A MIDNIGHT RIDE WITH " SLIM JIM," THE MONTE KING.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 171, 23 December 1874, Page 3

A MIDNIGHT RIDE WITH " SLIM JIM," THE MONTE KING.

{From the Sacramento Record.') We are gliding through the canyon of the Tiucke River at night ; nine out of ten of the passengers are dozing, when, suddenly, the door opens, and in with the cold night comes the queerest specimen of humanity I ever saw. One side of the slouched hat; is pinned up, and by the lamplight discloses a face tint is young and not unhandsome, a pair of honest blue eyes and a good forehead. The beard is unshorn, however, the hair unkempt, and every lineament of the countenance betrays unmistakable verdancy. It requires no particular knowledge of character to decide that the fellow is a green Missourian, fresh from the primitive precincts of Pike county. O.io leg of the corduroy pants is stuffed into the top of an old cowhide boot. These, and the woollen shirt, and the dilapidated vest and coat, render his costume decidedly seedy. As if totally oblivious of the situation and surroundings, he begins humming the familiar '•■line of <; Dixie's Land," in a low, musical voice. Keeping time to his wierd song, he waltzes with a light, shuffling step the entire length of the car, and in a twinkling has disappeared. He has molested no one, and yet everybody is awake and talking about this strange personage. He has not awakened them by his humming song or shuffling dance so much as by his strange, indescribable Lone, manner and conduct. The boy on the front sent is convulsed with laughter, the young miss across the aisle giggles with glee, broad smiles overspread tlie faces of men and matrons, and the more serious mutter, " Poor fellow! he is crazy." They ".re as unconscious of the person at whom they have been looking at as of the scenery through which they have been gliding. Ah. that good wife would scarcely have awakened her drowsy husband to " look at that fellow" had she imagined for an instant that it was " the terrible Slim Jim," chiefest of the monte sharps. In a lit lie time he returns, and with the same abstracted air proceeds to walk through the car. Impelled by curiosity, several of us follow him into th« smoking car. He is surrounded by a group of laughing fellows, who are listening to his story, At Truckee, he said, a lady had stepped up to the ticket office to buy her ticket, and found that her purse was missing. -She had asked him for 40 dol, and had promised to pay him when she got aboard the train. He let her hive the money, and now had gone " clean through." the cars without finding her. He sold the story in such a droll manner that everybody laughed, even while they pitted the poor fellow's loss, lie seemed to care but little, however, for he drew from his pocket a large leathern bag, fully eighteen inches in length, that was half full of shining gold pieces. He told how ho had been swindled out of some of his money by the fellows called "inonte sharps," and proceeded

to illustrate the manner in which they fooled him. Believing that he had thoroughly lean od the game, from the rascals, he offered 'o bet. ihat, no one could tell the ace of diamonds, and in less, than five minutes he lost ■IOO do! to well dressed gentlemen who stood around. His bunds moved so awkwardly that a child could pick out the right card. No man ever saw 18,000 dol placed conveniently within his grasp who was not templed to covet, the lucre. So it was with the black visaged man, who sprang eagerly from his seat as soon as the greenhorn began losing his money. Of all the men in the ear this man was the most perfect villian. i; God's handwriting in his countenance, was no* wh'-lly unintelligible. Carried aw.iy with ihe one idea of Ftoalmg the Missourian's money, this fellow planked down his cash, his watch, his gold chain, and lost ! All this occupied not over ten minutes, including the waltz, the game, and the. winning. Just as the fellow turned the wrong can!, a low whistle from the further end of the ear announced the coming of the conductor. Quicker than "scat" the cards disappeared, the cappers and all hands dropped into their seats, Slim Jim drew his hat down over his eyes, and the victim, after glancing fiercely around for a moment, settled back into his seat in moody silence, the conductor entered and passed slowly through the car, and not a single hint did he obtain of the fact that a game had been going on. Hardly had he left the car before the villainous looking victim demanded another chance to bet. From another pocket he had drawn 20 dol, his last cent, and eagerly asked for a "sight.', Coolly disregarding his importunities, Slim Jim said, " No, sir. I don't want to break you." In another minute he had disappeared through the door, dancing and humming "Away, away."