The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-01-11
THE GAMBLERS, NEW YEAR,
Unhappy Victims of the Fascinating Green
."...r- Cloth.
Portland Northeast Ne,cs

| Portland Northeast Netrs.
Gambling, of all other vices, Is perhap
the most absorbing. The sowing of so
called "wild oats" of the young man Of th,
period, If it does not embrace touch of th,
demon Of game, is remediable to great ex
tent, but when the fascination for th,
"green" becomes strong, there seems TO b,
no help for the unhappy victim. The ties o
home are but as strsws, the counsels Of the
indulgent father are but idle words, the tear,
of the wife or mother have but an irritating
effect, and the votary at Dame Fortune.
shrine sinks lower and lower, until the once
bright and happy ccantenance assumes I
more and more brutal aspect, and the "bird
of prey" stands revealed In all its native
hideousness. Yesterday morning as the re.
porter, unlucky enough to have the late
watch on his detail to attend to, was wend.
ing his weary way along First street, about
1:30 O'Clock, his attention was attracted to
two thin, shadowy figures standing in door.
way near the Cosmopolitan gambling saloon,
corner Of First and Alder streets. The rat.
tie. of chips In the den within polluted the
freshness of the bracing night air, and sug-
gested the appropriateness Of applying the
term of
"RATTLEsNAKEs"
to the fraternity. Their sting is surely
effective enough to justify the tern.
"Hello, Jim," said one.
"Hello, Billy" was the answer.
"Any luck tonight"
"Busted. Got any money!"
"Sot red. a-,, Thought you'd left of
playing9" )
$50 did /, but you see had got in thesbox
so deep that thought I'd try once more. /
coppered the queen for a fiver and let it stay
three times. BY golly, she won. cashed
her IN, and started for the door with $40.
First thought I'd take my overcost and
sealskin cap out Of my uncle's hands, being
as the cold spell has come to stay awhile
But had to 60 back. had kind of sch.
ing in the bones as got to the door, and it
seemed as If was getlin' away from good
thing. You know how 1t Is YOURSELF" with
a groan.
"Oh, Of course, you had to 60 back and
tackle the tiger agin, and got clawed," said
the other. "Hain't told you time and agin.
You'll get into the poor-house yet, If You
keep on the way you are going"
"Some Of 'em says, Follow up your
luck" was the plaintive rejoinder.
"You needn't think man loves you, be-
cause be calls you back when you're win
ming" said Billy, who seemed TO be some
what of q satirist.
...- A RHEUMATIC TwINGE.
mo one called me back" was the jrri.
tated response. 81 felt it in my bones, but
1t must have been the rheumatism. Twas
playing to win grub, too."
"Phew, but its cold. Let's get a drink.
But we can't. Moneys gone. Just listen
to that wind"
"Git out, and 60 TO bed"
"You needn't be so fresh. You amt
nothing but a tinhorn gambler, nohow.
You never blowed in your wife's duds, like
me-"
"Thst's true. But you amt q circum-
stance to the feller from Vancouver met
some time ago. He enlisted in the army for
five years, in the regular service, at salary
Of SIS month. He served the time and
didn't draw a cent. Last fall he cum to
town with nearly $500 in his pocket. Hadn't
been here twelve hours before he dropped
s7Co up to Frencbys. That same night he
went right in here to Paul Fuhr's and s.aksd
all he had-nearly $10O-on one turn, and
lost. He borrowed two bits for bed, and
went and enlisted for five year more. That's
what l call sand"
The trio Qncluding the reporter), sepa-
rated, each occupied with his own thoughts.