The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-02-17

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matter with the world. That's what's
been the matter with me. It's bringing
up. No wonder we all go to the bad. u
He had barely concluded the philosophi'
cal thought when the child, a rather
ragged little girl, even though she did
appear happy, reached the corner where
he stood, turned and made for the side
door of an ali-night saloon few doors
away. She did not even glare at him,
but tripped on under the gaslight, aud as
she did so something fluttered from hel
disengaged hand. Plugs quick eyes
knew that it was dollar bill, even be-
fore it reached the ground, and with an
impulse that was absolutely uncontrol.
able he stepped quickly forward, picked
it up, and was secure in the entrance to
gambling-den before the child had
opened the door of the saloon.
The time had been when he would
have felt disgusted with himself for the
act. But that time had long passed.
1t had gone with his old bravado and
his old ideas about gamblers honor
it had gone with his youth and his re-
membrance of his mother and with bis
capability of feeling shame. He rushed
up the stairs, burst into the smoke.flled
room. and even before he thought placed
the bill on the "high card" 1t won.
The dealer laughed good-nsturedly. An
acquaintance cried out, jokingly, "Good
boy, Plug" Another asked him where
ne had borrowed the money, and then
there was general laugh at his expense.
He did not mind it. Perhaps he did
not hear it. He looked stolidly at his
bet and left it on the ''high card"
Again it won and now it amounted to
four dollars. Again the dealer laughed
and so did the rest. There are strange
things about luck. Any gambler will
tell you so. The s'high card" won six
times in succession, and Plugs stolen
dollar bill now amounted to the
respectable sum of sixty-four dol
lars. The crowd ceased laughing.
The dealer, out of pure charity, asked
Plug if he wanted toilet the bet stand.
Plug had been playing such a small
game for so long time that the dealer
hardly believed he had sufficient nerve
left to take such a risk. He
received no answer, however, and as
silence gives consent in a gambling-room
he proceeded to draw the cards. Again
the shigh card" won. It was one hun.
dred and twenty eight dollars now that
Plug had on the table. An irreverent
youth burst out laughing and said:
'Plug's luck must have been turned at
last" But Plug was still silent. The
next turn made his original dollar two
hundred and fifty-six dollars. The
"high card" had won eight times in sue.
cession. 1t was becoming so interesting
that the other players forgot to make
their bets until sharply reminded to do
so by the dealer. Even he was a little
nervous as he drew the next two cards.
He muttered something under his breath,
too, when he saw that Plugs money had
doubled again. "Great guns!" said the
irreverent youth, who had been figuring
for a minute with a pencil, ''he's won
five hundred and twelve dollars" The
dealer is IN hurry now. He was afraid
that Plug would wake up to reallza.
ton of his phenomenal luck and depart
with his winnings before the house
could get chance to win them back.
He drew the two cards quickly. Plug
had won again. "One thousand and
twenty-four dollars" exclaimed the
youth with the pencil, "only one
thousand dollars" replied the dealer,
grufly; the limit is five hundred dol
lars" Still Plug was silent. A gam.
bier near him touched him on the sleeve
and said: "Wake up, old man. You've
won the limit. What are you going to
do with it2''
"Won whats" asked Plug, almost
dreamily.
"Won a thousand dollars-are you
asleep9"
Plug did not answer. He reached
over and picked up the pile of money
and turned from the table. The dealer
swore. The proprietor of the house,
who had been watching the play, called
out, "You amt afraid, are youa" but
Plug paid no attention to him.
The deal went on, and in Plugs mind
there continued some thoughts the like
of which had not troubled him for
many q year. He walked slowly up and
down the room several times, paying no
to the remarks of the men who
knew him, and who were either congrat-
ulating him on his extraordinary luck or
joking good-naturedly about it. And
none OF them heard him mutter, as he
did several times, "Stolen-stolen-
stolen!" Presently he walked to a win
dow and threw it open. He leaned out
and looked down into the street. The
ragged little girl was standing under the
street lamp, just where she had dropped
the bill, sobbing with great hysterlcal
sobs. She was wringing her hands just
as an old woman would, and in the
strange light looked like diminutive
old hag. He heard her cry out,
"TheyIl beat me-O Lord, they'll beat
me-" His ugly lips quivered little. bit
and a great tear fell from his eyes. He
waited moment, then drew down the
window very gently and walked out of
the room.
''The high cards still in the deck,
Plug" shouted the dealer. But he did
not hear the words. He was talking to
himself. "Ive played it through from
soda to hook, and it's no good-no