The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-21
HOW BILLIE BEAT POLICY GAME

4
Put dat nickel on de bread row; fiat"
What, Billie, You goin' up against the
wheel again.
| Yes, / got a straight steer for it.
| sure. Dreamed about bread last night
| and see big pile Of if at de bakers dis
| mornin.''
! The policy writer put down the three
| lucky numbers and Billie went out of
| the shop with little piece of paper upon
1 which the numbers had been reproduced
| by means of a sheet of carbon paper
placed under the book
/ 1t was not the first time he had played
| policy. The waif of the streets begins
| to indulge in this form of gambling ar
an early age, and Billie was one OF those
| little city sparrows whose origin is more
or less clouded in obscurity. He had been
| taken TO raise by an Irish washerwo-
man who had succumbed TO a too siren
| uoUs life when her protege was still a
very small boy.
Billie did not become public charge.
| He started out in life by selling news
papers for the other boys. and il was
not long before ne had his own bundle
and was able to get along very well for a
newsboy. With the same charitable spirit
| which had been such a pronounced trait
| OF MS foster mother, he had undertaken
| trust One of his competitors met with
an accident which rendered hira a help
| less cripple. When Ben was brought back
from the hospital Billie said he could
sell for BOTH" and so the thing was
| settled
Billie's savings were not the accumula-
tions of an embryo nliser. The doctor
had said that Ben must have a brace for
his back and Billie hoped to have enough
money TO buy one at Christmas.
Billie had a period of bad luck News
papers did not sell as readily as they
should have. and day followed day with
out any addition being made to his
hoard. The brace seemed farther off than
ever, when he had a sudden inspiration.
de would go mp against the wheel" a
few hits would give him all the money
he needed Then came the dream.
He would have been entitled to receive
five dollars If his numbers had appeared
among those drawn that evening. But
his numbers did not appear and the next
day he staked five cents in the morning
and the same amount again in the even
ing with no greater success. He contin-
ued to play twice daily, until the winning
of five dollars would have only reim-
bursed him for the sum Of his stakes: then
he increased the amount of the stake TO
ten cents. The possible profit on this
was soon almost absorbed, and the
fifteen to twenty, and from twenty to
twenty-five cents. Billie became anxious
Twenty-Five cents, twice q day is a good
deal of money to gamble when the gam
bier is a newSboy.
The weeks passed by rapidly. He was
not as sturdy as he had been. 1t was
becoming more and more difficult TO
carry his charge down to the street
he De, md
sat quietly by while it was eaten. He
didn't feel hungry" or he had "eaten
his on the way up" If Billie went 10
bed hungry, then nobody but Billie was
to be any the wiser. AS the pile of saw
ings dwindled away. his habit of eating
on the way up increased proportionately.
The hungry NAV of Policy was ever open
and required food almost as often as
Ben; as for himself we'll This condi-
ton of things could not continue forever.
There is a limit even TO the physical en-
durance of a newsboy.
Billie's absence was quickly noticed by
the older players Where's Billie gomez"
asked one OF them one evening.
"Oh. he's sick. answered a young fell
low who was busily chewing tobacco and
splitting at regular intervals.
You been running his play?" asked the
first questioner.
Yes. l was just goin' to take the slip
up TO him when you asked"
What's the matter with him. any
how?''
Dunno. Just kind of tagged out and
weak like sick cat. Don't think he'll
ever live to see it come out
Been starving hisself 20 make his play,
like as not"
What? Takin' a play from a sick kid"
asked a man who felt jutilant over the
winning of a few dollars. Next thing
it'll be like Sallie Virgins, who played
the rent row till she hadn't no money left
for rent, and got put in the street the
day afore It come out
This anecdote appealed TO his hearers.
who joined in a loud guffaw. All except
Burk. Burk. who laughed at anything
and everything, dropped his cigar and
followed the young man who had gone
into the shop.
say. Mack, what's all this about
Bilie?"
why. he's sick, and I've been running
his play for him. Burke
How heavy is the kid playing?"
Half a dollar fiat"
The deuce you say. Well. III be
blowed"
The young fellow opened his eyes and
muttered his establishment under his
breath. 1t was not the profanity that
caused his surprise No, IL was the ex-
could see no reason why Burk should
Ego daft at a half dollar fiat"
Mack, l guess I'll go up and see the
kid myself
The dusty stairs creaked out their mis-
cry as Burk climbed 70 the top floor Of
the tenement house. One of the women
told him that nothing more could be done
for Billie. and there was a lump in his
throat as he entered the dingy little room.
why. it's Burke, Hello. Burke, How
are they knocking you?" called Billie.
Jack Eurk was Burke" to every one.
but the friendly tone in which the nick
name was uttered, the note OF welcome
and pleased surprise from his victim.
made that lump in his throat grow larger
and more obstinate. He crossed over TO
the bed and sat down. Billie feebly
reached out his hand. Burk took 1t and
then released Il with 4 shudder.
How are they knocking you. l say?''
He tried desperately TO swallow the
lump.
We'll Billie. they amt dom a whole
lot; that IS, not many Of them amt"
Somebody made a hit?' asked Billie.
seeing the implication.
Yes. you hit me. and hit me heavy.
too
You was playin' bread row. wasn't
you2"
Yes" cried Billie. excstedly. II knew
It would come out. Here's ne play.
Fifty fat
us more than come out" said Burk.
who was not going 70 Bnderact his part.
its come out IN both wheels.
Both wheels, Then ] Kit q hundred,
Billie shrieked His ewes buiEsd with