Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-06-28
THE GANG.
How the Knights of the White Chip Keep
 Ahoat-An old Gamblers story.

AhOat-An old Gamblers story. "What," said an old, gray-haired man, to the CITIZEN emissary last night, | "don't you know anything about the gang?"
 "Who is the gang" inquired the child | faced man of information. "Well. you're a chump," said he, and he sand-papered his bald head with fingers that had done service in many [ brace game. "You are about the thin nest skinned reporter have met with since left Washoe. I don't think you would have sense enough to lift cop per or a white chip after your card was dead. Why, sir. the gang are the sporting men-and, by the way, there are some of them who have real ability. The fact that they stay around saloons IS no evidence of their lack oi intelli- gence. There are men in Tucson today who are considered gamblers, and some called loafers, who have in their time held high official positions"
 "Why is it that some of those are now considered loafers?" inquired the re- porter.
 'The question Is easily answered. budget Do you know what 'bUdge means? Don't, eh? Well, straight whisky and very small piece of Ice."
 But how do these men live:" in- quired the reporter.
 .g\n,r- R-,srpo ,,,op x-oFr ln-a f,,T mo 1t sometimes puzzles me to know how some of them live, but I notice most of them come to the front with burnlshed collars and shirt fronts. Still, 1 do know something about il, and while we are having a quIet chat all to ourselves I will tell you some facts which have probably never entered your young brain; but mind you. never let the lore for easy gain take possession of you. It were better that 3S-pound grind stone be hung about your neck and you be cast into Warmers lake. l believe that is the scriptural quotation-if it isn't l know the CITIZEN will get it in right. But I am getting of the track. The sporting fraternity live all the way from affiuence and frog legs to the shadow of an imaginary free lunch. It Is a life as checkered as leap year calendar, and in many instances the checkered spots represent meals that have not been served. There are men in this town to- day who do not get one square meal in two days and 1 might say in week. Some Of them live of a small pittance given them by what you fellows term frail sirens, with whom they are pop ular: others live CiT the earnings of a woman of the same class who are stuck
 T. -T 1.H. IL. stone fellows who turn a trick now and then and blow the bJJdle in for budge. Then there are others whom ge do not consider sporting men but they cut their hair short, wear small hats, talk some of the bar-rOom slang and boast that they are gamblers. These men we call wolves they generally know as much about gambling Gs a reporter knows about well-coniucted prayer meeting. They hang around, however, and are ready to do anything from cleaning a spittoOn tO running in a drunken guy who has lots Of stuff and Is stuck on the fascinating game of faro.''
 "Wen, how do they live?' inquired the reporter.
 "LIve? Well that's another connun- drum. StIll it's not a connundrum either; they generally live vell-that is they have no hard work to debut they manH+a to get along and they do if in thJt way, "-.N they want h meal or 'heir washing O. money for room rent, they go to one of the owners of a game with a face Rs long us the Easter Sunday sermon of au Episcopal minister and state their case with the same assurance that you reporters would do should the Republican nom- inee for the presidency pass through the city. Of course he gets ''st.ke'- sometimes he takes his washing cut of soak or pays hIs room rent and some times he bucks 1t against farO--mOst generally the latter. unless his landlord has threat tened to fire him out or his celluloid collar has become so disagree ably filthy as to cause the gang to be- gin joshiug him. If you will notice however. the gamblers and these hang eTs-on or curb-stone men always appear neat and tidy. IL Is a matter of necessi- ty; If they did not the men running the games would discOuntenance them. Why, l can show you in a walk If half a block, men whom you would call dudes who have not had mOuthful to eat for two days and yet they wear nigger-sinE- CT neckties, high collars and have their boots shining like the apex of anews- paper mans nose. There IS another class of men who dress about the same way that know no more about gambling than you know about taking the lead in young lady's cooking club, who hang on to the fraternity and call themselves to the outside world-gamblers, but they do nothing but pick pock -ts and hold up men,"
 But these characters are not to be found in Tu"son at present?'
 Not, eb! Well, my young friend, they are thicker here than drunken stifis around saloon stove on a vinter's..day. But look here; I believe you are trying to pump me. Remember thIs talk is be- tween ourselves.