The sun., 1895-05-19

This. the Sergeant Thought, Explained His
Luck with n Jnclk Pot Machine.

This. the Sergeant Thought, Explained His
Luck with II Jack Pot Machine.
The police Of the tenderloin station raded
some saloons where seductive nicke-in-th slot
machines were Kept the other night. Among
the places visited was one where a three-jack-
pot machine stood on the corner of the bar. and
when the police entered crowd of young men
who had been playing with 1t had to be dis
persed before it could be seized Each one Of
the three pots in the machine was jam full of
nickes. The machine was constructed that
one nickel in the right slot would send the
money rolling out. 1t was in the hope OF send
ing a coin into the proper plnce that the young
men had been rolling their good money into tho
machine all the evening. Up to the time the
police entered they had succeeded only in add
ing to the stock of nckels. and the interference
of the police and the seizure Of the machine
caused a howl of indignation.
With dozen or more other nickel-catching
machines the three jack pot affair was carried
around to the station house and put up on q
counter behind the Sergeant's desk. For two
weeks it lay there. The other machines had
been sent to the Property Clerks office or other
wise disposed of. SO that Monday last it
alone on the counter. Every policeman in the
house longed to take a chance at the machine
from the first night it brought in. and
rumor has it that some OF them succeeded In
getting near enough to drop in a nickel. Their
money only went to swell the jack potts. however,
and day by day the machine grew richer. until
Monday night there wasn't room for another
coin save In the middle pot.
When the Sergeant came on duty at o'clock
he eyed the machine enviously, and then took
his seat and proceeded to write up the blotter.
IL was getting on TO midnight when the door Of
the station house flew open, and in walked o
policeman. dragging q miserable specimen OF
humanity after him. The prisoner was tramp,
and he was very drunk. but he managed to
stagger up to the rail and hold on there. He
answering the questions as to name, age,
and address when his eye suddenly fell on the
we'll stocked gambling machine behind the.desk.
"Cap'n." he sad gesticulating wildly. Gin
me chance azat machine"
Takes nickel to work that affair."" said the
Sergeant.
I'm the mans got nickel" replied the tramp.
I'm the man. right here" and he dug down
into his rags and hshcd out hvc-cent piece.
"Well. I'm dinged!" exclaimed tho Sergeant.
II think I'll give him chance. Every police
man in the house has taken Il chance at the
blamed old machine anyway. He'll lose. but II
he should win, the money'il do him more good
Than it win tho Property Clerk. where it goes
I'D give him u chance" put in the policeman
who had arrested tho man. 1T won't do any
"Do git chance t blow me nick'2" de-
manded the tramp.
the tramp, assisted by tho policeman. walked
around behind the desk and stood gazing at the
mass of nIckels In the machine. Then lie looked
long and earnestly AT his own solitary coin, and
for u moment wavered.
Come hurry up Drop II in or get out" said
"WeiI. here goes" said the tramp. bracing
himself for a great nervous strait, and he
the nickels zigzaE course down the Iin-studded
surface. IL went with painful siowness, but
every second IL got further down. until suddenly
IL pumped square into the pot on the left
There was u howl from the tramp AS he showed
down the steel bar ana the nickels came rolling
out. AS for the Sergeant and policeman, they
stood LOOK ing Oh ~ blank hinnHemrht while the
tramp gathered up the colns aud showed them
down deep into pocket concealed In his rags.
50 great was his fear that III" money would be
taken from him that he wouldn't consent 70
how much he had won, until that official had
promised solemnly not TO take any OF the money
from him. Then he pulled up handful after
handful of nickels and laid them out ON the
Just l30, making SOO5 altogether.
Where do you come from anyway 2" asked
the sergeant as the man put the nickels back
into his pocket
I'm from Chicago" replied the man.
Well. II I'D known that" said the Sergeant.
~ wouldn't have given YOU a chance. You
up with a gold watch and chain between your
the man back and locked him in a cell,
For an hour after that the Sergeant kent
When he had thrown away 81 20, he gave up In
disgust and calling the doorman, he SAID:
Fakf that thing out Of here and throw 1t t9
want 1t taken down 10 the Property Clerk" and
saying several other things TO himself the Ser
geant sat down and resumed Wogk On his bookA.