Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-06-10
THE FITTEST SURVIVES.
By j. H. CONNOLLY.
Copyright, 1896, by the Author.
CHAPTER XIV.

Copyright, 1896, by the Author.
CHAPTER XIV.
It was Chester Sewan's first entrance
into a gambling saloon As yet he did
not even know which Of the games was
faro and which roulette.
The colored servant who had admitted
and guided him to the parlor went to a
large, red faced man, sitting in a high
chair behind one end Of the faro table,
and whispered a few words which
caused him to look over the heads Of
the players at Mr.. Sewall with a nod
and smile Of welcome.
The darky, returning to his place at
the door, reported in low tone to the
visitor:
He'll be VIII you in a few moments,
sab"
To kill time the young man timidly
approached the table and looked on at
the game. 1t seemed very simple.
When the IDEAL" was through, the
red faced man put q temporary substitute
in the high chair, and merely glancing
at Chester's note Of introduction well
coined him with ELUSIVE cordiality.
"Come this way, where we can chat
without interruption, ," said Mr.. Cof-
ferty, who was the red faced man, lead
ing the way into small poker room at
one side Of the parlor suit.
The polished gamblers exceeding af-
liability quite won the young fellow,
who was at heart little more than q
sensitive boy and really suffering for
lack Of a few kind words from some one
who would take even pretended in
terest in him. In a very little while,
with hardly an effort at inquisition and
certainly none that his subject was con-
scious of, Mr.. Cofferty had possessed
himself Of all the salient points in the
young mans short but vicissitudinous
career in the metropolis, excepting that
Chester's pride would not admit Of his
humbling himself to the extent Of tell
ing how really desperate was his e1-
tremity.
In return Mr.. Cofferty talked good
deal about local politics in general
way and was profuse in his promises to
do all in his power for his young friend,
not 80 much on account Of the boss in
PRODUCTION as for his own sake. In a few
DAYS, "when the commissioner got back
to town." he would ''go to the front"
and, he aattered himself, not without
accomplishing something for Mr.. Sew
all
A party Of poker players coming IN to
take possession Of the room, social con-
verse necessarily gave way to business
Mr.. Cofferty and his visitor returned to
the parlor and stood near the roulette
table The game seemed to Chester even
simpler than the other at which he had
been looking, and he said, with little
nervous laugh:
1T almost tempts me to try my luck
or would if I did not feel that it would
be an ungracious thing for me to come
in as have and win your money"
"Oh," responded the old gambler,
with genial smile, "that is what they
all come here for. Have you ever
played?"
Never"
"Well, I would as q friend advise
you not to begin. only you might think
Twas afraid Of your having beginners
luck, which is said to always insure
winning. cannot say, though, that !
have found the saying hold good in ev-
cry instance.
II believe Twill try the experiment. "
GAS you please. If you do, 1wish you
luck. But I must ask you to excuse me
now, as I see my partner is making
signs for me to. return and take my
place. He wants to go out"
Mr.. Cofferty went back to his high
seat, and Chester, placing himself i'll
front of the roulette wheel, threw upon
the table a 90 bill, all he had except a
little small change. Itfcll in the center
Of one Of the numbered squares, and he
let it lie where chance had placed it
The dealer twirled the wheel and spun
upon it the little ball, which went roll
ing, jumping and Gathering until finally
it found lodgment in one Of the small
marginal compartments, and the dealer,
lifting up his voice, announced in a
singsong tone, Seventeen; red, stimuli
taneously pushing over q great heap Of
ivory "chips" to Chester, who could
hardly believe III his good fortune.
A love Of the excitement Of gaming
was innate in Chester Sewall and now,
awakened into full activity, fairly took
possession of him Hour after hour went
by, and still he continued playing, dead
to all else than the fascination Of the
game. For time he won almost con-
stantly, until he had series Of stacks
of chips Of various colors ranked up be-
fore him, enough, had he converted them
into cash, to have kept him many weeks
and made him independent of the boss.
But by this time he was playing for a
fortune.
Mr.. Cofferty came over once, looked
at him without attracting his notice and
walked away, smiling
After awhile his luck seemed to have
'run itself out, as gamblers say, and a
season Of intermitted i'll fortune set in
All his winnings were speedily swept
away, until at length all, even the orig
inal 81 note, had gone Into the box"
and he had left barely enough small
coins to get him breakfast When he
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G. NN