Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-30
A NIGHT WITH GAMBLERS.

q
OF it to exploring the darker portion OF
the metropolis, meeting with some curl
Gus adventures making few strange &C
quaintances. One of the last was midle-
aged man with whom | first spoke one
afternoon at bulI-fght in Necatilan
Square.
A strong feeling Of friendship speedily
spTang up between us, and with Don
Jaime Mercado-as he introduced him
self-as guide / had little difficulty in
finding means Of passing away the time.
And with him as companion one night |
found myself cautiously treading the
CalleiOn del Arco, or :" blind alley Of the
Arcade" long notorious as one of the
most dangerous places in the Mexican
capital The dense mass OF houses, of
which the Merchants Arcade forms a
part, known as the ImpedradillO does
not form one compact street. On the
southwestern side Of the Cathedral a mar
row lane runs into the Impedradillo; this
is called the Callejon del Arco. 1t is
like one Of those caverns which the sea
sometimes holloWs out in the face of a
cliff
Even in the daytime, while the suns
rays pouring down upon the square are
almost binding, this alley is dark,
", L.,
though only few PAGES, and you seem
preCipitated into the shades of night; an
involuntary chill creeps over you, by no
means lessened as you catch glimpse of
some shadowy figure lurking in an arch
way, closely shrouded in cloak and sombre-
70, the black, evil eyes watching your every
motion. Then there is an unhealthy
dampness around you; water is constant
ly oOzing out Of the walls; under foot
IL is wet and slimy-almOst unconscious
ly comes the terrible fancy that one is
treading in the gore of the countless vic
tins whose lives have ended here.
Yet through this alley Don Jaime Mer-
cado guided me-he with drawn sword,
with cooked revolver. Three several
times we closely Rugged the widowed
walls, our weapons pointing outward, to
await the passing by of some suspicious
character. Either these gentlemen were
wronged by our suspicious, or else they
did not like cold steel or hot lead, since
they quietly passed US by, though edging
close to the further wall.
At length Don Jaime paused before a
heayily-ironed door, striking three loud
blows upon it with the pommel of his
sword. Almost Immediately this opened,
and a porter bearing a lantern held the
light up to our faces. Evidently satisfied
he raped a signal upon the door behind
him, which promptly opened.
This revealed a long, steep flight of
stairs, up which we tramped. Here
serge curtain, surmounted by transpar-
enCy bearing the legend "Sociadad Filar-
monica" swung noIselessly aside, and we
were in one OF the most fashionable gam
bling halls of the City of Mexico. For a
IL, i !
could distinguish little else than a low, in
distinct hum, mingled with the click of
the roulette balls and the more musical
Jingle Of golden coin.
The hall was of extraordinary dimen-
sions, lighted by hundreds of wax tapers
Two dozen long, green baize-covered
tables were surmounted by the eager
deyotees of Fortune; this much | saw,
then was introduced to the proprietor of
the hall, dapper little Frenchman whose
name | have forgotten.
He was extremely polite and attentive,
leading us to the elegantly titted-up side
board, pressing us to partake ofthe spark
ling wines and luscious fruit. He soon
left us, however, to greet some other Wis
itors, and then we joined the crowd around
one OF the tables.
1t was devoted to rouge ct nOir, with its
circles of devoteeS, who came night after
night to tempt fortune, one moment ting
ling with a wild, delicious Joy as the
tickle dame deigns to smile upon them,
the next plunged into the depths of de-
spair as the croupier's rake transfers the
glittering offering to the wrong side OF
the table.
"See," whispered Don Jaime into my
ear; " observe that lady in black, she with
the lace mask, who places her little pile
on the red double zero with such a
queenly air. That is Sonora de Los
D. Ten months since she was the
idol of her husband, who possessed al
most princely wealth, but the mania
seized her. She visited the tables night
ly, losing enormously, giving orders upon
orders upon her husband for the amounts,
which were gladly taken, for Don D.,
everybody knew, would sacrifice his last
thaco rather than dishonor his name by
refusing payment. Her husband soon
scovered the truth and paid her debts,
but there was stormy scene between
them, it is said, and two DAYS atterward
he was found dead in the street, slain by
the stroke of a cuchillo in the hands of a
hired bravo. The truth is not known for
certain, but many believe that she paid
for the murder. Since then she has been
a nightly visitor here, losing almost con-
Stantly. The last of her husbands prop
erty is sold, and when that is gone-well,
there is the suicides grave"
At the next table Californian of swart
features and sinister aspect, not lessened
by the strips of court plaster that dag
onally cross his face from eye to jaw
bone, deals monte for the " benefit" of the
moths who futter around the golden
piles in mOmentary expectation of rails
ing them first into their own pockets
but, alas! though riches have wings, they
do not fly in that direction.
The low cries I" Cavalle en- la puerta ~
"Soto mozo" e. The Queen in the gater
"The knave winnern') at intervals an
nounce in set phrase the progress of the
game The golden stakes are transferred
from hand TO hand, their sharp, metallic
click contrasting with the soft, rapid shuttle
of the cards But then the betting almost
ceased when man pushed himself for
ward and seated himself in front of the
benches, while servant deposited an
iron box before his master. When the
lids were thrown back a glittering mass
OF onzas appeared, causing even the i'm.
perturbable dealer to start with wonder,
and glance of joy to fit across his face
two things that had not occurred before
"lthln the memory of man.
The stranger played heavily, for the
oahK had no limit, and in less than az
hour tne banker slowly uttered; Gen