The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1886-04-10
The Gamblers Story.

folks are drawn toward each 9TH
er by the magnetism of mutual dis
comfort, and we fell to talking.
He was a fne-looking fellow, tall,
well built and vigorous, but an air
of indescribable melancholy per-
meated his appearance and tinged
even his talk to such an extent
that our conversation languished
and would have probably died en-
tirely had he not finally turned
around and said to me:
"Yeu must excuse me sir, for an
apparent moodiness. The truth
is that | am unable to shake off
the recollection that to-nightis the
anniversary of a sad and singular
event in my life. l was a profess
sional gambler i'll my younger
days and dealt faro for a living,
but ten years ago tonight l quit
forever under circumstances that
even now half unman mo and al
most call the tears to my eyes. l
haze no objection to telling you
the story if you think it would in
terest you"
| begged him to 60 on and pro
ceeded about as follows:
Ten years ago" he said, 81 was
the proprietor Of club rooms at
Baltimore, whore | dealt game of
faro for select circle of players.
They were all heavy betters, bust
ness men most Of them, and /
catered to their game only. My
rooms were sumptuously fitted up.
There WAS no appointment that
gilded vice could suggest that was
not at hand, and my sideboard
groaned with the choicest vintages
that money could buy.
Zone night when the game was
slack and l was lounging in the
dealers chair under the great
crimson globe Of the chandelier,
stranger entered the room. He
was very young, but dissipation or
care had drawn lines upon his
boyish face, and his dark eyes
burned with feverish light. AS
he approached the table [ marked
how CHASTITY pale he was and that
his hand trembled as though with
a chill. He took seat and draw
ing a thousand dollar bill from his
pocket, tossed it across the table
Give me that much in chips,
he said in a tremulous voice.
81 think he must have played
for IN hour. Luck went back and
forth for while, but finally it set
in against him and | raked in the
last of his worries. For a moment
he sat motionleSs, staring, dazed-
Hike, at the floor, then lie lifted up
his haggard face to mine. Sir,
he said, you have, without know
ing it done me a favor. Had |
won, | would have kept on in this
old way; nov hat | have lost, [
will never gan lie again ] smil-
ed cynically. Yes l said, 4 have
heard people talk that way before
You mistake me- he went on in n
voice that thrilled my very heart.
L will not gamble again because
the last card you turned was my
death warrant. Listen to me.
That thousand dollars | have lost
was the last Of fortune, home and
honor. 1t is gone, all gone to en-
rich your claim. | am not blam-
ing you; | am not complaining; l
am simply stating fact. l am
tonight the worst of paupers--
one without trade, without pro-
fession, without the ability to sup
port tie wife who is this moment
confdentially and trustingly await
ing my return. She knows not of
my gradual downfall. | have dis
simulated, God knows how, before
her. | have not now one dollar
upon the face Of the earth, and |
determined when ! entered your
door that if it came to this, if my
last stake lost, / would this night
terminate the failures and follies
of my life. | am in earnest.
Something impellod me to tell you
this, and these will probably be
my last words he said with a look