The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-08
OPIUM FIEND PLEDGES.
P1UNBROKING BUSINESS CARRIED ON
ny 4 DRIGGIST.
People In Search of the Drug willing to
GivcTp Any of Their Property to Get II
Crooks who Used the Drug-Reformn-
Tim Worked by u GoIh.Filleh Tooth.


worth" asked druggist holding up for inspcc
tion a diamond scaripn
The stone was handsome one perfect in color
and cutting, and weighing perhaps II TITLE less
than Carct The person 10 whom thr question
was addressed examined 1t and then haharded"Oh.
about fifty or seventy five dollars"
"Nou don't think took any chances then in
| advancing three and half un it, inquired the
druggist. smiling. Noting his listeners look Of
surprise he explained at was left with me by n
morphine iicnd He wanted an ounce Of the stuff.
and had no money As he was regular patron
uf the place would have let him have small
quantity on tick, but nothing but an ounce would
satisfy him and We don't care to take any chances
with tina class Of people lie had Ia have the drug,
though and when he found that IL was Of no Use To
talk credit he pulled the pin out Of his tie and left
il as security knew just what he would do, for
he's been in here before and done the same thing.
I've held il several times before aud shall probably
| own it some day The last time II was in here he
left II for six weeks and thought il was mine.
But he turned UP with roll and redeemed it, so
III have 10 wait It belongs To n young fellow
who makes his living br his wits rather than by
hard work Strictly speaking, suppose you
might call him a crook. but he wouldn't steal un
less all other means failed him. When he has
money he the drug sparingly, but times
grow hnrd he spends what money he can raise for
morphine and generally ends by coming here and
leaving the pin. Perhaps he'll forget it some time
That's the way got this ring, holding out a soil
tairr The man that owned II left it for some
cocaine That was six or seven years ago, 50
guess it's mine"
do you have many things left like that"
In answer Ia this question the druggist said
Just step back here with me aud IN show you a
collection Of pledges that II rawrbroker would con
.il 1,l
Going back to the safe, he opened i, and pulled
out n small drawer Several rings. another scarf
pin u small chatclainc watch II fraternity badge
and a silver mounted revolver made zip the col
lection AS the drawer was being showed back
a small round box, about two inches in length and
an inch in diameter rolled 10 the front Of it, This
attracted the observers attention, and in answer
10 request for permission to examine It, the drug
gist handed it to him 1t made Of horn, and
when tho cover removed with some difficulty
! thcr" bits Of heavy black gummy sub
stance clinging 10 the edges Of the box The
peculiar odor given out from the box was unmis-
| takahy that Of opium.
| In response to an inquiring look the druggist
said: That's a hop tot. part Of an opium smok
ing outfit It's used 10 carry the hop opium in.
! | had pipe here once, and this belongs TO the
| same person. The owner has been away for a
! couple Of months, and expect him in any day to
redeem the tol He's in the same line is the owner
of the pin. In fact. practically all the d"pcs are
| crooks Of one sort another II they're not
! short card gamblers. shell men or bunCo artists.
| they're very likely TO W. piCkroCkctS The man
who owns the toi puts in tho summer at fairs and
ricnics lie sells phony perfume and other fake
! toilet preparations and manages to make good
| big money but If trade is slack he can do bit
with the three shells or the cards and it woudn I
| Of
| while he is about
"Ilow do | know all this That's an easy
| one. Why. they tell us all bout II. Tn" most
conhding person IN IN" world is tn" avcrag" dope.
! and especially SO when they Ar" about 10 brare
YOU Tor some Of TIA" dope or il they think TINT you
us" il II YOU want one Of them 10 open his heart
! victim 10 the habit and he's yours. And don t
YOU think that they can't spot u fellow that's
handling the stuff all his life would never think
| Of II. md vet for all tn" r shar 1ncss you can
queer thing me way they wish 10 make us their If
! c"ntdans innSmurh aS most Of them are crooks
YOU would naturally expect them TO b" closcr,
part Of the things told us bI them were overheard
| by tn" authorities. many mystery would he
| cleared M ] suppose one reason Tor this con
| hdcncc on their part is th" fact that We know
! them pretty well. and then again. a druggist
is made the depository IF secrets the sam" as I,
| physician. Not only do these people talk Of
their work. but often they SHOW rs the plumber
and NOR. thsn one" th"y have tired 70 sell ms
! say II was stolen, but from their cagcrncsS 10
ge, ria OF it. and II" rdcnlorsH small sum they
as 10 how II was obtained
IT rs not always "w"lrv that is offered us MS
10 bc trusted for 1--WE or ten cents worth Of NOR,
! phln" will offer a roCkrtknI'r or some small ar
lice OF wearing "pGarc More than once man
! small quantity of morphine Books and house.
hold articles are hrough, in hut the qucercs,
thing that ever happened in that line occurred
tIrs n
tn" time \ fairly well dressed Young fellow
cam" IN. and from the manner IN which he :.c,cl
! ! was sure that he was after some KIND 81 dnpr.
He walked about looking in the cases and nj
the signs finally bringing ny in the back part
II he roui" get Il small bottle Of morphine. uucS
Toned him at Snmr length, Just to make sure
gave me his whole history He Yves q lawyer
in one Of the smaller western cities, aud had con
He had ak% sS mt @rE f and Gn1
! been fairly successful but every once in n " ilt
the craving became 10" strong and hr Womb
hay" to break out. When he f"l, the fl, coming
on he would leave his own city and come East
Here he would have his fling, and then go bacl,
ucular occasion he had about reached the limit
Of his resources and the craving WAS al its height
lie wanted quarter e on ounce Of he stuff
but said, no money, N" morphine, and he saw
msSRl You It take anything as security, asked
he aSscnted, and he offered me his waistcoat
This refused. as did other articles Of clothing
would go some place else ! was just as well
satisfied and the incident slipped my mind Later
in the evening when the clerk had gone home
was working back Of the prescription case and
happened to notice the bottle Of morphine had
wrapped up for the Wcstcrner | was thinking
Of him and wondering whether he had succeeded
in getting tho morphine, when | heard the door
open. | looked over tn" top Of the prescription
case and saw the man had been thinking Of
lie recognized me and said, Well Doc, cues,
I'll take that bottle now
81 had il all wrapped nm and was handing il to
him, when happened Ia think that he said ne had
no mon'y. asked him for 80 cents and hc
laid down half dollar ! couldn't see ANYTHING
in the deal at that figure and held of He made
all sorts of promises but wouldn't stand for a
hangup. He felt through all his pockets but a
he knew perfectly we'll before making the bluff
found them empty.
1--WE got to have il at any cost he said and sud
denly struck himself a terrible blow on the lief
side Of his face The blood strcamcd from his
mouth, nni before had recovered from my sur
iris" Nc thrust his hrEcr. into his mouth ant
pulled out tooth capped with gold. 'Therc'
five dollars worth Of the gilt he said Give me tho
morphine
We'll, when saw that exhibition of nerve wa.
sorry that had not let him have the stuff in the
first place. explained to him Just what sort Of
! people the general Of customers for drug.
were and hc took il all in good part | made hin