, 1889-02-28
KING OF DUNCO MEN.
"Kid' Miller On the streets OF Busy
New York.

New York.
There is figure on Broadway that in
terests me, savs o New York correspondent
of the Pittsburg Post. because the young
man is distinct bit of character In his
way, bad II possible. but, nevertheless,
picturesque and remarkable. He has been
on the street now for several years, has
been kicked of time and again, thrashed,
arrested, sent to the island, in fact,
BILE 10 imagine, but ut this moment there
he 10 again, AZ alert, as indefatigable as
ever. The gentleman is kid" Miller.
and his game is bunco.
The bunco man has been repeatedly
described In rather fulsome terms.
While there are undoubtedly certain
examples of his tribe that are elegant
of tire, refined and sometimes venerable
of appearance. don't believe the straight
out type has any representative TO compare
with Mr.. Miller. who Ia not gorgeous, ven-
cradle or entirely reassuring. In collo-
nuial phrase, kid" has to hustle for a
looking old gentleman down Broadway ere
this with the hopes of tempting them into
a .'capper's" den, bu; that manner Of doing
things Ia pretty much played out.
MIR. Millers present game consists OF
more or less graceful posing. At about
A o'clock he can be seen every after.
noon standing in doorway on Broad
way, near Twenty-sixth street, and he
makes a queer figure. His face is ut.
teily devoid of color, and IL swollen by
the disigurements of heavy dissi ipations,
the effect of the opium pipe being especial.
ly apparent. He is smooth shaven, and
his features, except for u sodden look that
tells its tory to the experienced observer.
ha ~ tnk kal
are deadly dull, but shifting and scrutl-
nizing. His nose is straight, his mouth
thin, and shut with intense 6rmness. His
high silk hat is covered from brim to
crown with a black cloth band, which
gives an expression that he has just lost
his worshipped wife. but which really
means that the hat ia four years old and
cant be ironed into decent shape. His
overcoat is too thin for the weather. and
il of an uncertain mouse color. In the
lapel is stuck bunch of imitation vio.
lets which have done service for several
months. His legs are indefinite and
which he never pawns, and as rule he
carries single glove as though 1t were a
pair.
And Mr.. Miller is watching the crowd.
He sees every one, and when q gentleman
whom he would term ''sucker" goes by
he knows it. He gets the whole town in
his memory. If you are wide awake be
detects the fact and lets you alone. But
when stupid fellow gets into his orbit.
one of these men that imagine allow round
of pleasures means seeing" metropolitan
life. be is apt TO find in a convenient dive
some night slim young man in mourn
ing band hat, mouse.colored overcost,
and with glove and gold-headed cane.
He will be bland and accommodating,
will Join his new friends ia little game
and will talk to him about the friends he
has seen him coming up Broadway with,
claiming them as dear old cbums of hi'
own and commenting frssgtb dion their de-
lightful peculiarities. In these modern
times the game Of bunco is as sweet anC
delicate as this. II is u longer, more care
ful pursuit than it used to be, and 10 evi
IDENTITY safer for Mr.. Miller, for he has no
been on the island now for over q year
Now that Hungry Joe" has been sent W
| for q long term the kid" can fairly lay
claim to the formers title of king. Blu
Mr.. Miller has made no pretensions thu
far in this respect, and suppose that b.
feels tat potentate who can't get enough
out Of the treasury to buy real violets hat
better leave his crown at home and sticl
to his old hat.