Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-26
ONE OF HIS DOWNS.
A Hungry Gambler Who Could Not
Live on Champagne Alone.

tf rom llt ! IllttSp IIlbuii'.J
See that man-that one with the
silk-lned trnor-singcr overcoat with
the high collar and bull8eye diamond
in his shirt front? Wen. whenever |
see him the vicissitudes of life in
large city like Chicago are brought
wildly to my mind"
The speaker and his companion We're
standing i'll a downtown buffet after
theatre hours and We're having a part
ing nip before boarding the last regu
lar car. In another part Of the buffet
stood 4 jolly crowd Of sporty looking
men respondent in first water jeWclry.
cracking the neckS off of bottles aS
fast as The walters could furnish them.
In the center Of this group stood the
prosperous looking gambler % whom
reference had been made by the speak
en-. He seemed 20 be- the angle" Of the
party. doing an the buying ana refus-
ing To let his comrades spend cent.
Nov, 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 IL was NOT
the angel. continued the speaker.
II was In the party myself that time
and the curks popped then just as they
are doing now. But tine sport didn't
do any Of the popping. Nor did he
wear such garments az nv now does.
As for jewelry. he was as free from il
pig is nj feathers. | watched him
somewhat more attentively than /
would under ordinary circumstances,
far the reason that he did not Seem To
enjoy the blowout. His conduct seem
"a strange. ANA. although his appear
ancc clearly indicated that he had not
fahen UP against such a snap for
moons. Yet H. had to bc pleaded with
almost every time Il fresh quart was
stunned before H. would empty his
goblet.
"a panied expression would scurry
across his face every time a fresh Or
der was given and a five-pnt would
~ transferred To the hand Of the wait
~. He was sitting next to me. and fin
ally. after a dozen or 50 Of bottles had
been disposed Of by the high rollers.
he leaned over u ME and whispered:
This is about as tough an expert
ence as ever Went through. | can't
stand ii any longer ana h. made i
move as if to get up and leave / look
Ell at him in surprise ANA then asked
him what was the matter.
Why can't you see he replied
Look at my face
Il did 50 and noticed that it was
drawn and pinched. His eyes. too. still
retained their lack-lustre appearance
although he had surrounded a good
dozen glasses Of the grape flow.
then thought the man was sick and of
fered at once to 60 To a drug store for
him or summon a physician, but he
shook his head in a shamed- face. de-
spondent sort Of way. and with a sigh
placed his lips to my ear and whisper
ed:
Damn it, man, can't you see that
| am starving? See the money Frank
is blowing in at 81 a quart while | am
really suffering for the want of a
square meal. | can get all Of costly
vine ! can drink, but not a bite to eat.
That's why ] call my experience tough.
of course. we soon had our hungry
companion in front Of twin porter
house, half a dozen baked potatoes. a
dish piled high with hot biscuits and
big pot Of coffee. And he did Justice
to it, too Whenever | see him | can't
help but think Of the time | was in the
company of a man who could swell his
Walstband on rare wines but couldn't
get bite to eat. But that's life in A
large burg. especially in the ranks of
the up-and- down sport"