Year: 1874


THE STORY OF A FAST YOUNG MAN


Edward Everett, one of the bool
collectors of the Mercantile Library
Association, was discharged last fall
and for some time hung around thu
library, leading an idle, objectlesl
life. One morning he got possession
of soihe of the outstanding bills
against subscribers and started off OF
a collection tour on his own hook
By bis untiring energy, progresses
ing manners, and financial ability he
had succeeded in collecting S25
when his career was suddenly brought
to close by an officer of the First
street police, who had been sent out
to look for him.


4 Young Everett was tried in the
General Sessions and sentenced to
i Imprisonment for two months on
Blackwell's Island. No sooner had
he completed this penance than he
received the news of the death of his
father and his accession to fortune
of $4,000.


In his humble position in the Mer-
camille Library, Everett had been
somewhat fast, but when his fortune
came to him he blazed out at once
into what is popularly termed a
sport. His striped prison garb Of
sackcloth gave place to broadcloth Of
the finest, his linsey-woolsey shirt
was replaced by spotless linen, and
instead of being begrimmed by the dirt
of the island, his hands were adorn-
ed with rings. In fine, he sparkled
in cheap and snowy jewelry, wore
patent leather boots, and sported a
beaver hat, which was q marvel OF
Broadway art.


STARTING A FARO BANK,


For time young Everett was con-
tent to disport himself in this city,
but soon wearying of idleness he
wentto Troy, ,Rwhere his money gained
him admission to the choicest circle
of the gamblers of that city, 1t was
not long before the precious youth
believed that the way to make money
atfaro--and the only way-is to deal
the game; hence he was q ready list
ener to a plan proposed by one of the
gambling fraternity looking toward
the establishment of game. Ever
ett's money was forthcoming, the
implements were procured, and in
February another was added to the
already long list of Trojan gaming
hells.


Everett's habits Of money spending
in Troy gained for him among his
associates the nickname of "Coal
Oil Tommy" in imitation probably
of the soubriquet bestowed upon
young Steele, the heir of o coal oil
millionaire, who managed to spend a
colossal fortune in two or three
years during the oil excitement, and
then retired modestly into private
life, becoming the doorkeeper of q
travelling minstrel show. The name
delighted Everett hugely, and the
use of it was sure passport to his
favor.


BREAKING THE BANK.


For o time things went smoothly
and the game won, although the
knowing ones say that Everett saw
little or nothing of the proceeds.
But the gamblers were not content
with this process of getting rich slow
ly, and organized scheme to break
the bank for their own benefit.


One day last week the game was
opened at an unusually early hour,
and while the unsuspecting banker
was yet enjoying his morning slum-
ber. The only player was q tall,
black-whiskered stranger, who wore
o diamond solitaire in his shirt front,
and q ring of price on the middle
finger of the left hand. He began at
once to bet the limit of the game,
and from the start fortune was pro-
pitious. Deal followed deal, the
strangers pile of checks increasing
rapidly, until at length the dealer
replaced the cards in the drawer, and
announced the game closed. He was
cashing the checks, whose total value
equalled the resources of the bank,
when Coal Oil Tommy entered the
room.


"The banks brokeP was the OK
planation Of the dealer, and with
this Everett was perforce content.
But this infatuation was such that he
tried that afternoon to sell his trot-
ting horse for 5000, and failing in
the attempt, sent to this city to raise
more money on his property.--N
Y. Sun.