The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-23

game. had a feeling that It would
sort of even matters up after the two
days of nothing I had. 1 played $40
and then bet the bristles in charge of
the stand 80 on the side that I would
land the Jack full before I played
two dollars more. He said it was a
long chance for him, but that he would
take me UP to give me an opportunity
to get back on losing so much to him
the other night. AS 1t happened there
were no others around. Well, the ex-
ira two dollars play failed to ring up
the Jack full" and tonight / am out
u more on the d-n things. / was
pretty sick about it till l went UP to
see Beatrice. One look at her and
knew the machines had got the last of
my money. OF course 1 have the will
power to quit myself anyway, just as
I quit the races. but man couldn't
help the quitting act anyhow with a
girl like that in the case.
May 81 haven't played the ma
chimes for four days now. Have been
to see Beatrice every evening. | am
still on the trail of q good business
opening, but il, is rather slow show
ing up. ] was witness to a very sad
incident down Market street the other
day. boy PLAYED $50 of his en-
ployer's money into the machines and
as he turned away burst into tears.
There was nothing else to do. HN
promised never to gamble again, so
] replaced the thirty for him to keep
him out of jail and told him he could
pay me back when he earned it. Two
hours later I came on him at another
cigar stand and he had already got
rid of SO of the $50 1 had given him.
There should at least be a law pro-
hibiting boys of IS and under from
that sort of gambling, as it seems to
possess a peculiar attraction for them.
I feel satisfied that the boy was per-
fectly honest in his desire to be done
with the thing. and yet he was
tempted the second time. l have seen
so many men who couldn't quit the
races that cases of this kind always
work on my sympathy. am glad
that ] am not at all weak minded in
such things.
May IO-Beatrice has gone 10 Los
Angeles for three or four days and
it's pretty lonesome. / was going up
Fillmore street last night and bought
a quarters worth of slugs just for
fun. Well. what do you think? With
those six slugs I won $3.50 and went
into the bar and cashed up. am
feeling pretty good today-if 1 could
only get back the amount I lost sew
eral days ago and be square when
the grille comes home. ii would be
fine business. I've located a prospect
in the Mission that will about suit me
If / can get ii through.
May I2-I was beastly, vilely drunk
last night. Happening to pass that
way l bought another two bits worth
of slugs at the stand where 1 won the
1880 so handily; and before l quit l
had put s22 into the machine and got
only one small special. 1t made me
sore. l am not a drinking man, but
/ think / must have taken a drink in
every saloon 1 came to. 1 do not re-
member how many more machines /
played. 1 am short $97 this morning
and ] can only account for $40 of it.
That / lent TO a carpenter, who was
playing a machine next to me. to pay
his rent. / remember I had sense
enough not to give the money to him.
l insisted on giving it to his wife. and
he took me home with him. There was
a couple Of ragged kiddies without
shoes. and the woman told me she had
had nothing to eat all day. / can
remember the way the fellow cried
as he leaned on the table. He must
have really loved the woman, for her
words cut him like knife He said
the pictures haunted him at night, that
he couldn't sleep for cards dropping be-
fore his eyes, that II was like opium
to him. like drink, only a thousand
times worse. and that he had to play
the machines. Well. this settles them
for me. or course. they would never
make weakling of me, and 1 can
really quit them any time / want to,
but $97 in night Is altogether too
much, and besides was drunk, which
Is not my habit. That, at least was
never one OF my vices.
May 13-I am waiting patiently in
hopes that the deal will go through.
II il does, Beatrice and 1 will be set up
In a tidy little business. The grille
isn't home yet, but l expect her soon.
| stood for an hour last night before
4 cigar stand. where they had a lot
Of specials, watching the men play.