The Omaha guide., 1947-01-04

had put CONS IN L1en DeIOro
when I thought they we're about
ready to pay off.
Watch iris" he said.
Round and round the wheels
went and WREN they STOPPED nick
les sounded like they were falling
everywhere. Of course he had only
hit sen, but wien you are playing
the slot machines, ten sounds like
rne.
This is only the beginning"
nv fria~d said. I'm going for the
Jackpot
"you had Better cult now Z
rsmrrked. angry at myself be-
cane I had not the courage to
put the nickle instead Of him.
want to 60 in with me?" my
friend asked.
No. no, I am going to play
this other one I replied. I'm
show you how 20 win on these
machines"
1 began searching my pocketE
for some coins. He had continued
playing and everytime the mach
inc stopped and no nickles fell, I
smiled 70 myself; void rave pat
ted myself on the back if I could
because of my good judgement by
not going in with him.
Afte~ hitting three pays out Of
ten I felt like quitting. I had won
five nickles and they have always
told me you can't win forever.
My friend walked to the bar;
purchased a drink and received
some more nickles. After giving
me my drink. he continued play
ing the machine. mo use being
a piker", 1 thought to myself, 1
might as well chance my winnings
and go for bigger stakes. I'd show
my friend that I could win as well
as anyone else.
AS I pulled the handle. with nv
eyes wide open and my heart
beating faster than ever, 1 watch
ed the cherries. lemons, oranges.
plums. bells, and bars as they fell
into place. When the first two
wheels had stopped and they had
matched I about had heart fail
ure when the third wheel stopped
on the wrong selection.
I was more determined to mat
oh all of them, and even had hopes
J of hitting the jackpot. I was com
ing close, but close doesn't count.
Staying ever wasn't my objective
now. I was going to play big-shot.
I was either going to lose a dol
lar, or win all of those nickles
that were placed behind that little
window.
Ny friend was not doing much
better, if that is any consoation.
He was after the jackpot too. At
ter losing the coins that he had
won, he kept getting change and
putting more nickles in.
"I1l hit it pretty soon" said my
friend sweating a little now and
not from the heat.
"..I11 get another drink" I
said. Might as well drink my
money up as put it in the mach
ines. One vice is as bad as another.
I thought to myself. "Strange
laws they have. A man can buy all
the whiskey he can afford, and
many persons under the influence
Of the liquor, will rob, modest, and
murder. Not counting the mans
laughter charges against tn e
drunken drivers everyday.
All of a sudden my friend
jumped up in the air and at the
same time tried to place his
hands in front of the payroll slot.
How 2, man cen lump up and push
the same time is beyond me, but
that was what he was trying to
do.
Nickles flew everywhere, and he
began picking them up, tugging
at my o~vercoat all the same time.
overjoyed. People turned around
staring; some coming over, con-
graduating him on his good for
tune. 1 just stood there, wanting
to pinch myself for not going in
with him.
~ told you I was going to hit
the jackpot. -, blurted out. II
know when these machines are go
ing to paw off. How you doing on
that one?", he inquired.
How am I doing" I almost
shouted but caught myself just in
time. Come lin. let's have an
other drink. That's two more dol
lars the machines owe me now. II