senatorial candidate himself was
one with us--an able, brilliant man and no
slouch of a poker player.
extended my card playing operations into
several Western states, including Texas which
had good deal of the frontier flavor in those
days. But, despite fiction stories to the con-
trary, few gamblers were killers" Most of
them could hold up their end in any sort of a
clash, even when it came to burning gun
powder, but in general they avoided trouble
sedulousiy.
Among the gamblers of that period, Luke
Short was the best gunman. Short was
familiar figure in the strenuous life Of many
frontier towns, like Dodge City, Abilene and
Ogallalla. He was an expert with the gun,
and, though hes did not seek trouble he was
known as a. man who would not go to any
great lengths to avoid it. He figure4 in
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24

and some not above giving one
"steer' as to the location of a game.
1t q matter of no difficulty locating
game in most cases, however. The town
barber good authority.
Sure, there's a game going on right across
the street there, up one fight and turn to
the right" he would say, after I had dropped
in to get shaved. No formalities were gone
through with in getting into the game One
might find the towns leading lawyer, or even
judge, among those present.
Occasionally found it profitable to carry
a "iine' to bear out the claim that I was a
salesman. ] sold a patent building
machine in a good many Middle Western
building machine. 1t was supposed to drive
the fence posts and string the wire, all in
one operation. 1t worked all right in a
street, where the horses lad good going, but
when it was operated in muddy field, where
the going was soft, there were not horses and
mules enough in Missouri to pull it. would
sell county rights to this fence machine for
$3.50 to $500. 1t was pretty good seller at
times, but I did not care if / never sold a
county right, as / was after poker victims.
The machine helped my other game, how
ever, as occasionally some fence patron would
come and ask me if played poker and would
tell me where there was a little game
going on where man might enjoy
himself. + might be in a town two
or three days before / tried to hunt
up the game The best games were on Sat-
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24
Queered His Own Game
By Taking Too Much

got into the game and soon learned a few
profitable tricks in cheating. The principal
game in our town was played in the back of
local clothing merchants store. The mer-
chants son was one of the players, and, with
The aid Of the cheating tricks l had learned I
found it easy to take money from him. in
creased my knowledge of cheating as I went
along, and soon / could cheat better than ]
could play
lhad not learned the value of discretion and
slowed one or two friends some Of my newly
acquired tricks in cheating. They told others,
and pretty soon l found myself barred from
the local poker games. The clothing mer-
chants son no longer contributed toward my
spending money. l fell into the habit of drift
ing to nearby towns and gradually extended
my circuit, until at the age of sixteen l was
playing steadily and proftably.
In this way l began my career as what is
known as a cheating card player. 1t was
career in which l was to take up other lines,
as fashions in crooked games changed with
the times. 1t was to lead me into all parts Of
this country and to many foreign parts. 1t
was to introduce me to all sorts of people
under all sorts of conditions. Also l believe
Ngave me an unequaled opportunity of study
ing human nature. At times it was career
aat promised aff1uence. But it never went
iatht than the mere promise, which is gen
eslly the case. There was an old comic opera
siran which ran: Something always hap
! pens when it shouldn't"
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24

we're not 80 easy as the others. They had
natural alertness that was hard to overcome.
Perhaps it was because Montana, having been
a frontier state not SO long ago, was still
wise" to all sorts of games Of chance. At
any rate, we stuck pretty well to the country
where the going was best.
Between st. Louis and st. Joe, for instance,
monte was our favorite game, as it meant
quick money. We might be little in doubt
about one Of the victims we had selected from
among the conductors prospects" Perhaps
there was some question about this persons
financial standing. 1t is discouraging for one
who plays cards for living to "sit in" with a
person and then find that said person has no
funds with which to pay his losses. And it is
just as discouraging to work prospect on
swiftly moving train and find out, after val
liable time has been wasted, that the promised
oil we'll is only cluster" We needed quick
action on these trains--and right there was
where an obliging fellow like our greedy con-
ductor could help us.
We would point to a passenger and tell the
conductor we thought he might be a good
prospect" if he had money. The conductor
would touch the unsuspecting individual on
the shoulder-perhaps waking him from slum-
ber-and ask him if he could change hun
dred dollar bill. If one of us had asked him
the same question the passenger would have
been suspicious in minute. That's human
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24
FORMER confidence man,
s0ho for the last eight gears
has held q position of t1asst

hGs hetd q p0Sat5o7t OF t1'atSt
snd responsibility, tells here the
tory of has early adventuriags.
This story aoill be printed in a
sgies of articles. The first of the
sries, outlining the confidence
mal,'s adventures IN youth as a
chatting card player IN the Middle
Vest and Far West, is published
herewith.
The other articles, which haze
been set dorm as they acre told,
,eiQ be published on Successive
I Saadegs.
Nert week a0iU be told the story
of Circus groft"-hoqo it is organ
izsd and protected, and hoV, IN
some cases, ats proceeds amount to
more thai, the legitimate proceeds
Of the sboW.
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24

characteristic incident at Forth Worth, which
showed his coolness and nerve.
The proprietor Of the White Elephant at
Fort Worth was paying tribute to marshal
who was a bully and was collecting heavily
from all the resorts in town. The official was
in the habit of clustering into place and
demanding fifty or a hundred dollars, or what
ever he happened to need at the moment. The
money was paid, the proprietors Of the gam
bling places being afraid Of him because he had
O reputation as q gun fighter.
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24

/ realized that If one of the men died on
the boat there would be trouble, so | called 10
negro who seemed to be little more intelli-
gent than the rest and told him that was a
doctor and would look at the wounded man.
provided they would guarantee that I wousf
not be injured. They promised. and looked
the negro over He was shot in the head. and
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24

nature. A uniform
makes all the difference
in the world.
Nine times out of ten
the passenger would
fish around in a billfold
until he had produced
the change for the CEN
tury--which bill we
had given to the COR
ductor. Then the faith
ful official would come
back with the report
that everything was 0.
X. - that the "pros-
pect" was something
real - and we would
launch the game with
out delay
Generally we played
for cash, but if a man
look G d particularly
good we were not above
taking a check. We
managed TO find out,
one way or another, If
he had money in the
bank. One Of US would
sidle into the seat be-
side him and after a
desultory conversation,
in the course of which
we found out what
town he was from,
would ask some such
question as:
"By the way, what
interest is the Second
National Bank in your
town paying on time
deposits?"
The chances are in
favor of the prospect
replying that he banks
in the First National
and doesn't know any
thing about the Second
National, but he sup
poses they are all pay
ing about the same
rate now, which is little
enough
That gives us enough
evidence that he is
a bank patron, so when
we have taken his
cash and he pays the
balance by check we do
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24
'FE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A CONFIDENCE MAN

and the strain on ones mind the life of Il
gambler or confidence man offers small re-
ward. / might offer few exceptions-but
very few. I know one gambler who was
reputed to be worth $4,000. But he was
gifted card player as we'll as cheater He
knew card psychology, which all cheaters do
not. Also / might make an exception in the
case of my partner, with whom I travelled
for many years. He brought up family on
the proceeds of his work as a confidence man.
But both these men were quite out Of the
ordinary. In most cases it was the old
something always happened"
] ascertained one or two basic things early
in my career. One was that before there
was any chance Of success cupidity must be
reused in a man--not difficult thing
In most cages. I found also that the easiest
time to beat man is when he thinks he is
going to beat you. These things are part Of
the foundation of all confidence games. In
nearly every case it will be found that the
person defrauded was under the impression
that he was going to take something away
from somebody else.
was not much given to introspection
in those early days. They were days full
New-York tribune., 1922-09-24

Of life and incident,
and I Travelled about a
good deal. The young
fellows with whom I
was brought up were
setting out in the
world in more or less
conventional lines of
endeavor. Some Of
them are we'll known
to-day. One of them is
a famous magazine ed
itor. But ] was not
bothering about a "ca-
reer." I had found
SO m G t h in g that was
giving me a living in
two or three nights of
play, and I was seeing
the world. Also, like
the prospector, / was
being lured on by the
chances of the big win
ming just ahead. So |
went on from one town
to another and from
one game to another,
materially enlarging
my knowledge of hu-
man nature. Sometimes
| had plenty Of money
and sometimes / was
perilously close to be-
ing broke. | had learned
to take ucces s
and failures calm
ly-something that is
quite necessary when
one is depending on the
hazards OF cards.
Generally ! posed
as a travelling man,
though my real busi-
ness was known to
most of the hotelkeep-
ers in the small towns.
Most of these hotel
keepers were of the
''g o o d-f e ii O W" type
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-01-14
CHAPTER II.

Just then Captain Scott, in his
slumber turned over.
Sandy, who held the dagger over
the Captains heart, withdrew it
quickly for moment
But in that moment, something
happened. There was sharp
thud, yell, and Sandy reeled and
fell, his face down, on the deck,
dead, with knife in his back.
Captain Scott awoke with a
start. Whats all that yellin'
aroun' here?" he said, Grossly.
Then, seeing Sandys dead body
lying near him, he said to the man
who had killed him, Good work,
Jerry! It's a good thing / told you
to stand watch, or it might have
been my last"
Then Jerry (who was the one to
whom the captain whispered that
night told the captain what had
and then walked away.
Morning came with nothing more
of interest happening. Everyone
dJS LlSlI UItdhldSJ III the usual
way, without referring to how
killed, even though they
had seen his body.
And it was well they did not, for
the captain was in no good frame
Of mind. And it created a surprise
when he ordered things to be set
for sail. AN don't be too slow
about it, as l want to sail right
away in the mornin'-do ye hear?"
1t was busy day for the pirates.
The captain employed his time in
keeping them at work. If he found
anyone loafing, he would give them
a kick, or, if they had their backs
turned toward him, he would stick
hem with the point of his sword.
BY dark, the ship was ready to
sail, and the pirates, tired from the |
lard labor. fell upon the ground
md slept.
The captain was first to awaken