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Show jj How Citizens of Blackfoot I 1 i Were Duped By a Hobo. I , . I; j)jf ; BY KENNETH C. KERR. r ;' Blackfoot is a very small town in the M neighboring State of Idaho, but It has j hi more than its share in the political i1 iM and general history of that State. It Is , Mj i'ald that no place In the country has - 'AM ,,ad BUCn a stirring history and one ,' I C0U1Q sit all night and listen to stories i; ; , " grave and gay of this little place, , I, 'M Th i one of the gay stories and Is H R vouched for by persona who have al- , lljjlS ways lived there. !l MS One chilly autumn night, when the i! m X,tah Northern was still a novelty to the i Blackfoot people, a train pulled In from 'riP the un and there hurrledlv alighted 1 lli rum lhe bllnd baEeage a cold' and tired I M hobo. He made a dive across the lot 1 m and entered the Rock saloon, that re- , Im 8,ort well remembered bv all the old- j 3 a timers, and where many of Idaho's lead- L t fl ji lne men have Htood before the bar and I'flt ordered, that which most appealed to 'i jljj their tastes at the time. '.M The saloon was crowded. The hobo iff ft lh?w opcn tne rinsing doors and gave j K H a blood curdling Indian war whoop. The 1 1 I M r?wd vunS bQck giving him full play. 1 Ira , 5urn(Kl a handspring and landed on 1 flfl his feet, talking all tho while. Then he walked on hlo hand3 and made a quick AM upward jump to regain hi feet once J iS mor?' Then he passed his hat around. Hl 1 S' il caylng 'something like, "Now people fa 4 everybody come out to the big show to- l3B ..pht.. DoubIe 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,' 1 three littlo Evao, pack of twenty trained . bloodhounds, two. donkeys and troupe J ( -a of negro singers frpm. the Sunny South." i i Of course he got plenty of coins in his hat, lor the room was full, as has been stated, and money was plentiful in those days. He carefully selected a dime from the many coins in his hat and walked to the bar. at the same time depositing the rest of the money In his pocket. He laid the dime on the bar and called for whisky. He filled a glass full and drank It off. With another war whoop, several handsprings and a wonderful stunt on one hand he began his tall: again. "Yes people, the famous show tonight. The great trapeze act In which I will appear The Apple Sisters, Seedy and Corey in their rope walking contest." By this time the crowd had increased and he stood on tho bar and made' a feint of swallowing a penknife and other simple acta of alleged magic. The hat went around once moro and again he selected a dime und gravely took a drink at the bar. The whole town seemed to be getting into the saloon and he again began his handsprings, walking on his hands and doing every other trick or feat which he know. For Ue third time he passed the hat and this time the response was not so generous, but he smilingly pocketed the coins and backed to the door. "Don't forget the big show tonight," he cried Ta, ta!" Tho bell of the locomotive' was ringing. He rushed across the lot clambered onto tho blind baggage and was off in the chilly gloom while the citizens 'of Blackfoot-were left to mourn his sudden departure.. |