The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-15
CHAT WITH THE
LOOKOUT MAN
Yarn of Faro Bank Watcher
Who Sees No Bets Are
Overlooked.

Although the game of faro bank
legally went out of existence in Mon
tana few years ago, there are still
a few places in the state where, ii is
asserted, the game can still be found,
and where there is a game Of faro there
Is always also to be found a man in
the lookout chair. Perched on q high
seat overlooking the game, nonchalant-
ly smoking a cigar, he seems to be the
least busy man in the room. But that
is mere appearance; there is nothing
going on at the table that he doesn't
observe If he is a good man at his
business, and the man in the lookout
chair is usually all that. If any bets
are overlooked by the dealer he no.
tees them; If any disputes arise he
settles them. He makes mental note
OF every play, watches every turn. He
may not always be right, but what he
says goes. On occasion he can draw
quickly, and that at times has han
pened to be desirable qualification.
The man in the lookout chair
doesn't nave to be college student,
although 1t sometimes happens that he
is. He does have to be intelligent and
alert. He is trained to be a close OBJ
server of people and of things and
sometimes he has peculiar views about
men and about occurrences. The man
who is the lookout on the early even
ing Shift at the game which is closest
TO Butte's business center never saws
word while he is.on duty in the chair,
but when he is off shift or there is a
let-up In the game he often gives his
vfews-such as they are.
Business is pretty dull,'' said the
man in the lookout chair, during a
pause in the game a few nights ago:
dull in our line, sure. There's too
many holiday sales on the carpet Just
now-that kills trade. People spend
too much money at the stores and most
Of 'em has nothing left to take a
chance. I amt got nothin' against no
legitimate business-no, sir. All say
is that all is not bargains that's bought.
We amt Offering no extra inducements
at our shop-we amt giving away
Christmas cards to get people started
on a bargain counter bat. We puts
up our money against yours, and if you
win you know you've got something.
Il suppose the regular quarterly
fight against our line of business will
be starting up right soon. That's the
hell of having two sets of officials.
You've got to keep them fighting the
whole year round in order to get any
protection to legitimate business. We
have to play city officials against coun-
ty officials and then we play the coun-
ty officials against the city officials To
keep 'em fighting each other all last
year worried us some. OF course they
never will break us up while they are
scrapping each other, but if they
should ever take a tumble to join hands
to enforce the darned laws we would
be bothered some. We has to keep
'em fighting.
There's too many officials, anyway
it keeps us taxpayers poor. If there's
any difference between the city and
county, it amt visible to the man in
the lookout chair. One set Of officials
ought to be enough for a community
of this size. The taxpayer has to pony
up to the county treasurer to keep the
county gang going and then he has to
pay up to the city treasurer to keep the
city gang going. Then they fights the
year round over the division of the
dough. The fellow running the booze
parlor has to give 5000 to the county
and then he has to dig up $500 more
for the city. The city wants the coun-
ty to dig I'D for taking care of small