Arizona republican., 1905-04-30
By Gellett Burgess and Will Irwin.)

James WiswelI Coffin, 3d. had a new but fully fedged philosophy buzzing in his brain. Enlightenment had come in hint dropped by Coffee John him self.
 The curve of fortune is like wave. It should then be played heavily while it ascends, and lightly on the decline. Mine is undoubtedly rising. Go to. I shall proceed to gamble"
 But how gamble at midnight with a capital of but one dime? In no other city in the world is it so easy as in San Francisco that quaint rendezvous of saloons and cigar stands. The ci- gar slot machine or "harJi luck box is a nickle lottery played by good and bad alike; for it has a reputation no shadier than the church raffie or the juvenile grabbag, and is tolerated as a harmless safety valve for the lust of gambling.
 Gunchke's cigar shop was still open as Coffin reached the corner of Bush street. He walked briskly inside tie open salesroom (for a cigar shop has but thrne walls in San FranciscO's gentle clime) and. with the assurance of one who has just touched a hump back and the carelessness of million aire, he exchanged Coffee Johns dime for two nickels. dropped one down the slot of the machine on the counter and sprang the handle. The five wheels Of playing cards whirled madly, hen stopped. leaving a poker hand exposed behind the wire. He had caught a pair of kings, good for a bit" cigar.
 Coffin was disappointed and yet after all, there was a slight gain in the transaction. Investing cents he Lad O .L, disc. It was not sufficiently marvel ous to turn his head but his luck was evidently on the up-curve. though it was rising slowly enough. He took the other nickel-and jerIed the han dle again. awaiting with calmness for the cards to come to standstiu.
 As the wheels settled into place man with green eyes and a bediamond- ed shirt front came up and leaned over Coffin's shoulder. Good work A straight flush, by crickety!-forty c1- gars! Get in and break the bank young fellow!"
 Coffin turned to him with noncha- lance. while the clerk marked the winnings in a book. "Nn-nm! I know when I've got enough"
 ''Play for me, then, will you?" the other rejo;ned. You've got luck, you have
 T don't propose to make a present of it to you, if I have; need every stitch of it myself" And then Coffin touched with a happy thought. began to swagger. Beside, if I'm going to smoke this forty up tonight I've got to get busy myself" He looked know ingly at the goods displayed for his choice, pinching the wrappers. i've never had all the cigars I could smoke yet. and I'm going to try my limit. Got any African Panatelas, Colorado Maduro?" he asked the clerk A small box was taken down from the shelf. Coffin accepted it and walked leisurely toward the door.
 Good LOrd!" cried the stranger, fol- lowing him. You don't think you can tackle forty cigars on a stretch, do you? Kid, it'll kill you"
 Its a beautiful death" coffin re- piled, jauntily, you can tell mamma l died happy" The clerk grinned.
 Strikes me you're troubled with youngness," said the stranger, looking him over.
 Coffin ruff1ed at his patronizing tone See herei! D'you think I can't get away with these forty cigars. smoking 'em in an end-to-end chain down tC One-inch butts?"
 "I bet you a hundred dollars you gel sick as pig firstl" was the reply.
 Taken" Coffin cried, and went al