River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-11-08

awaIes.
New York Times.
A petite woman, richly and tastily
dressed in modest colors, walked rapid
" past Fifth Avenue Hetel just before
moan the other day. A Times reporter
came out of the hotel and started leisure
iy down the avenue just behind her.
There was about him that air of indif-
ference which uncongciously attaches
itself to all reporters who are not con-
Kected with the only paper which cir
culates exclusively among the best fam
lies" The fact that the brilliant drip
pings Of his pen were not fated TO OBJ
security in its pages made him pensive
as we'll as Indifferent, and caused him to
Sumter. As he reached the Twenty.
third street corner the young woman,
who had hesitated and finally stopped,
approached him and said:
Excuse me for troubling you, sir; but
might ] ask you to do me slight lavor?"
The reporter lifted his hat and uncon-
sciously TT marked: on might, but |
warn you in advance l am not connected
with that paper which boasts of the
largest circulation among the best peo'
Pile"
The petite woman looked up, and with
a somewhat peculiar smile, said: "But
| didn't think you were Police Gazette
reporter" The young reporter felt re-
lieved, and willingly offered his services
in the execution of any commission that
might be given him. Daintily-gIoved
fingers droppe dime into the hand of
the reporter as the woman said will
YOU step to the newsstand in the Filth
Avenue Hotel and get me copy of the
Hotel Reporter of this morning? Itwill
cost ten cents. 1t is high-priced, and
contains little that one wants to read;
but, unlike any other paper, 1t IS useful
for my purposes"
The request was an unusual one. The
speaker was bright and intelligent, a
oman whose manner betOkened some
thing of refinement. There was, too,
something in her manner which seemed
familiar to the Times man, and which
made him involuntarily think of his
New England home. sthe impromptu
messenger went into the hotel he met
Detective Pryor, who said, "Be little
careful, my boy, she's q shrewd one"
"Who is she, and for what does she
want to see Hotel Reporter"
ASK her: perhaps she'll tell you.
Then go ask Hungry Joe" what he does
for living. He'll tell you too"
The "tlp" was sufficient. Night it not
be worked successfully for solution of
the strange commission. The familiar
face and voice haunted the reporter as
he went down the corridor to the news
stand. The picture of a little school
house in busy Connecticut town haun-
ted him, and the central figure of the
picture was the face of the little woman
outside. 1t was younger, freEher, less
careVorn. Yet it was the same. There
was the same music in the voice, the
same color in the eye. The child, de-
veloped into the woman, would be like
that woman on the sidewalk. The
name came back. too. But 1t was that
OF an old playmate, the daughter of a
prominent manufacturer. Could the
two be identical?
"Your commission is fulfilled. Here is
your paper, Miss Blank"
The experiment; was successful, the eff
feet electrical. The little woman started
as though she had eenstruck, for the
name WAS an uncommon one.
do you know me, then| The little
woman looked at her inquisitor. at is
fifteen, yes twenty years, since l saw
>
be-" The little woman had called the
Questioner by his correct Christian name
and surname. The identity of both be-
ing established and acknowledged, the
little woman said: LET US walk
down street; some one might over
hear or observe u.s."
at is lunch-time. Let us go and get
luncheon, and then tell me why you
wanted copy of the Hotel Reporter, II
you can crafty my curiosity" The sug'
gestion was the reporters. Seated at
the table in a coy corner, the waiter
having been induced to make himself
agreeable by watching the demolition OF
the meal from q distance, the little
woman related her story. 1t was rev
citation Of phase of life which attaches
to great cities only. 1t was
the story of an adventures.
Its pecularities are known to
the detectives, to the victims, to the
woman belonged, but not to the public
at large, who are told in the newspapers
only of the successes of The male halt oil
this class. The preface of her story was
the sad one which belongs to the life OF
so many hundred women. 1t Is old
yet always new. It's Lesson is
often taught is never learned
save by experience. 1t was that Of a
beautiful girl, highly educated. There
was summer Irritation with chance
acquaintance. True love was an element
in this one. It has remained one
through many years. Though the young
man was graduate of Harvard, con-
nected with one of Boston's best iamil-
les and with some little fortune, her
parents opposed the marriage, which
took place clandestinely. He became b
gambler. Dropping name and associates,
he went west, failed to retrieve his for
tunes in legitimate business, and became
a professional gambler. A few years
az he made New York his home. The
wife bad been pressed into service as
his assistant in the west, first as hostess
at his establishment, where her quiet,
lady-like WAYS, her vivlcious CONVERSE
ton and ready wit served to lessen the
sting of the losses sustained by victims,
particularly when she dealt the cards al
the farO-table or took a hand at poker
casino or cribbage. Her ten years OF
married life and the life of q gambler
have not materially lessened the charms
OF the little Connecticut woman, and
she counts her victims with tens where
her husband counts his with units.
The Hotel Reporter serves US in lieu
Of 'cappers,' said the little woman.
There is no division of pr fits with the
publishers. Do YOU never meet gentl =
men at the hotels who receive mystic
rious letters from anknown correspon.
dep;s? They are always written on ma
terials Of the finest, coached in language
not only polite, but sufficiently familiar
to in4uee the recipient to conclude he
knows the sender, though he is wholly
unacquainteb. They often take the
shape OF invitations TO dinner, TO the
alter party, or. if an inspection of the
person warrants it, 10 ciandestjne
meeting. In the last named case they
are signed by my own or my assumed
name. These are addressed only to
such men IS / think know nie by reason
OF chance meetings in cities where
have lived and who DO not know my
business. Every man is more or less
susceptible and wicked, and Is legitl-
mate game TO such as | ?
You spoke of an inspection warrant
ing familiar style OF address. How Is