New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-03

WATCHING INTENT PLAYERS.
Bu, whatever 1t is they do in the casino.
the place has a breezy. Western charm
that draws those who would be caught "a
unwiIllugly at a game Of billiards as a.
roulette Reverend clergymen have been
reen 10 stand watching the little ball on
IT'S journeys I'm the whirling bowl and
scanning the drawn faces and cIenched
Rloved hands waiting on its blind decision.
There are almost always women IN these
eroups They are all beautiful; often they
come alone. They show uniformly tia
wonan's love for bargain. choosing 70
put their money on the numbers" where
they have a chance 20 win large sums on
q small stake. And with losses come tears
and hysteria. sObbed vows that ne must
never. never know" and not seldom appeals
for aid from honorable looking strangers.
Each of the keen-faced men who WELD
the rakes carries a revolver IN his hip
pocket He Is not careful 10 conceal Il nor
unready TO tell why he goes armed Every
body knows that there are hundreds OF
thousands Of dollars lying loose in. thu
casino every night These wild hills Of
the Cumberland range have sheltered ban
dts time out OF mind; the famous Archer
bovs once lived az French Lick itself.
three determined men could walk IN and
take the money away IN the face OF the
whole crowded room II there were not a
guard with turn for fighting there And
for some reason the management does not
look TO the state 10 protect its bowling
alleys and pool tables
Az the door TO the casino sits a huge
native Of the region. IOng-limbed, awk-
ward. with hands like hams. yet bearing
himself with the courtesy that marks the
people OF his mountains He scans every
conner. To those who are not jewellers IN TIE
county is given a card emitting the holder
10 the privileges Of the French Lick Club
for one week The man al the door knows
every man. woman and child in Orange
County.
THE CITIZENS INTERESTED.
That provision is part OF Tom Taggart's
benevolent despotism- The man who could
become the boss OF Indianapolis can b
counted on 70 take care OF the pocket
books and the consciences OF any county
he might decide TO put on the map There
IS hardly a household in the county that
does not sell TO the hotels eggs or milk o.
chickens. or has not son or a brother or
a daughter employed in them. or does not
hope to take bOardeTs who viii patTOnizs
their liver springs and their casino. That
friendly interest is worth keeping II Only
70 meet the day when juries must be
drawn 70 resUte sneaking politicians Men
from the rich and wicked cities do leave
money behind in the casino. but not
native of Orange County will do so Il
Tom TaggaTt can prevent IT,
Even the outsiders are generously taken
care of. Many a poor fellow who reeied
from the tables without a cent has been
clapped on the shoulder and received a
ticket home and an invitation 70 come back
to settle and get his revenge Even at
that, the outsider is not always content
One morning at daybreak. not many
months ago, the belch OF a dynamite blast
shook the valley. rafting the village win
dows The casino was found steamins
with the blush haze or the stuff, the
doorway hanging in splinters and a hole
in the ground where the veranda had been
Discharged belIboy.'' Tom Taggarr ex-
planned. tersely.
Bad loser" whispered the men OF tbs
rakes.
Even that deed. Tom says. was not 50
mean and back-handed as the plot falsely
10 accuse him because, depending on his
merits, he aspires to be a Senator