Year: 1874

w htAC fse Do1tiO ANOutltdlh yoSltT-
day, says the "Local" of the Austin
ReueiHe of the Sd, Forbes invited us
over to witness the boys "faking."
We had no idea what taking :"
meant, so we went across the track
to endeavor to learn. Entering a sa-
loon, we beheld seated at a table a
half idiotic appearing cuss, with a
large pile of greenbacks in a dilapi-
dated pocket-book, and number of
specimens of ore spread on table.
He was attired in a rusty, dirty and
ragged coat, on the back of which
some mischievous and cruel person
had pinned pieces of rags in order
to bring the poor fellow into ridieule.
On his head he wore dirty, white
felt hat, with the brim twisted into
all conceivable shapes, from under
which a pair of watery- looking eyes
peeped around with vacant stare.
On one hand, two fingers were gone,
and another finger was wrapped in
dirty rig; and one finger on the
other hand was similarly eneased.
Scattered around the table, were a
number of innocent-looking gentle
men who just left the western bound
train, which stood at the platform,
to get some lunch. These gentle
men were having good thing of it
robbing the poor devil at the table,
who was telling how he had just sold
that thar mine tpointing to speci-


men of quartz for $4,000, and who
had another claim which was just
plum full of rock just like 1t. d" Thar
amt no gold in that ar piece" said
he, pointing to piece in which the
gold was plainly visible; "kase why?
kase you can't see it. Jim Thomp-
son he's gone to Virginny to get
some of that Tar rock asssyed; and
some fellows they beat me outen
some money with three little cards
list like this" Then taking three
little cards from his pocket-on one
of which was painted picture of
little boy rolling hoop he pro-


nI 70 -h h. Ia hnI Lost
money; but he didn't care; he had
plenty left. AS he turned around to
wipe his nose on his coat-sleeve, one
of the innocent looking gentlemen
tnrned up the corner of the card on
which was painted the boy, in such
manner that any person could cas-
ily distinguish it from the other two;
and then they commenced to cheat
the poor fellow by betting him that
they could turn over the little boy
card. The foolish fellow would take
all their bets and continually lose
The innocent gentlemen were very
solicitous that we should have some
of this good thing while it was GO
ing; but what chance was there for
,afehow returning from three State
Conventions, even on sure thing.
There were others, also, for whom
the innocent gentlemen entertained
great solicitude, telling them they
might Just as well get the burned
FOOLS money as anybody. One
young fellow thus importuned gazed
with wishful eyes upon the pile OF
money on the table. He was evil
IDENTIFY country raised boy, just
from home, and it was apparent that
struggle was going on within HIM
between his sense of right combined
with tear of loss, and his avarice
combined with the desire for easy
gain. He gazed fascinated for some
time, sometimes accommodatlngly
holding the stakes for the gentle
men who were winning the fool's
money. But the temptation at last
proved too strong for him. There
was no earthly chance to lose; there
it was as plain as day, the card with
the corner turned up was surely the
boy card. Surely he might as well
have this money as those other men;
he would take one hundred dollars
of it and that would be all. Taking
the money from his pocket he placed
it in the hands of a bystander
against SlOe put up by the miner
With trembling fingers aud beating
q heart, he turns the card, when, hor-
ror of horrors, it is the wrong one;
the little boy has disappeared, and,
with idiotic glee, the dealer exclaims'
"Ive won!' and takes in the stakes.
With looks of blended establishment
and sheepishness, the victim turns
T away; the bell for. the departure oi
the train rings; and poorer and sad
der, he enters the cars, only TO De-
come wiser when he reads for the
first time the notice which has hith,
erto escaped his eye: "Beware OF
three-card-monte thieves and othef
-,sharpers: and dOn't enter into games