The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-04-25

OF the task he had set for himself, and
as he had never had any faith in it any
how, he began to feel uncomfortable
and to curse the tender heart of Mel
lish- If the youngster got the idea
into his head that he was followed he
might succeed in giving his pursuer
the slip and then Rowell would find
himself with the FOOLS death on his
conscience, and what was to him in
finltely worse, with thousand dollars
in his pocket that had been unfairly
won. This thought made him curse
Mellish afresh. 1t had been entirely
against his own will that he had played
with marked cards, but Mellish had in
sisted that they should take no chances,
and the veteran knew too well the UNI
certainties of playing fair game
where a great object lesson was to be
taught. 1t would make them look like
two fools, Mellish had said, if Forme won
the money. In answer to this Rowel
had remarked that they were two fools,
anyhow, but he had finally succumbed
to Mellish as the whole scheme was
Mellishs. AS Rowell thought bitterly
Of these things his attention was di-
verted from the very thing he had in
hand Few men can pursue course
of thought and fellow creature at
at the same time. He suddenly realized
that young Forme had escaped him.
Rowen stood alone in the dimly-lighted
silent street and poured unuttered
maledictions on his own stupidity.
Suddenly voice rang out from dark
doorway.
what the devil are you following
me forP''
''Oh, you're there, are your said
Pony, calmly.
Ppm here. Now what do you want
of me? Aren't you satisfied with what
you have done tonight"
Naturally not, or l wouldn't be
foolchasing at such an hour as this. -
''Then you admit you have been fol-
lowing me?''
II never denied it..
what do you want of me? Do be-
long to myself or do you think be-
long to you, because owe you some
money!"
II do not know. am sure, to whom
you belong" said Rowell, with his
slow drawL 81 suspect. however, that
the city police, who seem to be SO
scarce at this hour. have the first
claim upon you. What do | want OF
you, you say. ! want to ask you
question. Where did you get the
money you played with to night?"
'sIt's none of your business"
~ presume not. But as there are no
witnesses to this interesting CONVERSE
ton | will venture an opinion that you
robbed the bank"
The young man took a step forward,
but Pony stood his ground. using the
interval to light another cigarette.
~ will also venture an opinion, Mr..
Rowell, and say that the money came
as honestly into my pocket as it did
into yours
THAT wouldn't be saying much for
IT. / have the advantage of you, how
ever, because the nine points are in my
favor. have possession"
What are you following'me for? To
give me up?'
'You admit the robbery, then?"
81 admit nothing"
st won't be used against you. AS /
told you, there are no Witnesses. 1t
will pay you to be frank. Where did
you get the money!"
Where many another man gets it.
Out of the bank"
II thought so. Now, Forme, you're
not such a fool as you look-or act.
You know where all that sort of thing
leads to- You haven't any chance. AL
the rules Of the game are against you.
You have no more show than you had
against me tonight Why not chuck
1t before 1t is too late?"
1T is easy for you to talk like that
when you have my money in your
pocket"
"But that simply is another rule of
the game. The money of thief is
bound to go into some one else's pocket.
Who ever enjoys the cash ultimately
He never does. Now if you had the
money in your pocket what would you
do?"
~ would go back to Mellish's and
have another try"
Il believe YOU" said Rowell with,
for the first time, some cordially in
his voice. He recognized a kindred
spirit In this young man. "Neverthe-
less 1t would be fool thing TO do. You
have two chances before you. You
can become sport as l am. and spend
your life In mbling-rooms Or you
can become what is called respecta-
BILE business man. But you can't be
both In very short time you will
not have the choice. You will be found
out and then you can only be what
am probably not as successful as
have been. If you supplement bank
robbery to your other accomplish
ments, then you will go to prison or,
what is perhaps worse, to Canada.
Which career are you going to chooseq"
Come down to plain facts. What do
you mean by all this talk2 If / say I'll
quit gambling do you mean that you
will return to me the thousand dollars
and call the other thousand squareP"
If you give me your word Of honor
that you will quit.
And II l don't, what then7"
Then on Monday will hand over
this money to the bank and advise
them to look into your accounts"
And suppose my accounts prove to
be all right, what then?"
Rowell shrugged his shoulders. I'm
that remote possibility win give the
thousand dollars to you and play you
another game for It."
II see. Which means thatyou cheat
ed tonight"
''If you like to put it that way"
"And what If ! denounced you as
self-confes sed cheatp"
1T wouldn't matter to me. wouldn't
take the trouble to deny It. Nobody
would believe you.
You're a cool hand. Pony.-I adj
mire your cheek. Still you've got some
silly elements in YOU
"0h, you mea27ny trying to reform
you? Don.tmake anv mistak~ shout