People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-11-05

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hurried whispers:
'Now, look here, Jack, l am not the
! cove to go back on a mate-not 1; Sc
Just you do as tell you, and we'll 60
out of this room rich as Jews"
Well, he then went on to tell, in a
rather incoherent and excited manner
how he could, in short time, by the use
Of the money he had in his possession,
win enough at the roulette table to
make us independently rich for life.
He had sort Of system Of playing the
game, he went on to say-a system OF
doubling the bet whenever he lost
that could not help win in the end. 1t
was as plain as black and white, and
there could be no chance of losing in
the run. My mind was too much mud
died by the wine to follow all he said,
but something of his reckless enthusi-
asm was infused into me by his ex-
cited words and manner, and without
stopping to count the cost | was ready
to join him in his mad scheme.
Thrusting a handful of doubloons
into my hand, he signaled me to follow
him. We made our way through the
crowd to table, around which num-
Der of people were gathered, watching
with eager interest the turning of a
large wheel in sunken disk in its CEN
ter. Each player had large pile of
coin before him and the betting was
lively. This was the first game of its
kind | had ever seen, and l stood mo.
tionless for some time watching its
progress before l could see into its mys
teries
But not so with Ruggy. He seemed
perfectly at home at the table from the
start and began betting heavily. l
stood clutching the gold in my hand,
watching with bated breath as he
staked heavy sums-to be either won
or swept away in the next breath. 1t
was strange and new sensation to
me-this watching of the rapid turn
ing of fortunes wheel, and there was
something in the very uncertainty OF
the result that was inexplicably fas-
cinating.
At length ventured to drop doub-
ioon on the red, but turn of the wheel
and it was swept away. Then l tried
another, only to see it meet with the
Tate Of the first. l stopped now, dis
touraged at the result or my first VEN
lures, and fixed my attention on Ruggy,
who was winning heavily.
His face was afame with excitement.
and there was a wild light in his eve as
he raked in stake after stake of shining
doubloons. This continued for nearly
an hour, but then fortune forsook him.
and in short time he lost every dollar
he had.
L shall never forget the look of dis
appointment and wild despair that
came over his face as he turned to me.
Its all gone, jack" he said, in \
strangely hoarse and unnatural voice
God help me-what will become Of
Inc now! | took the money from old
ModiEgton's cabin-six thousand dol.
lars-l meant toreturn it-heaven is
my witness-but now"
He gave vent to a low moan and
leaned upon my arm, his whole form
trembling, his face as pale as death.
Tome, let US leave the accursed
place. | said, attempting to lead him
away; but at that moment his eyes fell
on the gold coins in my hand, and, with
a stifled cry, he seized them and stag
gered toward the table.
{ "One more chance." he breathed. 4
fierce light leaping into his eyes. "One
more chance, Jack, and pray that it may
not fail mel"
He leaned over and dropped the hand
ful OF gold on the table, then started
lack, a low, agonized cry upon his lips,
his eyes fixed upon some object across
the table. l glanced up and saw old
Modington standing with his restless.
burning eyes fixed upon us.
The next moment followed Ruggy
as he rushed wildly from the room.
How we passed the night l cannot tell.
1t all seems like some strange dream to
me now.
Daylight the next morning found us
crouching in the shadows of deserted
building of the outskirts of the city.
weak and haggard, the damp winds
from the sea chilling us to the marrow.
We were both sober enough now, but
nothing could undo the dreadful folly
OF the night. How Ireproached myself
for the part l had played in the dreadful
business!
Penniless and fugitives from Justice
in strange land, whittier could we 90?
My mental agony at that moment could
not have been greater.
Ruggy laid his hand on my shoulder.
Jack" he said, in shaky voice, its
all my fault. Ideserve to be punished.
Come, we must go back to the ship. I'll
tell the whole story. They shall take
you back. And They can send me
to prison."
Tears came into his eyes as he spoke,
and the hand he laid on my shoulder
trembled with emotion.
NO, Ruggy, you shall not DO that" I
said, touched by his words and manner.
u, too, am to blame. l should have
saved you from this folly, instead O.
becoming a party to it. But we will 90