The Osceola times., 1886-02-13
REAL LIFE.
How Little People in Large cities Know
About Their Nsighbors.

into intimacy ahiOhS PN'P'
nothing of one another's antecedents,
and there are many people who pass
for being thoroughly respectable whose
lives would not bear much scrutiny. l
knew a family once on Lexington ayen-
ne who were popular and well liked in
the neighborhood. The wife was
nretty and hospitable little woman. and
the two daughters, who were just OF
aoe were bright, engaging and we'll
bred girls. Everything about the mousse
was well ordered, and it was as happy
a little family as one would wisn TO see
The husband, ,,who was atall ana rather
oaunt man, was somewhat irregular III
| his hours, but tins was generally ac-
counted for by the fact that he was sup
posed to be in the Associated Press
! knew the people for years and never
| suspected anything wrong until one
night when happened to be in club
/ in Twenty-ninth street, where there was
n very brisk game of baccarat goingon.
| There were about forty men, all more or
! less known about town, seated around
| the green table, and two young clup
men who had bought the bank for 5000,
were raking in the money by the hatiul'
| Everybody was losing except the bank
ers. Most of the faces were solemn
and ill-natured, though there were
a few that were flushed and flVe
or six that were as calm ana lmper-
turbable as though cut out OF stone;
| The walters stood over the table ana
neglected to ill orders, and so great
was the run of luck toward the bank
that the smooth-faced young clerk, who
sat within big iron cage and sold
chips to the players, had climbed upon
his desk within his cage so as TO look
over the heads of the players at tho
table. At one end of the table the
cards were dealt TO n nervous little chap
who had lost very heavily, and whose
hand shook so that he turned over one
of the cards. The banker saw it. The
flushed player called for another card.
1t was turned up suddenly, though it
was not nine, aud in an instant there
was false play and an instantaneous
howl from the players. never heard
ANYTHING like it before in my life. The
room was still as death until the false
play. and then the roar broke out as
suddenly as though one had thrust
red hot iron into tiger face. All the
men were heavy losers and a nasty
spirit pervaded the apartment The
players sprang to their feet, everybody
shouted at once and the walters deftly
closed the doors The uproar was at its
height when the clerk jumped down
from bis desk aud pulled a bell violent
ly; at the same moment he quickly
slammed the window Of his little cage,
bolted it, sank back and calmly
lighted cigarette. The or of the
adjoining room opened quickly, and was
slammed TO with bang that could be
heard above the din. The players
turned their heads, and there in the
door was standing the tall and gaunt
head of the family in Lexington avenue,
whom | had known for FIVE years. He
was precisely az had always seen him.
His frock coat hung in loose folds upon
his attenuated figure, he held cigar
firmly in the side of his mouth and his
cold blue ewes we're utterly devoid of
animation; his cheek-boncs were high
and his head bald. As he came in he
was appealed to by dozen voices at
once. He threw a glance around, saw
the pile Of bills ON the table, noted the
PLAYERS, and then asked il his decision
would he accepted by all the parties if
he gave it. There was more or less
general acquiescence, and then he
walked TO the middle OF the table, placed
his skinny fingers togoth or and calmly
laid down the rule Of the game. He
spoke with laborcd politencss, and
looked around from face to face with Il
friendly smile as he enunciated word
after word distinctly. He seemed to be
long while getting it out but il was
evident that he was anxious to give the
players time too cool of bit After
his harangue hc solemnly added:
There cant be a question Of doubt,
gentlemen, about this decision. |
have known the point to have come mp
fifty times in Paris and so universally is
the ruling understood that it no longer
raises even word. 1t is accepted at
once as linal.' Then he said something
about the impossbility Of everybody
being winner, grinned again, asked
the players as a special favor to drink
the health of famous bulldog he was
bringing over from London, and within
ten minutes the gate Of the iron cage
was thrown open by the smiling clerk,
half a ease Of champagne had been
drank, and the game was proceeding
calmly. As he went back into his little
room to continue game Of poker with
a few cronics, the proprietor Of the club
which, by the way, is nothing more than
gambling house, grinned pleasantly to
ue and said; Zone pleasant thing about
meeting here is that neither one of us
will care to refer to it outside, then he
nodded. grinned lightly again and
lounged out of sight That is the sort
Of an Associated Press agent he was.
| doubt very much il his daughters
knew his business, but suppose his wife
did. She was one of tho most komelike
and delightful of women. | suppose it
IS the gamblers plan TO retire before
long and make even more pronounced
assumption Of respcctabiIity than he did
now. Ii is astounding how thoroughly
things can be concealed in New York.
Men lead double lives for years without
any one being the wiser for it. And so
little do people care for accurate knowl-
edge concerning their ncighbors that
they lazily accept any sort OF an excuse
that is offered for suspicious ciroum-
stance -Brookiw Eagle
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