New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-05
THE PALE DICE-THROWER.

Hunger Is most poignant when it has forced
nhysical suffering TO tic highest point wlthouD
impairment of the mental functions mus hur'iy
happened 10 be Joseph Carrin2er y9mn9 hla ma, VI
,,npppdmmonlv hich splrit who found himself d
total stranger in san Francisco upph - iy N.sns
ing ia November. There remained III w p Tor
sion not a thing that lie might nave pa"is" had
" ,no,seI IA cat and even as it was. he hau
stripped his body Of all articles oil cl9'hllls eAo1p'
those which remaining sense OF uecehI cso,i a.
nrllcd him 20 retain. Hence IL was tn"' ~
s,Iled him and consplred with hunger 10 coupe11J
his misery Having been broush, ii,o anr 70
and reared gentleman he lacKed me n"Ss ~
hcr and the knOwleig" To Stcal. ms
sov that he had finely constituted organ
sensitive and proud TO the last de2ieti a, World
cordingy altogether out 81 place i o, n him
Had not an extraordinary thing occnfcu ~ hn,,
| hn either wond have drowned himself IN tue pay
within twenty-four hours. or di,d 0, p. Hours
in three days. For he hau pen do ncr'ton had
driven him far in its race with its physlcai hcea'
TO consume the strength within hlm ~ t" oonfort
pale weak and lettering, he 'o3k "m% %ich came
stoor,inr nm from lie basement kitchens OF 'nc
restaurants in Marketst, caring more 10 ; Gun HE
than 70 avoid the ram LIS t TC, he shambcd,
! s;oopcd and qasped lie was too desperate 10
curse his fatc-hc could only long Tor iIo| could
couId not reason: he could not reflect ne co.
not understand that ten thousand haniIs ~ thc
gladly have fed him. lie could think onW pi that
hunger which consumed him, ana OF ''oo' '''"'
| could rive him warmth and happiness ~ =
Whcn he had arrived at Mason-st. he saw
rcs,omrant \ little way up that thoroughtarr, ana
for that he headed, crossing the str'ct 10
| JJc stopnr1 before the window and ossl Ie
| steaks thick and lined with fat: DC, oys,'IH
wing on ice: slices of ham as large iis III, ',
whole roasted chickens, brown ma i''cS r,o,nnJ
| many other things. TIC aro"nu H'' ' 7'
'", few steps beyond was drnkns-sS loon on
Which had private door az o ore I' thcr"an In
,hn rcccss Of tho door (which was closed steoI Il
| man In spite OF his agony tarrlngff slw T' t'
| tt,uts al la
cjnaicd him Night was on and the liSn' IN .o
| vicinitv was dim but it was clear that we
stranger had appearance OF WhoS, cnar"onc, "v
| hims,lf must have been ignorant. Perhaps IL was
thn unspca iolc anguish Of it that struck throueh
! Carrincrr's svmrathics. The young man came 10
an uncertain halt and stared ut tho stranger. "A,
| first lie was unseen. for the stranger I o
| straicht ont into the street with singular hNity'
and the Grath-likc pallor OF ms lace aiu, Ill., d
wcir,lncss 10 the immobity Of his gaze ihc"
| l, took notice of the young man -,
All" he said, slowly AMI with REGULAR u,s
tinctncss the rain has caught yOu. too, without
| ovcrcoat or umbrella. STAND III th7 "oo'""'
The voice was not unkind. though il had an
| ALARMING hardness. 1t was the hFs' Woi"
that had been addressed to tie s'ncr%r siacr ~
| ger had made him a victim, anu to ne spoken TO
| IN all and have his comfort considered IN tl,
slightest way, gave him cheer lie cnrrr'u
| The cmbrasurc and stood beside IN" stran{,r
| who AZ once frlApScd into his fixed gazt AT nothing
across the street. But presently the stranger
| stirred himself again Ill
|
and olscrvc that YOU trcmbc. Let Us step Ill
| side and get 4 drink. ,u.,.,,
lie opened the door and Carrins"r followed,
| hone beginning 10 got IA warm hand upon MS
| heart The pale stranger lei the way INTO one
| Of the little private booths WITH which the place
| was provided Before sitting down ne put me-
| hand into his pocket aud drew forth ron Oh
bank bills n..
You are younger than H. lac said; wont
you 60 10 the bar and buy bottle OF apnin,m'j
| and bring a pitcher Of water ana some SiassTs'n
| don't like FOR the walters to come around Hero
| l. Il twcnty-dollIr BIN.
Carringrr took "a" bill and stated down throu IN
| I'm. corridor toward the bar lie cutchcd the
money tightly in his palm 1t felt warm and com
| Portable, and sent "A delicious tingHnS thro1Sn
| his arm How many glorious hot meals dld tNat
| bin represent He clutch"d il tighter. and hest
ta;cd lie thought he smccl broiled steak
| with fat little mushrooms ana melted nut'cr IN
tie Streaming dish. II" stopped and looked pack
| toward the door Of the b1oth. He saw that the
stranger had clo-cd il. He could pass j., slip out
| tie door. and huy something - eat. lie turned
and started. but the coward IN him u-,rrc are
| other names for th>l trippcd his resolution 50
| be- went straight 70 the bar and made the Desired
| purchase. THIS was 80 unusual mat The man VINO
| served him looked sharply at him.
| Amt goin' - drink all y that, are you? he
| asked.
Il have friends in the boz" replied Carringcr,
| and we want TO drink quietly and without inter
| ruptipn. We are in Number :.
| oh! beg pardon. That's all right said the
Carringcr's step was very much stronger and
| -tcadicr as he returned with the liquor lie
| opened the door Of the booth. The stranger sat
an the side of the little table, staring at III" OPP
pnstc wall lust as he had stared acro>s the street
| lie wore wide brimmcd soucl har, drawn we'll
| down. II only after Carringcr had set the
| bottle, pitcher and glasses on the table, and
| seated himself opposite the stranger and within his
range of vision. that the pale man noticed him.
| oh! you have brought it? How kind of you!
| Now please lock the door.
Carrlnecr had slipped the change into his
pocket, and in the act Of bringing 1t out,
| when the stranger said
| Keep tie change NOu Will need II, for | am
| going to get it back in way that may Interest
you Let lis first drink, and then will explain y
| The pale man mixed two drinks of absinthc and
| water, and the two drank larrinXcr. unsophlSti-
| Gated. had never tasted the Ii Iuor before, aud n"
found il harsh and offensive; but sooner had II
| reached his stomach than It leean to warm him
| and send the most delicious thrill through his
| frame. He had heard of the abSinthc drinkers
of Paris. and he wondered no longer AZ the dca ily
fascination which the liquor throws about It's vie,
tim-not realizing that lis extreme weakness and
the emptiness of his stomach made him peculiarly
| susceptible 70 It's effects.
1T will do us good said the stranger; pres
| emily we shall have more. Meanwhile, do you
know how 10 throw dicc -
Carringcr weakly confessed that he did not.
81 thought not Well, please 20 10 the bar and
| want the walters to be- coming in.
Carrinscr fetched the box, again locked the door,
old salreS bat had complications in which judg-
| mcnt as well as chance played part After a
| game two without stakes the stranger said
| You now seem 10 understand it, Very WE'LL
| will show you that you do not. We Will now
| throw for a dollar a came and in that way | shall
win the money that You received IN chance. Other
| wise ! should br robbne yOu. and | imas cine you
cannot afford to lose. | mean offence. am II
| plain-spolicn man. but believe IN honesty before
| politcness. | merely want "A It'll. diversion, AMI
| YOU are knd-naturcd that | am sure you will
| not object
"On the contrary replied Carringcr, a. shall
enjoy it
VERY we'll but let rs have another drink be
| fore We start. ] believe am growing COLDER
They drank again, and this time tn starving
| man took his liquor with rcli,h-at least II was
something in his stomach, and 1t warmed and de-
lighted him.
| The stake was u dollar side. Carrnccr won
| The pale stranger smiled grmly and opened
another game. Again Carrinsrr won. Then the
stranger pushed back his hat and fixed that still
gaze upon his opponent, smiling yet With this