The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-02
BOb's Chance.
,o,1 ready tn 90. Rob ?U

BOb's Chance.
"Are you ready to 60, Bob ?"
"Not yet; I want to prove this col
umn of figures first"
It was six o'clock. The clerks in
Abner Fair brothers. warehouse were
locking their desks and preparing to &c
home. Bob Harrow and Louis Canton
were the youngest clerks in the estab.
lishment, both being sixteen years oi
age. The two boys were close friends
They lived in the same row of houses
up town, and they usually walked
home together. BY the time Bob had
done counting there was nobody in the
room except Louis and himself. AS he
reached for his hat, which hung above
his desk, he felt drop of water fall on
his face.
"What's this ?" he exclaimed, look
ing up in surprise 4; and the next mo-
ment the explanation came in the from
crack in the ceiling.
Both both knew in an instant that q
water-pipe had burst above, and with
all possible speed they proceeded to
move pile fine silks out of the way
of the stream. They had just hurled
the last web to a place of salty, when
smooth.faced, elderly man came in.
II thank you, Louis, and you also,
Robert, for saving the goods" he said.
And taking out his pocket-book, he
presented each of the boys with five
dollar bill.
Neither Bob nor Lewis had much
money to spend. Both their families
were poor, and their households. AS
they walked home they talked about
what they would do with this money
that had been given them.
did you hear Barton this morning
offering to bet two to one on Gray's
election ?n asked Louis. Suppose we
take him up? I've been reading the
papers pretty closely, and I fancy
Gray's chances are no better than
Browns. Ten dollars" continued
Louis, whose enthusiasm could not
wait for his friends reply, "would be
snug little sum. We could make our
folks at home presents all around, and
have something left. And if we lose,
il can make no great difference"
at seems to me wouldn't care for
money got in that way" said Bob. "I
should want to feel that I had done
something to merit it. There's no
value received about bet"
"Pshaw, Bot! None of the fellows
look at things that way. It's quite re-
spectacle to bet on elections. 1t isn't
low gambling"
1T isn't legitimate business" said
Bob. Either we lose outright, or we
get what we give no equivalent for. ]
believe III give my five dollars to my
mother"
Louis was bright hoy and u good
talker; but he could not persuade Bob
to change his mind. He risked his
own money the next morning, and in
the course of few days he was de-
lighted to find himself a winner.
Louis was now called "lucky fellow"
by the men in the office, several OF
whom began to take kind of notice
of him that gratified him exceedingly.
Even Mr.. Fairbrother appeared to be
interested.
$50 your friend won ten dollars on
the election ?" he said one day to Bob.
"How comes it that you didn't bet ?'
II prefer to keep chance out of my
affairs as much as possible, Mr.. Fair
brother" answered Bob.
"Ah, you were afraid of losing your
money? Would you have bet if the
risk had been less? ?"
"No, SIR" said Bob, wondering at
the old gentleman's interest in the sub
ject. II don't want to get money by
chance"
Two years passed. Then something
happened that threw the house of Alb
ner Fairbrother into state of excite
ment. One of the high-salaried men
purposed leaving, and the question
that interested everybody was, VINO
would succeed to the place of honor
and profit? Mr.. Fairbrother did not
always advance his men regularly, or
by any known rule, and the men
quietly and expectantly discussed one
another's chances.
Louis Canton was one of the conf
dent ones. He knew he had done good
work, and he had been complimented
by Abner Fairbrother, who rarely be-
slowed praise. During the two years
that had elapsed Louis had grown tall
and find looking. Already he was re-
garded as young business man of
great promise. People generally liked
him, and treated him with marked re-
spect. And, moreover, his salary had
been raised three times.
The clerks were all in their places
one morning earlier than usual. Few
remarks were exchanged among them
Us the business of the day began. A
number of busy penmen sat at the
desks in large room, in one Of which
was Mr.. Fairbrother's private office.
About nine o'clock the door of this
little room opened, and the familiar
figure of this little room appeared.
"Robert Harrow, will you step this
way ?" he said.
Bob laid down his pen and crossed
the room. He was little anxious lest
he might not have given perfect salts
faction.
"WelI, Robert" Mr.. Fairbrother be-
gan, when he and Bob were alone to-
gether, "you once said you didn't
want to win peoples money from them
| by chance. Now you will have an hon.
est chance to earn three thousand a
year." Bob could hardly believe his
senses.
"Yes, yes, Robert" said Abner Fair
brother, assuringly, with one of his
rare smiles. "T mean to give you the
vacant place. + want a young man in
it of your principles 1.-THE Colportur.