Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-09-03
THE GAMBLERS VICTIM.

Some years ago l was collecting agent
fur . nsercantils house in New York,
doing large business in the south
west. 1. .a.s ere.
One Of our best and largest eustomers
resided in Memphis. and on him I intended
70 call ere completing my tour
In accordance With . private arrange
ment between him and the firm in whose
employ ! Vas. . Telegram had been sent
him. apprisina him Of my coming. as he
always desired to be notified Of that some
days in advance. aud then he invariably '
paid prompt. aud in cash.
A response to the telegram had been
received. and ! vas informed that our
valuable customer wss ready with bis
funds for payment.
He had. asI knew. peculiar ideas Of
business honesty. and having once pro-
missed any sum. would be the very last
man to shirk Or delay the ful6llment Of
the obligation.
So jourucyed on toward Memphis,
confident Of receiving from Mr.. Lamoyle
the very hsudsome sam owing our 6rm
from him.
At sCsiro I took the boat for . passage
down the Mississippi. To my ssrpriso.
one Of the very 6rss perscus sav on board
vas Mr.. Lsmoyle himself. who .wss r..
turning. he informed me. from hurried
trip to one Of the upper-river towns. Bot
he did not appear to BE- pleased t. see me.
| Thought; for his manner in nv presence
was constrained and embarrassed. All
his old cordiality was gone. His face
wore an anxious. distressed expression.
and altogether he vas entirely unlike his
former genial and kindly self. wonder
ed whst could have occurred TO change
him. -.
After the 6rst hour Of our meeting. he
avoided me as much A. he could. and fan
cied ,hst feeling Of shame Was aroused
in him whenever We aceidentslly met
His face would Aush, bis eyes would
not meet mine. and he appeared to be
very unpleasantly sgitsted. though he
eudeavorcd 70 conceal the traces OF his
emotion.
The boat. ] soon found. was infested
with gamblers. as every Mississippi steam.
er in those days was.
They made no coneeslment Of their
character and calling. In the cabin and
on deck groups gathered to witness their
operations. Day aud night their play
went on.
As I approached one Of the rings Of in
tereee in the cabin. after the lambs had
been lighted. sss to my sssouishment.
that Mr.. Lamoyle was engaged In the
dangerous .'smusement." I would not
have believed it Of him had not my eyes
sttessed the fact. I had heard him. q
other times. dcnounce gambling in TIE se-
verest terms, aud warn others never to
be led into il. Yet, there he vas. shuf.
ding the cards like an expert. aud .p-
parensiy deeply engrossed in the play.
He was excited, that vas plain to BE-
seen. and the intensity Of his interest in
the game both psined aud alarmed me.
For foil hour I watched him. and
those engaged ui,h him. at the iables.-
No, once did be raise his eyes % ses Who
was looking on. rr
AsS k&sS wv soG tSSSs ose<ossoo W ouy
thing apart from the game; spoke not 4
word bat in reference TO it.
His face. I thought. frightened a. the
hours wore away. He had won repeat.
edly-almoss Invariably. in fact. though
the stakes - yet we're small. Bss though b
he continued to vin for . time, pitiesl
him. ~ be sat there. aud felt painfully
concerned for him. ] vas sure shose
cold faced. ~ily villains Who we're around
him had marked him for their victim,
and we're only lsrine him on 70 utter de.
ssructioa. But dared not utter oa<
w.rsins vord-i, would have cost me nj
life. ..
Al las. the tide began to turn ss,ins
Mr.. Lanoyls. He lot. aud Lost ssain
The sam vas considerable. and ] saw h
was dismayed- The old. unessy lool
aas back to hia lassly hrigAsssisg eosn.
At The rexs game be wen.
Fer the 6rSa time nov. he usle = -