Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1892-03-12

seated before dirty green table waiting
for the luck that was to make all things
right, and meantime losing what little
money he could manage By hook or
crook to get hold of. With his hands
thrust into his great pockets and his
hat pulled dowr over his eyes, he looked
the very picture of detection as he gazed
a. the gutter under his feet. Even the
policeman on the beat had to smile when
he saw him, and walked By with the
mental ejaculation, "Busted." Indeed
he was "busted." He had gone with
out his meals all that day and the day
before in order that he might stake the
money at faro He had asked every one
he knew to lend him money and had
been refused, and he hadn't a cent. He
had looked forward to this climax of i'll.
fortune for good many years. 1t a.
long time coming, though, and Plug
had almost begun to believe that it
never would come, when, behold, here
it was!
When he had frst thought of the DOS
sibility of his present position Plug had
| grimIy resolved that when that time
came he would quietly and with the
nerve becoming Il gambler pat himself
out Of this miserable world; but now
! that the time had really come at last, he
hestated. His hesitation was not born
Of fear, however. Plug did not know
what fear was. 1t was merely the
strength of ruling passion that IS said to
be SO strong in death. He was merely
| revolving in his mind problem. The
problem was simple one In his hip
| ,ocket be carried the only bit of per
| onal property he had not as yet pavEed.i
was u pretty little silver-mounted re-
| rolver that girl had given him years
before in the West He had always
promised himself that if the day should
| :ver come it would be this souvenir Of
I lis only romance that should do the
business Bat now he found that be was
| .empted to pawn the revolver, try his
uck once more, and then, if he lost
| we'll, the river was quite handy. The
| problem was never solved, however, for!
Plug was reused, presently, from his
neditations by the happy voice of
child singing in a high key a silly but
| copular song He looked around, al
most wondering how even child could
| could be 80 free from care as to sing,
and he observed the little girl crossing
lhe street toward him, swinging tin
pail in one hand and tripping an i'm
promtu dance-step to the song she was
.inging "Humphr' thought Plug,
cushing the growler for some bcastly
father or mother. That's what's the
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"
He had barely concluded the philosophi-
cal thought when the child, 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 all-night saloon a few doors
away. She did not even glare at him,
but tripped on under the gaslight, and as
she did SO something fluttered from bel
disengaged hand. Plugs quick eyes
knew that it was dollar bill, even be-
fore it reached the ground, and with au
impulse that was absolutely uncontrol-
able ne stepped quickly forward, picked
! it up, and was secure in the entrance to a
gambling den before the child haC
opened the door of the saloon
The time had been when he woulC
have felt disgusted with himself for the
act. But that time had long passed.
1t had gone with his old bravado and
uiS OlA iuSto dOOuI SouAoACio NUM-
it had gone with his youth aud his re-
membrance of his mother aud with hi:
eapability of feeling shame. He rushed
up the stairs, burst into the smoke-fille1
room, and even before he thought placed
he bill on the ''high card" 1t won.
The dealer laughed good naturedly An
acquaintance cried out, jokingly, GOOD
boy, Plug" Another asked him wher'
he had borrowed the money, and theI
there was general laugh at his expense
he did not mind it, Perhaps he die
oot hear it. He looked stolidly at hi
bet and left it on the "high card
Again it won and now it amounted +
four dollars. Again the dealer laughed
and so did the rest. There are strang