The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-07
A MAGIC BIT OF SILVER.

4 cZ.
"Well, my dear boy, what is it?"
"Where did you get your moneys"
The question was an abrupt one-it
was almost inpertinent. But Gomez
de Bonilla was an intimate friend of
mine, a good fellow, and-we had
dined. To say truth, we had not only
| dined but wined, and it was over some
excellent post-prandials in tho shape of
further wine and fragrant cigars that
had asked the question. But 1 had
long wished to do so, and will tell YOU
why. s't e
Some two years before, Gomez was
poor as church-mouse. He was al
ways n good fellow. but then, You
know, there is q difference between
good fellows rich and good fellows
poor. And, to my shame be it spoken,
1 think liked him better rich than
poor. Well, as said. he was almost
destitute. He had profession, it is
true-he was y journalist; but i'm Spain
the gains of the fraternity of the pen
are not large. What little he did earn
went to the bad. for he was an inveter-
ate gambler.
But from u poverty-stricken Journal
ist, he suddenly blossomed ont into. q
man of wealth. He had the finest
horses, he belonged to the most fash
iOnable club, he had the most luxurious
ly fitted town house, he had purchased
the country-seat of \ tlecayed grandee,
he had the best cook in Madrid, and he
moved i'm the best society-for alas!
even in Spain the golden key is begin
ming to open all portals. But do not
think from what i say that Gomez was
not 4 gentleman, for he came of an ex-
cellent family.
Well, rs l said, we had just finished
an excellent dinner, and over the wal
nuts and the wine fput my question.
Gomez, where did you get your
noney?' '"'
I He looked at me thoughtfully. and
knocked the ash from his cigar. 'Where
did l get my money!" he repeated slow
ly. '.And what says Dame Rumor con-
cerning it, PedroP''
are all sorts of stOries,'' re-
piled; 'tsOne probable, some wildly
impossible; some good-humored, more
ill-natnred.- will pardon my frank
ness if tell you that -have hoard soma
people call your wealth 'ill-gotten
gains whisper of retired highwaymen,
and the like. There are others who
Hint darkly at counterfeiting. Among
the lower classes there is u widespread
belief that you have sold yourself 10 the
devil. And have even met intelligent
people who limited ut supernatural
means"
Perhaps they were right" was his
laconic reply.
Il starett at. him. "a
Listen. and you may perhaps tell
me whether The means were supernat-
urafor no. 4 have never been able to
decitl4 The reason lint the scource of
my fortsne ffas never Been discovered
was because The only man who knew
of il left The city the day AFTER"
He pansed.
.'I'he day after what?'' gueried.
''Well, Will begin at the beg ginning.
The story is q curious one, and should
be told in sequence"
He lit fresh cigar, and then began:
..You knew ME two years ago. when
/ was poor. You also knew, as did all
my friends. that had q passion for
gaming. Youwould all Of you chorus.
when speaking of me, Poor Bonilla!
He has the worst Of vices-he is des- |
perate gambler You were all wrong.
did not play simply for love of it. l
played because l was poor. was not |
q gambler. l was speculator. l had
fixed upon a certain sum which l con- |
sidcred competence. / saw no way
of acquiring it by my profession, so I
devoted myself TO the green cloth-how
assiduously you know
He smiled at the expression of as
sent which involuntarily fitted over my
countenance. watched the smoke |
wreaths curling over his head for a
moment, and continues:
"One evening was feeling unusual
ly blue. Ineyer drank, as you know
that is, never TO eXcess-and certainly
never to do what is called drowning
.sorrow.' My resource was the gaming
table. Unfortunately had in my pos
session considerable sum of money,
which had been entrusted to me by n
debts; he had suddenly been called
away from the city. 1 entered the
gambling hell, and seated myself at tthe
roulette table. Fortune was against
me; the few du,'Os that belonged to me
were soon gone. Something seemed 10
possess me that night; | was not my
self. i did what l never should have
dreamed myself capable of doing-I
staked my friends money. staked it.
and lost it all" p: -
was about to speak.
..Do not condemn me-" he inter
ruptcd; .you could say nothing sever
er than were my sef-reproaches. Long
i sat there, glaring ut the other play
ers. As watched the ivory ball spin
round, my brain seemed tn spin round
too. My senses seemed to be leaving
me- l felt rs if life was no longer dear
to me. Penniless and .dishonored,
what was there left 10 live forP
''As these thoughts passed through
my working brain, the night wore on.
The players dropped of. one by one.
The tables were gradually deserted. |
Soon there was but one left lighted
the roulette table before which / sat,
and at which one preserving gamester |
was trying his luck. Finally he too |
wearied, and was left alone with the
banker, who was tho proprietor of the
gambling hell"
"Oh, / remember" l interrupted,
Jose Hcrrara, who disappeared SO
suddenly u. couple of years ago" s-i
..The samc," replied Bonilla, fixing
his eyes keenly upon me.
! l do not know why, but began to
feel uncomfortable. However, lie con-
tinued:
THE banker looked at me inquiring
ly.. half rose to retire. i had fully |
determined to blow out my brains in |
the street, and that | did not do SO is |
owing to one of the sirangest circum-.
stances-so strange that you will not |
blame me for wondering whether it was |
supernatuIslL l half rose, say, and |
as did so, saw upon the floor q |
round, bright object which had silver
shimmer as the gaslight fell upon it. 1t |
"a pesefa," interrupted, breath |