Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-07-22

unused, Stepping to low bookcase,
he removed thin. neatly bound
volume lettered IF" and bearing on
the fy-leaf. vaudeville, Burlesuue
and Music Hall performers with Nc.
centric, Unusual Acts. Glancing
through the carefully indexed pages.
he stopped finally ut the sobriquet Of
The Human Frog" Only q few
words appeared IN reference to the
mans act. then q fcot-note referred
him to Volume HI" Picking out the
welluscd book. he quickly found the
Frogs" history. and read how the
performer had rapidly descended
through the theatrical armament like
. failing star. and had landed Il last
No dime-museum entertainer Al
the final entry In tho Frogs history
Poe dwelt for full minute. reading Il
over twice:
won $4,000 lottery In Texas,
80 No good since. Often seen
In low dives, So. Clark. Chicago:
| ursulines ST., New Orleans; Wa
ter st., Milwaukee; Canal st.. But.
| falo; Lower End Ave-. IN. II. Tall.
thin, and light on HIS feet."
Closing Volume III" abruptly. and
dropping the thumb and poker chip
into loose outside pocket. no re-
marked aloud to himself. Yes. he's 1
negro all right II ought to be- eAsy."
and strolled out OF the house. CROSS
inE to Broadway and walking down %
far ~ Forty-third street. Just west
OF broadway he came 10 = row Of
typical theatrical stone fronts, most
Of them cheap theatrical boarding
houses. He rang seemingly use
less bell, and waited until i tiny
peep hole In the door had bean open.
ed and his face had been recognised
| by the locker out.
| Then tho dilapidated- blocking door
slid open. and Poe stepped III, the
lookout greeting him deferentially q
Mr.. Hardy"
From the bare cellar Christie.
pher Poe went upstairs, where things
were different. There 1 deep-nappsd
carpet caressed tho feet. and low
voiced darkeys brought seductive
liquors to lash jaded palates and kin.
die the nre OF the betting passion.
N0dding to group OF men playing
poker ut round table beneath 4
bright light, Poo went on up to the
second floor. where there was .
roulette layout. with eight players al.
ready seated on high stools along the
table, opposite the croupier.
| Poe took seat on i high stool 1t
the extreme end OF the table beside
q thin man bent over small stack OF
chips. his greenish eyes glinting CON
tinually back and forth between the
pile OF white chips he had placed on
the red space before him. and the
bouncing marble.
/ Poe bought some chips. and scat
tered . few about among the straight
numbers.
Black wins!' cried the man q the
wheel again.
The ghonlish.looking fellow beside
Poe gave q grunt OF surprise, and
jerked out both hands to pull In his
slight winning, then changed his
mind and made q parlieu. leaving oil
the chips on the black
Christopher Poe noted In the flash
OF second, before the greedy hands
were pulled back, that the left one
was encased In q glove, and that the
man sunk his gloved hand deep In hia
coatpocket Immediately afterward and
did not remove 1t again.
II Half an hour later he OF the un.
healthy, blanched countenance lost his
last chip. and with another vile oath
pushed back his stool In savage dis.
gust. A watchful waiter came softly
behind him. and asked him In = sooth-
Ing tone what he would drink with
the proprietor"
TELL the proprietor to 20 to hell!"
shouted the thin man, smashing his
ungloved fst against the tray In the
walters hands. Az II crashed to the
door. one Of the cappers swung round,
and caught the ghouls arm.
THAT stun don't 60 here. Frog! Come
back when you feel better" he warned
with threatening emphasis.
I'm go when ! get damn good ana
ready" the dead-faced gambler
shouted In high-pitched tone. snatch
ing his arm away. and fiinging himself
down again on the stool. his PREACHER
GUS face knotted and glowering with
passion.
Picking up twenty-cent chip from
his stack. Poe turned to the young
fellow next to him and remarked
In the manner Of typical sporting
man:
"A little white chip just like this.
with the same three circles and all
saved q mans life once"
How was that?" asked the young
fellow, languidly interested.
"The man I'm speaking OF was a
sport" began Poe. He won 5000 In
Texas In Mexican lottery. He was q
crazy sort OF guy. Booze got him. He
dropped down till he was just q
hanger-on behind the scenes at q
vaudeville house where he used to act,
and at couple of gambling dumps
where he got chance once In q while
to make little coin as capper. He
did bit OF stealing too"
The blanched-faced fellow was now
leaning toward Poe and listening open
ly. blinking his sickly, greenish, red