Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-24

ervthing was delight to me. the free
hearted hospitality that distinguished the
people the delightful climate. and on this
occasion the frankness. the bonhommie and
the good fellowship of this Low links
Night
We had paired off together after some of
the festivities and our laughter had aided
the comfortable feeling that comes with an
easy chair I'D a long cigar Good fortune
had it that the major sat beside me.
In some way or other, the talk turned to
the early feverish days of California. when
everything was make or lose, at turn of
the spade Cor card. for that matter), the
avs when chance and luck were items in
he reckoning of success. and when for
unes changed hands on the easy come,
asy 60 principle
l was very proud to sit beside the ma
Tor He had charmed me from the first
Tall and soldierly looking, he had the air
of reserve about him and at the same
time the cordial glance and voice that COM
pei affection and deep interest. l had not
been surprised to hear that he was one OF
the most successful lawyers on the Faclhc
coast.
During the course of the conversation
two names had been mentioned that seemed
well known to most of the group about the
little table. They were the names of Roach
and Pearson, knights of the green cloth.
types of men that have almost disappeared
in tbs last decade.
Very odd occurrence" had remarked
the attorney general, who sat directly OPP
pcsitc me 1T was a cause celebre that
flashed in the pan, so to speak, but re-
member them two cold, calculating gam
blers that knew neither fear nor pity, and
the stranSest mystery pervades the whole
affair
Every one seemed to recall it. and there
was Il universal assent | was afraid TO
ask particulars as il was evidently so old
-l,1r hsa INr ing to he
pany. no matter how great my own inter-
est might be.
But later in the evening the major and
1 walked home together, and 1 referred
to it,
MS long tale" said the major, land
if any is qualified to tell it, 1 am that
man
Before parting I had the majors prom
a few months later (after my return 10
the easO l received it, and stranger
tale in some ways never was writ Inc
few lines that prefaced the MS. of the
narrative We're written my friends Off
cial paper. dated San Francisco.
Il have at last fulfilled my promise his
note concluded, and here is the story 1t
fully explains the statement that l made
last winter. to wit. that l know more of
the affair of Roach and Pearson than any
man alive Then. without further premise
or preamble. he commences:
In the early days l had never once sup
posed that my acquaintance with these two
remarkable men would Outlive the weeks
we had spent together threshing the hur-
ryins headquarters of the MERGED and that
We should have become the friends we sub
sequently did is considerable source of
wonder to me now.
Il was only photographers assistant, at
work in Yosemite when l struck up an ac-
quaintance with these frisnds-O f-mine-that-
were-tO-b-. at their camp (ptched just
where the bridge now crosses the stream.
and when my employer left the valley l
he fhaD1 a Ee1r
sons invitation l did not know then that
they were in durance. rusticating. as it
were until episode lin which Roach had
figured prominently should drop out of
the public's mind.
| have a vivid recollection of those days.
The painting trout Laundering on the
bank. the hush Of the forest, the sequoias
and redwOOdS- with the breeze in the upper
branches 50 far away that often felt dizzy
as / watched them moving. the quick de-
scent OF night the spat and clutter of the
campfire: Roach a big scar down his face
and over one hand. sitting there. always
playing solitaire. with two packs of cards
no bigger than two fingers. He smoked
great. costly cigars, that came wrapped up
IN foil and tissue paper. and very particular
he was about his coffee| used to do the
cooking.
l liked Pearson the better He had
splendid, deep-Sounding voice He knew
the utternost parts of the earth. and | am
sure that he had been soldier-he was
stamped with 1t from his heels upward
Probably he was thirty-eight when / first
Knew him. Roach was Older-how much II
was hard to say. His age changed with his
moods Pearson and l read Shakespeare
together from volume bound like a Bible
with clasp.
I became more and more attached to
them. and l think they grew to like me
also / was an imaginativ youth and
win II all. as innocent and friendless as
Ioundllng- Many times afterward did [
recall those first days under the great
trees. and the sound Of Fearson's voice az
ne read aloud, and l wondered at our
friendship often as | sat below in the littIn
room half library. half office. and heard
the ivory ball humming spinning and tot
ter4nS upstairs in the crowded, silent rooms
here | had never been
! suspect that some of nv fe1,ou-roar,
DerS Of the bar would be astonished If tbay,
hnt" th"t made my first acquafntance
MIN 5iackstone in that little library on the
nrsI moor OF Roach & Fearson's gambling
nous Put l am anticipating This story
telIlhS Is a new thing to me
wen. al last one bright Sunday after
neon d message came to me from San Fran
CISCO The episode not very serio1,s III
Den forgotten; the trouble had blown over
anu our camp was broken. We parted a,
Madeira station. at
Some months eIansed 7, No.
June was walking the streets of 81 -,
Francisco. unemployed. ilI-clad and bI,,sr,,
square S Solher OF the
carson seemed glad to see ma 49,,
a atDaIh shook hands. although he appeared
"syI 10 De moving Despite NV nnsitiCn
cpuIa not conceal my delight Ar seai,a,
tneni: forgot myself entireIy-I coi,Id d
1iat IN those days. The result was I di,o1
MN mem that night Dressed in INV ~,
3,d sun, dined with Messrs. Fearsn, a,',
oaeH TWO OF the prescribed we'll Enor 80
Wi "eil reared, well hated land il is onI,, III.
'U I'm. tIe 70 say so. well maligned they w.,
ihat very night took nv first St., g.,
se gambling house. Eyervbody ~ III
tbFI,,. men n But here let me state thai al
.loCgh Tor well nigh a year or NOR al
aeI l TINS same place, ! have never s,ataa
a PENNY on game Of chance and 7 cannt
LAIN my exemption from the general ~
I'm . VI Ine times on any grounds of person-
vi was ,. me evening of the dinner. Pearson
taking 10 me in the little room a.,
STAIRS. The layouts. faro, roulette. nokar
were on the floor above f-'
tommy. my boy he said ..we're No, in
a. an. IL respected occupation for sheer love Of
had not yet recovered from the s5o,k
OF nndlng out that he was in It at all
We're out for the dust as peonla sa,,
nut now. Just a word. / have no ROB, e.
give advice. Lord knows but Won can st,t
your HE that what / tell you is the ruth
BILE uoh gam
He laughed rather bitterly, think and
then went on: anu