Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-03-12

weeks back, been on the reform, and
they laughed merrily on seeing him
In the old haunt again. The dinner
was superb, The choicest wines
threaded their glittering way through
the rarest dishes, and for nearly two
hours the gay crew ate, drank,
smoked and talked. 1t would startle
many OF our readers were 10 give
the names Of the guests about the
table, ... .....
The dinner over, Dick fingered. I
could not get him away. He wished
to watch the playing for few mir
utes. Then he demanded a " out OF
his purse to pay for the dinner.
But you promised me-
We'll, yes; but we can't sneak off
like loafers, without paying for our
dinner. Come, give me a V, and |
swear I'll 60 then like gentleman. )
l reluctantly gave him the golden
five. Unfortunately, 1t won. Again
l urged him to go, but he persisted
in his determination te pay for the
dinner, and so continued playing.
In despair l at last abandoned my
friend, carrying away his purse, be-
lieving that, the best way to stop his
gambling. ..
At ten o'clock went TO his room
to find 1t deserted. / waited an hour
without seeing him return. went
away and came back, but Dick. At
last, abont midnight, l sought the
hell have described. The rooms
partially deserted, and ut the table |
found my friend Dick with a pile of
gold near his elbow.
Has he won all that? Iasked of
his cousin, an old habitue Of the
place.
Devil Bit he replied; he has
been checking out his pay aud mile.
age, and has for hours been running
up and down like rottA bucket in
q well.'
l knew that remonstrancc would
DC useless, and standing by, 1 watch
ed the varying run Of luck, some
times favorable to the player, but
generally against him. At last long
hours after my arrival, he seemed to
take the down train without brakes
and lost all.
The day was just breaking over tho
white dome of the Capitol, and the
yet sleeping city, when we emerged
from the hell, aud turning to my
friend, said:
We'll, Richard, what do you think
of yourself about this time? p
That ! am, as / always have been,
and will be forever and ever, ID
fool
During tho late war, in these places
were found the quicksands, rocks
and breakers where many an officer,
paymaster, quartermaster or commits
sary left the government money aud
a ruined character, until Mr.. Stanton
ordered all officers away, and set Mr..
Baker after the hells. This fellow,
IL is said, licensed the concerns, by
levying black-mail on them. lie has
left n scented memory here Us else
where.
From the four first.class establish
ments, the curious inquirer pas ses to
an almost unlimited number of mean
or holes, into which the wicked are
invited, aud the unwary are inveigled
to their ruin. / found them more
difficult of access than the tirst-class,
for they have more to fear from the
police. Some were seen more gorge
ously furnished to attract and be-
wilder. And as one descends the
faces grow harder and more repulsive.
must say, however, that In all Is TO
be found a certain ease and friendli-
ness OF manner-not the true thing
that one calls gentlemanly, but some
thing akin to 1t. These lower depths
have decoy ducks and stool pigeons
to trap the innocent. These decoys
dress well, rather too fashlonably,
and board at tho best hotels, and
have an eye out for the new conner,
who visits Washington to look at the
Capitol. Their judgment Is unerring.
They can detect an office seeker or q
lobby agent mt a glance, and give him
a wide berth, and the neat, delicate
manner in which they approach and
capture their victim is worth study.
- Wash. Cor. Cincinnati Commercial.