Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-08-17
Lost but Saved.
BY sIGNoR BLITz.

One night, while in London, upon re-
turning very late to my boarding house, l
found, upon arriving at the door, pacing
up and down in evident great distress of
mind, young man, the son ofmy worthy
hndlady, whom had learned TO icok up
on with great degree of interest, by
reason of his uniform gentlemanly deport-
ment, and the affectionate solicitude he
ever exhibited for his mother. lie held a
fine position as clerk in large house,
and was one i'm whom his employers re-
posed the utmost confidence.
why, Harry, what's the matter?"
asked, not little alarmed at this sudden
scene. what ara you doing here.'
Il am lost man, ruined, cternally ruin
ed, and my poor mother"
Ruined, lost, what do you mean:"
III have lost everything; my salary,
my mothers little jewels, which my faith
er gave her, and, and to complete my
guilt, have robbed my employers.
"Youl you! robbed your mother and
your masterg When, and for what pur-
poSeg'
"Yes, / have done it, and it Is not an
hour since | staked the last crown of my
thievings on the card table at - IL
am damned forever he cried wildly,
throwing himSelfupon the doorstep in an
agony of grief
Here was scene indeed; young man
before whom. but for few moments
since, there were the happiest prospects of
an honorable life-a mothers only hope
and the esteemed confident of an honora-
bic mercantile house lying abiectly upon
the earth with every darling hope
in ruin Here, then, was the cause his
silence his moodiness and his late hours.
| saw it at a glance, and ~ quickly did
| resolve to save him if possible After
some little entreaty, | persuaded the
young man to leave the place and accom-
pany me to a more secluded locality On
the way l learned the entire story. TWAS
Il simple one, and just such as happens
every day.
Tie young man, by invitation of
friend, had been induced to visit -, to
see the place; next. to take a game or so
for the pleasure of the thing soon. to
make il more interesting, small sums were
staked, and lost, of course; next, to win
them back, debts were incurred which, if
not paid would lead to exposure Poor
Harry. he saw his position, but how
could he return. His salary was small
and only came on quarter days.
The friend suggested borrowing. with
out asking loan-for he could replace it
in q fnw days, and no one would be the
wiser, for luck would turn 1t was the
old story repeated-he fell into the snare,
frs, by rObbing his mother, then on this
day he had taken fifteen pounds from his
After listening to his tale, l knew at
once how the young man had been duped.
and proposed that he should go with me
10 - Where" said |, though new
er gamble yet hope to teach you a less
on that sh Use you never TO put your
foot within tlnS, or any similar place again
Come il Is now near morning, and if you
wish 10 save yourself, do Is l direct, and
perhaps ii can yet be done"
Ny companion led the way to the sa-
loon, where | was TO be introduced as
special friend All. of course, were hap
py TO see me, and with the young man
near, | sat down at one of the card-tables
and commenced playing. For time l
lost, bat soon the game began to assume
more favorable turn, and after an hours
play, arose from the table, and left the
place with about a hundred and fifty
pounds in my pocket.
After had gained the street, and was
a considerable way from the house. where
my visit had not been very acceptable to
some who wished me To remain longer,
turned and said, There Harry, you see
gamblers call it, is a cheat, and the money
which l have taken from those scoundrels
who lObbcd YOU, was done in accordance
with your principles. Here are the cards
played with" And beneath the light of
a street lamp, | showed him a pack of
cards, so arranged that I could always
hold the game in my hands. Besides,
designated marks BIZ which could te II the
character of every card in the hands of
my opponent. There, (said y in those
and similar ways. lie the art of gambling.
You have been duped, but know you will
not be 30 again
Il see il all, but now il is too late, tex
claimed the poor fellow. Now l see my
disgrace"
Not yet; promise me but one thing
and you shall be saved"
what is it? | will do it-ay, Be
anything, only for my poor mothers
sake
Give me Your word of honor, then,
that you will never again touch card or
dice box, and here is the money which
have Won Take it; pay back the sum
which you have taken from Your employ
ers; make what honest and true account
YOU can, 10 your mother, and remember
as long as YOU live, the night of the 10th
of March, 1893"
The young man promised, and did not
have occasion TO doubt but that he kept
his word.
Y CA--. IL PoINT-A slendid illustra-
fion ,f Nr Daru-i,,is tboor,- bas t,,rna1