The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-12-05

night, When we made the pursuit OF
pleasure hard work. Soon the finances
Of our firm not only ran low, but were
on three several occasions exhausted, so
that we not only had recourse to bor-
rowing, but were barely saved from
bankruptcy by liberal donations from
Eds parents. His father was fine, jol-
~ old gentleman and took it quite as q
matter of course that it was his duty to
help us off the rocks when we ran on
them. My partner took everything easy,
but I, having no indulgent parent be-
hind me ever ready to draw a check.
began to be uneasy over the financial
situation. Strangely enough, however,
it never occurred to me to cut down my
personal expenses, and continued liv-
ing at the same extravagant rate as
when money was plenty, dining and
winning and being dined and wined.
Just here an important character, one
destined to have an influence for evil on
my future life, came upon the scene,
and will halt for moment in my mar
rative to give some account Of him.
This man was James Irving, popular
~ known as Jimmy Irving, chief of the
New York detective force, and bad
hearted, worthless scamp he was. I was
with several friends in the Fifth Avenue
hotel one cold January night when he
came in and one Of our party, knowing
him, introduced us. He was man of
medium height, rather heavy set, blond
mustache, pleasant eyes, but with q
weak mouth and chin and a flushed
face, telling tale of dissipation. It
was when Boss Tweed ruled supreme in
New York, and the whole administra-
tion was honeycombed with corruption.
Except under similar political condi-
tions could such man attain to so re-
sponsible an Office in a great city as
that Of chief of the detective force-a
position which at that time invested
him with all but autocratic power, an
old rounder and barroom loafer, without
one attribute Of true manliness and not
possessed of any quality which would
point him out as a fit man for the place.
Nevertheless when the position becam
vacant his political pull caused his Sc
lection. From being mere detective
on the staff he became chief. And truly
this meant something in those days.
The great civil war had but lately end
ed, and the country was still Keeling
from the mighty conflict. The flush
times resultant from the enormous
money issue Of the government kept
everything booming. The foundation:
Of society were shaken, and vice no Ion
ger hid itself in the dark caves and dens
Of the great city.
But to return to my friend. Captain
Jim Irving, who, before our party had
separated, had opened three bottles Of
wine. Before leaving had asked him
to call on me at the St. Nicholas. The
next day he came and invited me to
take drive with him to Fordham the
following Sunday. On Sunday he ap-
peared behind fast trotting horse and
in every respect an elegant turnout.
Soon after dark we returned to my
hotel, and after dinner, lighting our CT
gars, we started for police headquar-
tiers. There he attended to some routine
business, having first introduced me to
two of his chief detectives. Many who
read this will recognize the men, but
in this narrative they will be known as
Stanley and White. i will not further
describe them now, but as they will ap-
pear in the story from time to time the
reader will be able to judge what man
ner of men they were.
For the next eight weeks my life
went on much the same as usual. In
our business we made some money, but
by one unfortunate investment lost our
entire capital, and, what proved worse
for me, my partners health began to
fail Dissipation, late and heavy din
ners and irregular hours began to break
a not overstrong constitution; conse-
quently one Saturday he abruptly an
nounced his intention Of withdrawing
from the partnership to take trip to
Europe. There was nothing to divide
save the furniture in our Office, which
he presented to me. The following
Wednesday be sailed with two members
Of his family. I saw him off, ). bidding
him what proved to be last farewell
I left the wharf feeling very lonely and
miserable. It may be well to remark
here that he died year later in Italy,
one more victim of fast life, while /
was spared, but took no warning from
his fate. In truth, I was in the Prim-
rose Way, which is ever found most
trmenting and unhappy thoroughfare.
Meeting Irving from time to time, he
was most flattering in his attentions,
while was young enough and silly
enough to be pleased with his notice.
One evening about this time I met him
while coming out Of Wallack's theater.
Shaking hands warmly, he invited me
to supper at what was then known as
upper Delmonico's. After supper, walk
ing to the st. Denis hotel at Broadway
and Eleventh street, we found Detect.
ives Stanley and White. Here wine
was ordered, and long after midnight
we parted, they first having exacted u
promise to dine with them the follow
ing night at Delmonico's, at the same
time stating that they wished to make
me business proposition.