Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-05
Confined from first page.l


betting upon the dice, and from which a
man was just rising with goodly spoil.
The boy hesitated moment, then set his
teeth close, and sat down on vacant
cask. Before could make my way to
the table he had already won twice and
the blue eyes were beginning TO sparkle.
Then / knew that was too late, and that
the fever-fit must run its course.
Poor Harry! 1t did not take long. For
about half an hour he held out, now win
ming a trife, now losing a trifle more.
Gradually the little pile of soyereigns di-
minisbed in bulk, then vanished altogeth-
er, and Harry Godwin's last stake lay on
the beer-stained table. The great shay
bearded digger with whom he was play
ing gave huge horse-laugh, and ratified
the dice box triumphantly over his head.
Last chuck, mate ?" he roared pleas
antly. "Ha ha here goes. Skies again.
by the living Jingoi Cleaned out, my
lad, chi Ha! ha ha !" And the iovial
winner swept poor Harry's last sovereign
into his well-iilled leathern purse, and
shouted aloud, like an amiable Golah tor
new antagonist.
The boy sat quite quiet for moment
or two. looking with vacant eyes at the
place where his money had lain, without
word, he flung his arms upon the the table,
dropped bis head upon them, and burst In
q passion of tears.
"Hallo. mate p roared the merry giant
opposite, half amused, half Disguised. at
this very unorthodox procedure "that
last shot started water-butt, ehp
There was laugh among the bystand-
ers. and dozen or two disengaged play
ers came crowding round. with plentiful
supply Of chaff for the poor-sprited crea-
ture, who couldn't lose his money without
crying over it like great child.
Here, come out of this, you bowling
young whelp," cried one, Selling him
roughly by the neck, 'and make room for
q man. We don't want any blubbering
gals here"
but the rough grasp on Harry Good
wins collar did him good, and aroused his
spirit again. Shaking off his assailants
hand he sprang from his seat. and faced
round with clenched fist and sparkling
eye.
Don't lay your hand on me, mate" he
said briskly enough; Il am fool, know,
but amt no coward, and-Oh I! sir, he
broke off suddenly as he caught sight of
me, 'only see here"
Itook the letter he held out to me, and
ran my eye rapidly through it. 1t was
short enough and clear enough-only too
clear. The last sentence will be sufli-
cient.
80 it is no use, Harry" it ran. UNLESS
the two hundred pounds can be got at
somehow before Christmas, and that |
know cant be, mast marry Mr.. Picker
ing or father must go to prison. Tell Dick
Golding-poor darling Dick" and then
there was great blot, and the letter end
ed abruptly without even signature.
But there was no need for any signature,
or tor any explanation now of Harry Good
wins presence in that room. 1t was already
September. The mail-the only mail that
could possibly reach England by Christ
mas-sailed the next morning, or rather
that morning, for day was already begin
ming to dawn. Dick Golding-"poor darl-
ing Dick"-was many mile away. If
fortune would but smile, the seventy-fve
pounds the boy already had in hand might
even now be turned into the two hundred
pounds, which alone could save Dicks
sweetheart, his own pretty Sis, from the
fate that hung over her. That was the
story of Harry Goodwin's visit to Mr.. Her
mann Rauch's Spielsaal in Canvas Town.
Don't bother the lad" said. and
felt something very like tinging in my
own eyelids, and following the impulse OF
the moment held out the letter to Har-
rvs late antagonist He took it, looked
at me, then at him, then slapped his great
hand upon the table, and sprang to his
feet.
Harry Goodwin r' he shouted. "Why,
If didn I think knew the face Are you
Harry Goodwin of Twofold Bay?"
The lump in poor Harry's throat was
still too big to let him speak, but he nodded
assent, and dashed the tears angriy away
with his hand. The next moment the big
digger was standing on the table, which
cracked and groaned under his weight.
"Hallo there, mates" he roared at the
top power Of his stentorian lungs. Halo
there. Winners ahoy."
There was a lull in the clamor which
filled the room, and all turned towards
the speaker, who pulled his battered billy
cock from his head, and held it out at
arms length.
Look here. lads" he cried. you've
all heard of Harry Goodwin. the boy as
jumped in right among the sharks to save
Bill Curling's little wench."
A murmur Of assent ran round the
room.
AYE, aye" said one horse voice. an
swering for the rest, "we've heard. What
about he ?"
"Why he's down in his luck, that's what
be il. His fancy gar'--the speaker was
making a slight confusion of persons here.
but it didn't signify-"his fancy gals got
to marry another one, if so be as he can't
shell out two hundred pounds By this thun-
dering mail, and darn me il amt been
and rocked him out of every sinner"
"More shame for you" growled the
hoarse voice again in reply; "give the
chap his guilds back again, and be hanged
TO ye."
.'Give 'em back" roared the first speak
er, As he dashed huge handful OF coin
into the hat which he held out oratorically.
I'm course will. Here they be, and a
dozen more to the back Of 'em. But that
aren't enough, boys, nor half enough
So now then, winners ahoy. Who'll
shell out handful of sinners to save
plucky Hal Goodwin's sweetheart"
] must confess that as rule. | should
not expect an appeal of this sort to meet
with success in gambling-room. Bot
your Australian or California digger ION
the spree" is very different animal from
the business-like habtue OF Hamborc or