A SMART STRATAGEM.

Dunstan Times, Issue 848, 19 July 1878, Page 3

A SMART STRATAGEM.

A gentleman lately returned to Hamilton from Melbourne vouches to the Spectator for the following smart piece of business : —A respectable looking man, from the northern part of Victoria, on a visit to Melbourne, considering that ho could play billiards “ a little bit," went into a billiard room in Bourke street with only a few shillings in his pocket, hut ho soon found there were hotter players in Melbourne than himself. The few shillings anon changed lands, and when the last round came he

was without the wherewithal to pay for nobblcrs on the game. Ho tried the barman to let him oil until next day, but it would not do ; something tangible must be left to be redeemed. A happy thought struck him. Wearing a very large Ulster over-coat, he thought he could leave his unmentionables. This was accordingly done. On returning to the hotel (not a hundred miles from the post-office) he desired the boots to call him for the early train next morning. This was done ) but while the boots was proceeding away from the bedroom door, the boll was violently mug, and on returning boots was asked if any other person bad been sleeping in the same room, as the country gentleman's trousers and and money had been taken—be did not care so much about the trousers aa the money. The landlord was called, who was sorry anything of the kind should happen in his house, so to keep the matter quiet a new pair of trousers were produced, the faro up country was paid, and a pound or two given iu besides. After ho left, the barman of the billiard-room paid a visit to the barman of the hotel opposite, and told of the gentleman who left hia trousers in pawn. The disgust exhibited by the hotelkeeper may be easily imagined.