The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-04-14
GAMBLER RANSOM.
RIO" he saved Man from Ruin and Msdo
Family Happy.


Femily Happy.
81 could relate hundreds of stories
about his life," said a shining light OF
the N. 7. Athletic Club speaking to re-
porter OF the N. Y. Mail & Express about
tho well-known sporting man Charley
Ransom, who died recently. There Is
one story about him which the papers
have not published yet. Charley and I
made tho acquaintance Of what we
thought to be a very wealthy man at the
Monmouth Beach race-course two years
ago last summer. He was introduced
to us by appointment official of police
headquarters. After the races were
over, all three went over to Long
Branch. Charley and / came UP to this
city on an early train, leaving our new
acquaintance behind. Inever saw him
after that, but Charley one day met him
on Broadway, near Twenty street
They went to the Fifth Avenue hotel to
get drink don't know exactly how
it was, but that same night both sat
down in the room of ncighboring ho-
tel TO play draw.poker. I do not wish
to disclose the gcntlcman's name. be-
cause he is good father now and be-
cause such indiscrcetness on my part
might hurt his present fair chances; but
he was confoundcd ass for his own
sake. Charley was an honest fellow,
however, and he played a square game
Our new friend dropped 1875 that night,
all he had in his possession. Ho made
an appointment for the next evening in
the hope Of getting even, but he again
quit loser. This time he threw up his
hands to the tune Of $1,000 They kept
playing every odd night until the mid
die of the following December Our
gay friend by that time was minus, ac-
cording to his own calculation S1S,9OO.
Charley wanted him 10 give up poker
half dozen times before he Iost this
amount, but in each instance he refused.
The fellow commenced to drink like a
fish and Charley confidentially told me
he'd be hanged before he'd sit down
with him again. He never did play af-
ter that, although tho fellow accused
him Of being afraid to render satisfac-
ton.
Ono morning about 10 o'clock Char
Icy fell in with the would-be sport on
Sixth avenue. He was partly intoxicat-
ed, and his dissipatcd appearance de.
noted he had not seen bed for several
nights. Charley endeavored to get
away from him on tho plea Of business,
but 1t was useless. Our friend held on
to the lapel of his ovcrcoat and insisted
that they repair to room and indulge
in "A game. But the devil could not
have altered Charlcy's fixed determine
ton and he said so While both were
talking little boy of about IL years
came up and touched the leg of Char
ley's foolish friend. There was o little
snow on the ground, and the little fell
lows feet protrudcd from broken pair
~ Il t,I
mittcns on, and he really looked the
friend saw the boy, and Charley often
told me he turned deadly white. What
are you doing herc?' he finally asked
the lad. Oh, papa stammercd the
boy, moving bac kward, as if he was
afraid, Il have been looking all over for
you. Aunt and mamma sent mo to find
you This drove the fellow almost
mad, and he broke out with frightfnl
oaths, winding up by bidding the boy
TO get home or he would kick him all
over the street The lad departed with
out word. but before going he cast
most significant but allcctionatc look at
the man he called father.
Charley had had enough, and break
ing away from the mans grasp he
walked in the opposite direction to that
taken by the boy. The father, after a
moments hesitation, went into GIN
mill. When Charley saw him disappear
from view he turned on his heel and
with quick gait started after the lad.
He overlook him at Twcnty-iifth street.
The boy would not talk for some time,
but finally he broke down and told all;
informed him how his father was fast
running good business down town;
how he had mortgaged the house they
lived in, on--wcll, never mind what
street, how mother, sister, and self were
being neglected, abused. and starved
and how their once comfortable homo
was fast going TO pieces. Well, the end
of that business was that sober man
entered his home that night, and q
weeping wife embraced him. They
were tears of JOY, assure you. The
mortgage was paid off tho next day.
good business was revived, and man
who not long before wished to be q
sport, sat down to dinner with his fami-
iy in his coy dining-room. No matter
how the thing was managed. prom
ised dead friend / would never tell
ANY one abont it, but could not keep
secret, for he was good fellow. He
may have been sporting man; may
have earned living by cards, and may
have associated with some rough per-
sons, but I'll warrant there never
walked along the path OF life o better
man than Charley Ransom.
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m, .;.,,o hono.oI ,tn,y ~ EolJan,;thia