Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-02-20


dressed, and II required but one
glance TO see that he was thorough
gentleman. He was very young. his
face was smooth. and ] Judged that
he had scarcely passed his twenty
FIRST year
Misfortune seemed to have select
ed the boy as its victim. He had
been as unlucky as ] had been for
tunate. Every hand be played some
one would have car,ls just a little
larger. He had lost over n thousand
dollars. and though he did not com
plain and curse. as men usually do
when they have a run of hard luck.
| could zee that he was greatly trou
bled and becoming more desperate
each moment. Finally. about mid
night. some one opened a jackpot.
Two or three Of us staid. and when
it got round to the young fellow to
my left he carefully examined his
cards and then raised the pot. All
dropped out but myself. Having a
pair of kings concluded to stand
the raise. | called for three cards
and the young fellow stood pat. 1t
was his first bet and be shovel out
quite stack Of blues.
After looking at my hand to see
what had caught in the draw, saw
his bet and topped him. He did not
hesitate a moment, but called. |
spread out ON the table full hand
three kings and a pair of deuces-
while he showed down three jacks
and a pair of fours. He gaze1 ut my
hand in bewildered, dazed manner
fully two minutes, then quick az a
flash he drew from his breast re-
volver and placed it to his head. /
saw the movement, quick a. it was,
and wrenched the pistol from his
grasp before he could commit the
desperate act.
Il arose from the table, had my
chips cashed and was preparing to
leave the room when my eyes rested
on the boy. His head was resting
on the table and he was muttering to
himself, Ruined Ruined My God
am r1ninedr | saw that it would
never do to leave the poor boy in that
condition, so stepping to hia side l
gently laid my hand on his bowed
head and asked him to follow me.
shall never forget the look of misery
and despair | saw in his face as he
looked up. Come, go with me,
said, and he followed me az q child
would have done, without word.
When we reached the street ! asked
him to take walk with me, telling
him | wished to have talk with
him.
''We walked around through the
square and out on the old bridge AL
was quiet there, and but for ourselves
the place was deserted Have you
any money! asked the boy. Not
a cent on earth. sir. | am ruined2
he answered. Take this, then, ! said,
drawing from my pocket 5000. But
before | let you have it you must
promise me on your honor as gen.
tleman for see that you are one
that you win never again enter q
gambling house or play a game OF
cards for money, and that you will
leave the city this morning. You
can repay the money some day il
you become able; if not, it will be al
right Is it agreedf
He grasped my hand, and witt
the tears flowing down his cheeks
said God bless you, sir. You have
saved me, and shall remember yol
as long as life lasts.
There on the quiet, deserted
bridge in that early morning hou
the boy told me his story. He hG(
left happy. comfortable home up il
the blue grass region of Kentucky t.
follow the checkered life of gam
bier He had imbibed the love o
gambling while at school, and it haC
grown on him until ii became rul
ing passion. II had taken such com
plete possession of him that in mo
ment, blinded with passion and oh
livious to the teachings of his child
hood he had forged his father
, name for several thousand dollars
: His father, too proud to proclaim II
the world that his son was so de
I based, paid the check and let tn,
matter drop. The boy had followeC
the races all over the country, some
times winning, but more often losing
and now he had lost his last cent. HI
would now go home, ask his father
forgiveness and be a man once more
"All this he told me that night
, and when he had concluded the gra.
! strealSs in the east proclaimed tina
another day was dawning, Now ant
then a route boy with his arms full
of newspapers would hurry past us
. tho collar of his jacket turned up ant
! his cap pulled down over his ears Il
I protect him from the crisp morning
air. Heavily loaded market wagon
rumbled across the bridge. and il
J the distance the shiill notes of I
! wakeful chanhcleer could DO hearS
= heralding the news 70 man that i
! was time to prepare for work
I'VE left the bridge and went to
, gether TO a restaurant After w
! had eaten breakfast | accompanie,
: the young fellow to the depot, saw
, him ON the train with ticket in hi
pocket for home and with warn
handshake we parted he back to hi
! home to ask his fathers forgiveness
and back TO my old haunts, No
/, /, That scene in the gambling house o
; the pale faced boy with pistol a
his head had cured me of my passion