Saint Mary's beacon., 1880-02-19
res Drinkers Betrayed.

A drug clerk, late Of Williamsburg,
but who has been employed for cou-
pie Of weeks in a Broadway drug store
Of the first class, has made some reve-
Iations Of startling character to . re-
porter OF Truth.
Being asked how il was that be came
to leave a snug berth in Williamsburg
pharmacy, in which he had been en-
pIoyed for years, he replied laconical-
ly:
Because | couldn't keep my mouth
shut" -a1sh :'s sde
"Why," asked the astonIshed report
er,. sis there anything so very peculiar
IN the retail drug business that it is me-
cessary for an employe TO keep has
mouth close shut than in any other bus
mess -
"You don't tumble, ! see. young
man." said the man of the mortar and
peStle; "I couldn't keep secrets close
enough. That was the matter.
Secrets in drug store :"
Eyes, secrets that affected the peace
OF mind of many OF the best families"
"But pardon me" ventured the re-
porter, II can't exactly understand this
mixture OF drugs and sentimentalily.
"Let me explain" said the clerk, and
with that he proceeded to unf9ld the
following astonishing story:
"I was employed in one Of the best
drug stores 10 the 'burg'-lhat is 70 say
in one OF the most popular pharmacies
| in the Eastern District OF Brooklyn. We
had all The trade of the best people o
Bedford avenue--especlally of that par
known as Fountain Square. sa
"There is big fountain there, and
the people are very proud Of il. II i
sort OF temperance guarantee OF the
neighborhood. But il doesn't always
run water"
''What does It run then !"
Gin"
"You don't say gin p
ayes; fgurativeiy, gin: for ! know
tina. most of the ladies' whollive IN the
neighborhood drink il. Not from the
fountain, bat from the store. over which
presided. They came regularly TO me
10 get their bittcrs every day. They
used to come IN and ask for soda wa
ter in very loud voice, and then ge
me 10 run through . list Of syrups
Then they would select ia whisper
GIN
"How big a dose would you give
them z"
"A large wine glass IN little soda
water. And they used 10 repeat It five
or sir times day. ! bad this secrel
Of half the ladies OF the neighborhood
and didn't know enough TO keep my
mouth shut. On ladies' day, party d
them started out IN a carriage 10 make
calls, and began as usual with pre-
Iiminarv nip al our store. They were
in good bumor, aud insisted that should
take drink with them, which ! did.
"One Of these ladies, who j. married
TO one OF the richest men who reside.
in the vicinity OF Bedford and Division
avenues, was recognized as she yea.
! leaving the store that day BY detec-
tive who frequents The place and who
had grown very familiar with me. lie
told me a little story about her ihaLin-
terested me. He said she bad been fs-
nous several years back in New York
az a confidence woman, and bad been
under espionage for several little tricks
on susceptible and wealthy old mer-
chants. who had been obliged % pay
roundly 60 get rid Of her.
sShe suddenIy mo ed over to VIII
Iiamsburg, however. and became very
devout, joining fashionable church n
Bedford avenue, and attending al the
services, social ard devotional. The
result vas she married one ofthe veal
thiest men Of williamsburg not - very
long ago, and still lives with him."
but how did you come TO betray this
story ~ -
II lpIl YOU. That Isdy'y day this
lady. will ihe passy she took out IN her
coach. got into some trouble in Brook
len. They took 10 too much wine, and