The copper era., 1907-04-04
The Close of GAMBLING.

professional gentlemen.
Why are they leaving Clifton, pa,
when the scarlet fever is about to
break out?
They are going, son, because the
Legislature cut out playing checkers
after o'clock.
Say, pa, who is that big Teller.
That's Angy; he's the man that has
the contract to navigate and take in
the toll on the Panama canal.
He must have lots of money?
Yes, so he has, and he made it all
on that boot-black stand in front of
Springers',
Who's that?
Why, hush, son, that's Col. John
Shaw, the millionaire. Notice his
new clothes and the front he puts on.
He's goin' to Mexico to buy d rail-
road.
Pa, don't know all these fellers,
and want you to coach me a bit.
Who's that-little short chap with the
Texas mustache?
That's Jimmie Nichols. He's got
four carloads of paint on the road.
Be careful, son, and don't lean up
against any of the buildings as you
may get your clothes soiled.
Dad, there's smooth guy, ai'nt he
a Heckshaw with the shackles?
Well, [ should say not, son, you see,
the last election tipped a flop and
Lee had to fall back on his Wall
street bonds, and opened in full blast
at the Astor Club with d box of cas-
tor beans. He's now contracting to
shovel sand for Pitt in the mortar
boxes.
There's a heavy-set looking red
faced plug: who's he, dad?
That's Billy Hart, the man that
helped Pierpont Morgan out on his
deal in purchasing the Atlantic cable.
Who's that long Teller lookin' at
the glass sign?
That's Harry, the gentleman that
owns all open ground i'll the district
that's now being worked; but he's
working SOnG LOU.
Say, pop, my eyes hurt.
What makes your eyes hurt, son?
Was looking at that diamond the
Fat kid wears. Where'd he get it, pa?
Found it in Brazil, while fishing for
electric cells to run the ice plant with.
I've seen them all, dad, but gosh,
that's a nice looking place; lets go in.
No, son, well not go in there.
That's the "Ofice". The gentlemen
that owns that place once owned the
Hawaiian Islands, but gave it away.
Pa, knew a man once whose name
was Tom Stevens, he bought me pop
corn, but said Lou Norris paid for it.
Your wrong, kid, paid for it my
self.
Gee whiz. pa, look at that skinny
kid, what's he making so much fuss
about?
They call him the "poor kid". If
we had his rocks we'd buy cider.
What's rocks, dad.
Dough.
What's dough, dad
Never mind, now, I'll not explain,
I'm afraid you. want to borrow a
nickel.
Say, old man, amt we had the
rounds? Your always making me
quit before the alarm goes off.
Blow me, but there's duffer, who's
that?
That's Rocky John, he's got spa
vim OF his left shin; don't disturb him
kid, or he will open the Pecos dam.
Hold on pa, look at that; who's that
smart alec?
Now, you'll get me into trouble yet,
that's Bob Johnson; he's going to fight
Jud Webster's bulls down at Coronado
next Sunday, but he'll leave the shirt
at home.
While the vesper breezes were re-
freshiug Arizona at the midnight
hour, April l, 1907, in the little burg
of Clifton, the eternal knell to gam
bling devices was sounded. Those
who cared took a last spin on the
"wheel'' and it is said that the games
were taxed to their full capacity up
to the last minute, and after the pro-
prietors counted their 'chips" it was
discovered that the. gamblers paid a
pretty good dividend to their pa
irons.