Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-01-24

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place in Forty fogrth street. Most OF
the Well known gamblers up town, as
well as their 'rcspcctdbic" down owi
fellow members of the fraternity. Wer,
old acGIaiutanres OF inin". Joe ilcaiey
was "a close a friend as | had II.
mad great fame for squarenesS and. ia
a sense. deserved il. with his fciio~
gamblers he Was straight ns a string At
al! tiincs-to be otherwise would have
meant hat when he Wen; broke he
world stay broke. because none of do
fraternity would stake" him. i:ui with
MS patrons being regarded by them as
IL pariah. he acted toward them ike
a pariah-a prudent pariah. He fooled
them with Il frank show OF gentleman
linoss. of honesty to his own hurt: UNI
der hat cover he fieeccd them we'll. but
always ju~dictously.
That night. | recall. Joe's guests were
several young fellows OF the fashionable
set. rich mems sons ANA their parasites,
a few OF the big down town operators
who hadn't vet got hippcl on respect
ability-thcy playing POKER In a pri-
vate room and = cori,iN or flush faced.
flush pursed chaps trrrI ont OF town.
Tor whom one II lur'; u,en was deal
ing far" from wtai iu0he,. to my tx
perielced and Iota.itc we like n
brace" BOX,
Joe. WAS very eler,ut. 90 elegant In
fact. in evening dress. vas showing a
new piece Of statuary to the oldest son
or Melville. Of the National Industrial
bank. Joe knew a little something
ai-fut art-hc was much like the art
dealers VINO. as n matter of business.
learn he difference between good things
and bad but in their hearts wonder and
Taught nj people willing to part with
large sums OF money for a little pain,
or marble or the like.
AS soon as Joe thought he had SUM-
GENTLY impressed young Melville. he
drifted him to II roulette able laf,
him there and Joined me.
Come to my Office" said he. n
want to see YOU
lie led the way down the richly car
peted marble stairway as far as the
landing at the urn. There. on a sort
OF ~mezzanine. he had IL gorgeous little
suite. h principal object in the Sit
ting room or office was Il huge safe.
He closed and locked the door behind
uS.
Take , seat said he. "Ynull like
he cigars i'm the second box on my
aesk-the long one And he began
turning the combination lock. You
haven't dropped in on us for the past
three or four months" he went on.
NO said i. getting a great deal OF
pleasure out of seeing again. and thus
intimately. his round. rudy face-!ike
II yachtfnan's. not like IA drinkers
and his shifty. laughing brown eyes.
The game down town has given me
enough excitement. haven't had to
continue 1t up town to keep my mine
In"
In fact. I had. as have already
said. been breaking off with my ormcr
friends because, while many of the most
reputable II reliable tinancicrs down
town 20 in for high play occasionally
at the gambling houses. it isn't wise
for the man trying to establish him
self as a strictly legitimate %financier.
l Mad been playing AS much as ever.
but My In games in my own rooms
and at the rooms OF other bankers.
brokers and commercial leaders. The
passion for high play is 4 craving that
snaws at n man all the time. and he
Il always be feeding it one way or
another.
i've noticed that YOU are getting too
swell to patronize us fellows" said he.
his Shrewd smile showing that NV po-
lite eNcuse had not fooled him. We'll.
Matt. you're right-you always did
nave good sense and a steady eye for
the main chance. ! used to .hink the
womend ruin YOU. they We're so crazy
about that handsome mug and figure Of
yours. But when l saw you knew ex-
actly when to let go. | knew nothing
could stop YOU"
~ WIS tIIilt ne nau tle SaIn ppeN,
disclosing several compartments and y
small. inside safe. He worked away al
the second combination lock. and pres
entity exposed the interior OF the lit
the safe. II was filed with a great
roll of bills. He pried this out. rough
It over to the desk and began wrap
ping 1t up. Il want you To take his
With you when o Co." said he. I've
made several big killings lately. and
I'm going to get you 10 invest the pro-
ceeds."
Il can't take that big bundle along
with me. joe said 1. Besides. 1t amt
safe. Put it III the bank and send me
IL check"
Not on you life replied Hea!ey
with a laugh. The suckers we trimmed
gave checks. and l turned EN- into cash
as soon as the banks opened. wasn't
n too spry. either. Two of the
damned sneaks consulted lawyers as
soon as they sobered off. and tried to
stop payment OF their checks. THEY'RE
threatening proceedings. You must
take the dough away with you. and 1
don't want IL receipt
Trimming suckers. eh?" said I. not
able to decide what to do.
Their fathers stole 1t from the pub
lic." he explained. They're drunken
little snobs. not fit to have money. I'm
doing q public service by relieving them
Of 1t. II I'D "a got more. I'd feel that
much more"-he vented his light, cool.
sarcastic lauGh-'more patriotic..'
Il can't take IT," said 1. feeling that.
In my present condition. to take Il
would be very lear to ~betrayinR the
confidence OF my old friend.
They lost 1t In a straight game"
he hastened To assure me. Il haven't
had a brace box or crooked wheel for
four years." This with q sober face
and . twinkle in his eye. But even
II I had helped chance to do the sood
work OF teaching them to take care OF
their money. you'd not refuse me. I'm
town and down town. and all over the
place. what's business. when you come
to LOOK ut it sensihlY. hMf q.