The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-12-17

lattlceu, out no ngnJ came through
them from within. The shutters were
all closed. Not one by any chance stood
ajar. It was rs if death itself lay within,
so silent and secret and mysterious were
the windows. He thought about little
else but his discovery that night, and
next morning he passed the house on the
way to his Office with eyes alert and
watchful. And every other morning
and evening after that he passed it with
an upward glance and with inward sur
misses 1t grew and fastened upon him,
| It became his one idea of all that was
wicked in New York and all that was
beyond him. Before two weeks had
passed he had enacted within its walls
every vice and adventure known to
romance.
And at last he finally determined to
enter the cigar store below and see if by
some clever questioning he might not
learn why the side door always stood
ajar and why the blinds were never
opened.
"What sort of a cigar will you have?"
asked the man.
Now, Mr.. Powers did not smoke, so
he only said; "a good cigar;" to which
the man said. "Here are some imported
ones-two for quarter"
Mr. Powers hesitated. He could not
decide upon which question to ask first.
''Perhaps you like them milderl"
suggested the dealer, putting back the
cigars.
At this Mr.. Powers lost his presence of
mind and said: ''No, these will do, "
and picking up the cigars, he left the
shop.
1t did not strike him until after he
had crossed tie street that he had gained
but little information. But then the
storekeeper might have suspected his
errand and these idle questions about the
color of the cigars were only intended
to throw him off. He was certain of
this at last, and the interest in his ad-
venture increased.
And one night the opportunity pre-
sented itself and he seized it. He de-
cided that this was his chance and ap-
preached the cabman frankly, but with
much inward trepidation.
"That house, he said, smiling in what
he believed to be knowing and con-
ciliatory manner, sits little bit mys-
terious, isn't it-something queer about
it, ehl"
"It's Cases gambling house, said the
cab driver inditferently, as he tossed the
blanket over his horse. "Why2"
Mr.. Powers's worst suspicious were re-
allied and he blinked at this mans mat
ter-of-fact acceptance of the truth.
"Oh, nothing much" he said, and
then he asked, prompted to do so by he
knew not what, Scan any one go in2"
"Not any one" said the cabman, after
some consideration; ''you could, l guess,
if you wanted to-"
"And what's the limit?' asked young
Mr.. Powers. He did not in the least
know what this meant, but he had heard
or read of some such nm expression and
he thought it sounded well. Some evil
spirit seemed to lead him on he felt that
this was the case and that instead of
lingering here in talk with this man he
should have fled at once.
"Oh, you can play anything you like, "
returned the cabman, "anything from
$15 to $500. I'll introduce you to the
man on the door if you want. guess
you're stranger in New York, aren't
youl"
"No, thank you,' gasped Mr.. Powers
hurriedly, "not tonight, some other
night perhaps"
Mr.. Powers went to bed that night
sincerely thankful that he had resisted
temptation, but he knew in his heart that
it was but for that night and that sooner
or later he would make his protest
against the uneventful life he was lead
ing and enter that house with the barred
shutters.
There was, however, one practical and
humiliatiug safeguard against his begin
ming a career of CRIME. 1t was the S15
which the cabman had quoted as the
minimum. His allowance was small and
it was two weeks-two weeks of great
mental Observation-Disclosures the sum was
ready. While he was saving it young
/ Mr.. Powers felt that he was already a
law breaker. He suffered the uneasiness
of hypocrite, if not of criminal, when
the policeman on the beat said "Good
] morning. 10 nun, Wuen ne SuJ WITH Jue
| Misses Mills around the table with the
silver centrepiece upon it he felt as he
was sure Eugene Aram felt when he
sat among Che innocent pupils in the
school,
Their talk of the ways of the slums to
whom they supplied fresh country y
and newly-lsid eggs for s. week, and
of the poor working girls who could not
sit down during hours, filled him with
remorse. He wondered what they would
think of him if they knew of his medi-
tated plunge into crime. How they
would shrink and turn from him and
pray for him as well. But he did not
forego his evil purpose. He felt that he
had gone too far to retreat now. Had
he not promised that cabman to return
some other evoning2 His soul, so the
young man darkly expressed it, was al
ready sold.
1t was on Friday night, a warm,
moonlit night, that he counted his money
for the last time and sailed forth with q
desperate frown to stake it at the house
with the barred shutters. He caught O
glimpse of the eldest Miss Mills as he
passed the parlor door. She was work
ing at some charity clothing, while he