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Page 101
Take four nickels, and solder them together so the solder will not
appear. Then cut out of three of them, square hole like this:
(Illustration.) Take about twelve other nickels, and on top of them you
lay a small die with the six up, that will fit easily in the hole
without being noticed. You lay the four nickels over this, and all
presents the appearance of a stack of nickels. You do all this privately
so everybody will suppose it is nothing but a stack of five-cent pieces.
You then lay another small die on top of the stack with the ace up. You
have a small tin cup shaped like this (Illustration) made for the
purpose. You let everybody see the ace, and then say you propose to turn
the ace into a six. You lay the tin cup carefully over the stack this
way, and feel around in your pocket for a pencil and not finding one.
(The rest of this letter is lost)
* * * *
AUSTIN, Texas, May 10, 1885.
Dear Dave: I received your two letters and have commenced two or three
in reply, but always failed to say what I wanted to, and destroyed them
all. I heard from Joe that you would probably remain in Colorado. I hope
you will succeed in making a good thing out of it, if you conclude to do
so, but would like to see you back again in Austin. If there is anything
I can do for you here, let me know.
Town is fearfully dull, except for the frequent raids of the Servant
Girl Annihilators, who make things lively during the dead hours of the
night; if it were not for them, items of interest would be very scarce,
as you may see by the STATESMAN.
Our serenading party has developed new and alarming modes of torture for
our helpless and sleeping victims. Last Thursday night we loaded up a
small organ on a hack and with our other usual instruments made an
assault upon the quiet air of midnight that made the atmosphere turn
pale.
After going the rounds we were halted on the Avenue by Fritz Hartkopf
and ordered into his salon. We went in, carrying the organ, etc. A large
crowd of bums immediately gathered, prominent among which, were to be
seen Percy James, Theodore Hillyer, Randolph Burmond, Charlie Hicks, and
after partaking freely of lemonade we wended our way down, and were duly
halted and treated in the same manner by other hospitable gentlemen.
We were called in at several places while wit and champagne, Rhein Wine,
etc., flowed in a most joyous and hilarious manner. It was one of the
most recherche and per diem affairs ever known in the city. Nothing
occurred to mar the pleasure of the hour, except a trifling incident
that might be construed as malapropos and post-meridian by the
hypercritical. Mr. Charles Sims on attempting to introduce Mr. Charles
Hicks and your humble servant to young ladies, where we had been invited
inside, forgot our names and required to be informed on the subject
before proceeding.
Yours
W. S. P.
* * * *
AUSTIN, Texas, December 22, 1885.
Dear Dave: Everything wept at your departure. Especially the clouds.
Last night the clouds had a silver lining, three dollars and a half's
worth. I fulfilled your engagement in grand, tout ensemble style, but
there is a sad bon jour look about the thirty-eight cents left in my
vest pocket that would make a hired man weep. All day long the heavens
wept, and the heavy, sombre clouds went drifting about over head, and
the north wind howled in maniacal derision, and the hack drivers danced
on the pavements in wild, fierce glee, for they knew too well what the
stormy day betokened. The hack was to call for me at eight. At five
minutes to eight I went upstairs and dressed in my usual bijou and
operatic style, and rolled away to the opera. Emma sang finely. I
applauded at the wrong times, and praised her rendering of the chromatic
scale when she was performing on "c" flat andante pianissimo, but
otherwise the occasion passed off without anything to mar the joyousness
of the hour. Everybody was there. Isidor Moses and John Ireland, and
Fritz Hartkopf and Prof. Herzog and Bill Stacy and all the bong ton
elight. You will receive a draft to-day through the First National Bank
of Colorado for $3.65, which you will please honor.
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