Evening star., 1899-04-07
A QUEER EXPERIENCE.
Gambler Starving to Death Although
Drinking Wine at 81 a Quart.
From the Chicago Tribune.


See that man-that one with the silk
lined, tenor-singer overcoat with the high
collar and bulls-eye diamond in his shirt
front? Well, whenever l see him the vicis-
situdes of life in Il large city like Chicago
are brought vividly to my mind"
The speaker and his companion We're
standing in downtown buffet after thea
ter hours and We're having parting nip be-
lore boarding the last regular car. In an
other part of the buffet stood a Jolly crowd
OF sporty-looking men Respondent in first
water Jewelry, cracking the necks off of
bottles containing the rich, ripe fluid of
france Oldest vintage fast as the wait
ers could furnish them In the center OF
this group stood the prosperous-looking
gambler to whom reference had been made
by the speaker. He seemed to be the
angel of the party, doing all the buying
and refusing to let his comrades spend
cent.
Now, that same richly dressed sport and
wine buyer was in this same place "a year
ago with just such another party, but on
that occasion he was not the angel con-
tinued the speaker.
Il was in the party myself that time and
the corks popped then just as they are do
ing now. But the sport didn't do any of the
popping. Nor did he wear such garments
as he now does. AS for jewelry. he was as
Tree from II as a pig is of feathers. [
watched him somewhat more attentiveiy
than l would under ordinary circumstances
Tor the reason that he did not seem to enjoy
the blowout. His conduct seemed strange
and, although his appearance clearly indi-
Gated that he had not fallen up against
Such snap fer moons, yet he had to be
pleaded with almost every time a fresh
quart was stunned before he would empty
his goblet.
"A panied expression would scurry across
his face every time a fresh order was given
and hve-spot would be transferred to the
hdnd OF the waiter. He was sitting next To
me, and hnally, after a dozen or so bottles
mad been disposed of by the high rollers, he
leaned over to me and whispered:
Ihis is about as tough an experience as
i ever went through. /. can't stand il any
longer, and he made a move as if 10 get mn
and leave. / looked at him in surnrisa and
then asked him what was the matter.
at my face 'N
did so and noticed that it was drawn
anu pihched. His eyes, too, still retained
thelr lack-luster appearance. although he.
had surrounded a good dozen glasses of the
grape now l then thought the man was
SICK and offered at once to go to a drug
store Tor him or summon a physician but
he shook his head in a shame-faced de-
sPohueHt sort OF way, and with a sigh
placed his lips to my ear and whispered:
In 1t, man, can't you Sc that | am
starving. actually starving? See the money
FRANK Is blowing in at 81 a quart while /
meal. can serall of the costly wine | can
drink, but not a bite to eat THAT'S whv I
call my experience tough
of course, We soon had our hungry COM
paiiion IN front OF a twin porterhouse, half
a dozen big baked potatoes a dish niled
high with hot bicuits, and a big pot of cof
Zee ANA he did justice to it, too. When
ever see him | can't help but think of the
tlnle was in the company of a man who
Souiu SVEN MS Waistband on rare wines
put couldnt get bite TO eat. But that's
NE in large burg, especially in the ranks
Oh the up-and-down sport"