The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-12-28

Play was soon recommended, and fortune was
now as adverse to him as she had before proved
favorable. He became impatient, he could,
with difficulty conceal his agitation, and cold
perspiration poured down his forehead, while,
with that determined obs iinacy characteristic
of the inexperienced gambler, he doubled and
quadrupled his stakes, but 70 no effect. In less
than an hour, not only his winnings of the COM
mencement of the evening, but likewise the en-
tire sum- he had borrowed the day before, had
successively disappeared. Scarcely knowing
what he did, be called upon the Colonel, for a
further loan, which was refused hlm. He,
however obtained fresh supply from him on
the next day, which he lost in the evening.
Weeks elapsed IN this manner, money was
advanced in the morning on good collateral Sc
curity, and gambled away in the evening, un-
Ii. his losses amounted TO such a sum as made
him fear that the Colonel would refuse him
further assistance from his inability, much loD-
ger, TO give bonds for the loans already raised
could not fall far short of the entire value Of the
property which he had inherited from his de-
ceased father. A vague suspicion at first foa-
ted through his mind, that be had been cheated,
that all was not fair, and when he reflected on
the frequency of his losses of late,h could hard
ly attribute them to mere run of III luck, al
though no sign Of foul play had come within
his notice at the gambling table.
While in this mood of thought one cay, he
heard gentle knock at hIs door, and an indi-
viduai Immediately afterwards entered, who
represented himself to be foreign mechanic.
He showed Robert several articles of ivory, re-
markable for the ingenuity of their mechanism,
without, however, being able 10 tempt him to
purchase. He was about leaving the room,
when young Baldwin suddenly recalled him,
and asked him If he could give him anv infor-
nation relative TO the internal construction oi
loaded dice, OF which he had often heard. The
pedlar gave a cautious glance around the room
represented the many dangers TO which per
son known TO traffic in such PARTICLES must be
exposed, and expressed his unwlliingness tc
con6de such secret to an individual who wa:
total stranger TO him. His apparent scFuPles
were, however, easily removed, and TO Roberts
asionishment, he produced dice, TO all appear
ance, the same IN formation as those to which
his eyes had been long accustomed and which
when in the hands of the initiated, Ito use the
pedar's phraseology) invariably turned up the
highest possible number ; whereas, with those
ignorant of their construction, all was, as with
the common dice, reduced 10 chance : he soon
convinced him, by repeated trials, of thi:
fact.
Their possession now became associated in
the Young gamblers mind with the accumua-
tion of large and rapid fortune, more speedily
to be acquired thansby the slow drudgery o
mercantile life, out not having the means a
bout hun TO purchase them, he was not little
relieved by the mans agreeing 10 take trinkets
| in exchange. He Immediately showed thoss
he had IN his possession, none OF which, how
ever appeared likely 10 10 sui, and De began Il
fear that he should be obliged TO miss the Pur'
| IlldSSs w tICl tuC IVhidL obtNi'bAOA
| by handsomely set brooch, the first present
! Robert had received from Constance, which he
offered TO take IN exchange for his merchandise.
This was at first promptly refused, and he was
requested to return in few hours, when tht
money he asked would be ready for him. This
however, the pedlar represented to be impossi-
bic, as affairs OF Importance obliged him 10 leave
the city within an hour, and besides he sale
the gentleman'S object in delaying him might
be only to hand him over TO the police officers
Baldwin renamed for few moments undeci
ded, but the temptation was too strong, and he
bartered 0ray the ptedgeof early affection ant
first lore.
ITO BE CONCLUDED IN OUR NEXT
WHAT WOULD Do.-If possessed the most