The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-02-25
GAMBLER RANSOM.
How He Saved a Man from Ruin and Made
Family Happy.

81 could relate hundreds of stories
about his life,'' said a shining light of
the N. Y. Athletic Club speaking to re-
porter of the n. Y. Mail & Express about
the well-known sporting man Charley
Ransom, who died recently. There is
enc story about him which the papers
have not published yet. Charley and |
made the acquaintance of what we
thought to be very wealthy man at the
Monmouth Beach race-course two wears
ago last summer He was introduced
to Us by prominent official of police
headquarters. After the races were
over, all three went over to Long
Branch. Charley and l came up to this
city on an early train, leaving our new
acquaintance behind. / never saw him
after that, but Charley one day met him
on Broadway, near Twenty-third street.
They went to the Fifth Avenue hotel to
get a drink. | don't know exactly how
it was, but that same night both sat
down in the room of neighboring ho-
tel to play draw. poker | do not wish
to disclose the gentleman name, be-
cause he is a good father now and be-
cause such indiscreetness on my part
might hurt his present fair chances; but
he was a confounded ass for his own
sake. Charley was an honest fellow,
however, and he played square game
Our new friend dropped 1875 that night,
all he had in his possession. He 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 81 200. 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,900.
Charley wanted him to give up poker
half a dozen times before he lost this
amount, but in each instance he refused.
The fellow commenced to drink like
fish and Charley confidentially told me
he'd be hanged before he'd sit down
with him again. He never did plav af-
ter that, although the fellow accused
him of being afraid to render satisfac-
ton.
''One morning about 10 o'clock Char
ley fell in with the would-be sport on
Sixth avenue. He was partly intoxicat-
ed, and his dissipated appearance de-
noted he had not seen bed for several
nights. Charley endeavored to get
away from him on the plea of business,
but it was useless. Our friend held on
to the lapel of his overcoat and insisted
that they repair to a room and indulge
in game. But the devil could not
have altered Charley's fixed determina-
ton and he said so. While both were
talking a little boy of about u years
came up and touched the leg of Char
ley's foolish friend. There was little
snow on the ground, and the little fell
lows feet protruded from broken pair
of boots. He had neither overcoat nor
mittens on, and he really looked the
picture of misery. Turning around, our
friend saw the boy, and Charley often
told me he turned deadly white What
are you doing here?' he finally asked
the lad. oh, papa, stammered the
boy, moving bac kward, as if he was
afraid, 4 have been looking all over for
you. Aunt and mamma sent me 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 a word, but before going he cast a
most significant but affectionate 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 Twenty-fifth 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 a good business down town;
how he had mortgaged the house they
lived in, On-well, never mind what
street, how mother, sister, and self were
being neglected, abused, and starved.
and how their once comfortable home
was fast going to pieces. Well, the end
OF that business was that a sober man
entered his home that night, and
wife embraced him. They
were tears of joy, | assure you. The
mortgage was paid off the next day, q
good business was revived, and man
who not long before wished to be a
sport. sat down to dinner with his fami-
y in his cozy dining-room. No matter
how the thing was managed. | prom
sed dead friend | would never tell
any one about it, but | could not keep a
secret, for he was a 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 a better
man than harley Ransom