Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-07-19
MARTINsBURG, Va, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 10, ISL

succeeding the conversation wehave reported
as occurring between slr aud Mrs Burton.
But how different was bis life II the store to
what it had been at home, where the good
counsel Of his mother had corrected so many
OF the faults Of bis youth. Now he was
brought in contact With young met Of immor-
al and vicious habits, whose vulgar converse
ton sadly shocked his fner sensibilities His
new situation also lacked mann ofthose CON-
forts which mother only can provide. In
stead Of bis clean, comfortable bed, be now
reposed upon bard mattress laid upon the
side Of the counter, which was arranged so as
to let down for that purpose. Neither could
be retire at so early an hour as formerly
After closing the store at nine o'clock, other
clerks would come in, who after testing the
quality of the different liquor. would play
cards until late hour of the night These
things at first were extremely revolving to
James, but be became so accustomed to such
scenes that he could witness them with de-
gree of pleasure and finally participate in the
play, as we'll as to take an occasional glass of
liquor.
1t is not necessary to give the daily expe-
riencc of James Burton during the time be
lived with Wolf Suffice it to say that in a
remarkably short space Of time be was tray
cling the downward road to ruin with rapid
strides.
One Saturday night, after James had been
living with wolf about two years, the wished
for nlno o'clock having arrived, the store
was closed, and James aud one of his fellow
clerks were quietly engaged in game Of
cards, when they were interrupted by a rap
ping at the door. After carefully concealing
their cards. James arose and on going to the
dooor, found the alarm to be occasioned by
clerk from neighboring store.
We'll, JIM said the newcomer. the Pres
ideut's in town, suppose We go round and
make an investment
Agreed, said Jim, but added, i am out
of funds; have you got any to lend ?
No was in the same predieament my
self, but supposing the investment would
yield handsome return, borrowed a small
amount of the OLD boss, but Of course without
his knowledge or consent. | advise you to
do the same"
James, following the advice Of bis compan-
ion, went to the till aud took from it hand
full of change, amounting perhaps, to some
| four or five dollars. Both of them then par
took of brandy and started of sogethnr TO
! see tie President.
The President was an individual who had
a nominal residence in the city of baltimore
He was the owner of Faro -Bank, and this
fact caused James and his companions to
confer upon bin the title of The President
lie WAS in the habit of visiting the town Pc
riodieally once month. His visits, howev
err were usually short, seldom exceeding
two or three days; for in that time, by the
exercise Of his skill, be was pretty sure to
transfer all the funds from the pockets of his
unwary victims to his own. When this was
accomplished ho would leave, and allow them
to recruit their exhausted finances The
scene of his operations, was that nuisance to
every town where one exists--the Bowling
Saloon; or as it is more generally called the
Ten pin Alley, whence We will follow James
and his companion.
Having arrived at the suburbs of the
town, they entered two-story brick house,
in the rear of which extended the Alley
The room through which it was necessary to
pass in order to gain admittauce to the Alley,
was used as the bar. At the time it was en-
tered by James and bis companion, it was
filled With maudlin crowd, who 'eemed to
derive tho utmost amusement by teasing a
poor idiot, whose duh intellect was rendered
doubly so, by the mean rum which they had
been giving him; consequently their entrance
vas not noticed, and they Immediately passed
up to the bar, and after partaking of more
brandy, they were conducted by the barton
der to a room on the second story. This
room was of corresponding dimensions with
the one below. The walls were covered with
dark paper, orpamented with dark pic lures
- all emblematio of the dark deeds which
were there committed
Make your bets, gentlemen, said tho
President to the persons standing round the
table, as James and bis companion were ush-
cred into The room. They walked up and
made bets also. They were immediatoly re-
cognizcd by the President for month only
had elapsed since he had ileeced them. They
continued betting for some time, meeting
with various success; sometimes winning,
and sometimes losing, AT intervals of only
few minutes they would gulp down brandy