The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-08-28
he Wanted to Be "King of Gamblers"
Once; But Now Charley Louie Is Daddy
TO S Boys--and That Makes a Difference
BY hal ARMSTRONG

the ftrmness or dtteffninauoh, ana
in his almond eyes blaxed the fire
OF "A great ambition. lie wanted
to be the king OF seattle's gambling
dens.
Charley was the nemesis OF the
Seattle police. Some folks limited
that he had inside connections" with
the higher.ups In the department
The higher.ups denied II and said
the smart young chinaman was
dynamite. But whether he was
pulling strings or not. Charley was
getting by" unmolested and piling
up a fortune.
Then Charles Rockingham became
police chief l met Charley Louie
on the street. lie wanted TO talk.
he said.
II. and up a long flight OF dinEy
stairs. A word 10 a chinaman stand
ing guard at a doorway and Charley
and I were ushercd into wide room
filled with motley crowd OF mixed
races milling about a dozen tables
covered with green cloth and lighted
from above by cones OF yellow light
Brings Out Bottle
Coin ciinked agains, coin. Chips
clicked. Men laughed or cursed in
undertones. II was one OF chariey's
gambling jo,nts.
"comc." he said. and led me into
tho office. Other Cinnamon eyed
mo askance and shuffied out. ieav.
Ing Charley and me alone.
lie gave me a chair and extended
a Dor OF cigars. From the safe
he brought bottle and poured out
two glasses OF a brand that is seen
no more. Then he sat down and
asked:
You know Charley Buckingham"
I answered that I did.
What kind OF chief you think
Charley Rockingham" Charley
Louie spoke almost perfect English.
He was born and educated In Port.
land.
We'll" told him. Buckingham
Is pretty good scout. Charley. but
don't think he'll let you run any
joints"
He do businesx7 You don't
think"
That's II. I don't think you can
do business with him"
Tries II Anyhow
well. we see. talk 20 him to-
morrow" said Charley with deter.
minatlon. We had our drink and /
wen, home.
Three days later I saw Charley
again.
Il see Chief Rockingham" he told
me. He good fella. told him I
like to open up down on Washing.
ton st. II everything 20 all right.
He said. You can't do that But I
do II anyhow. Next Saturday night
open"
Il don't think you better" ad.
yised him. But he did.
I saw the place the night he
opened He had rented a ground
floor store building and the aitera-
tons he had made and the furni-
ture must have cost him 5000. A
pretty good outlay for a chinaman
to make unless he was sure Of his
his ground The place was filled
with men eager to stack their money
against Charley's bankroli.
Police history tells the rest. That
night Chief Beckingham's smash.
up squad walked In and reduced
Charley's tables and other furniture
80.
ment. but Charley was not dis.
courax~d. He wanted 10 be seattie's
gambling king.
Has New Boy
saw him some weeks later. lie
was grinning. highly pleased.
Have a cigar" he offered. got
new boy at my house"
A boy! Good fortune seemed 10
be with Charley. Two boys had
come already and now another. And
an honor. unlike "A girl.
That was three years ago. Mean
while ! had been away and hadn't
seen Charley until today. took n
trip to Chinatown TO visit him. I
wanted to see the king OF Scattie's
gamblers.
Down at King ri. and Sixth ave.
I found him. His red. flamboyant
necktie wasn't there. His shirt
was open at the front. His tread
was firm. but not so sprightly. and
In his eyes / saw n cold and cal
culating CLEAN. There were seams
In his face ! hadn't seen before.
"How's business7" I asked him.
Pretty good" he said. This is
my store"
He potioned with hand that
had once been soft az a woman's
to shelves laden high with groceries
and dried meats and nuts and
other commodities from China. His
hand was calloused now.
No More Gambling
We went back into the private
office. There was no bottle in the
safe, but there was box Of
cigarets for me.
"How's gambllng?" / inquired.
The king Of the gamblers" re-
garded me at length.
Not much doing now" he said
But the fishing boats from the
canning factories VIII soon be com
ing down from the North" com
mented, "and then It is always
good"
Yes he assented Some boa =
back now. Some Cinnamon start
gamble already. White men gam
BILE. But I don't think / gamble
any more"
II thought" I exclaimed.
II know" he broke In, antlclpat-
ing my remark. But the high
binders. They very bad. The high
binders gonna XIII me. had to
give them thousand dollar. get
little money. then the hlghblnders
-