The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-04-19
A BIT OF SILVER.

The question was an abrupt one-it
was almost impertinent. But Gomez de
Bonilla was an intimate friend of mine,
a good fellow, and-we had dined To
say truth, we had not only dined, but
wined, and it was over some excellent
postprandials in the shape of further
wine and fragrant cigars that had
asked the question. But had long
wished to do so, and I will tell you
why.
Some two years before Gomez was
poor as church mouse. He was always
good fellow, but then, you know,
there is difference between good fell
lows rich and good fellows poor. And,
to my shame be it spoken, / think I
liked him better rich than poor. Well,
as said, he was almost destitute. He
had profession, it is true-he was a
journalist, but in Spain the gains of
the fraternity Of the pen are not large.
What little he did earn went to the
bad, for he was an inveterate gambler.
But from poverty stricken journal
list he suddenly blossomed out into a
man of wealth. He had the finest
horses, he belonged to the most fash
ionable club, he had the most luxurious
ly fitted town house, he had purchased
the country seat Of a decayed grandee,
he had the best cook in Madrid, and he
moved in the best society, for, alas, even
in Spain the golden key is beginning to
open all portals. But do not think from
what say that Gomez was not a gen.
tleman, for he came of an excellent
family.
Well, as l said, we had just finished
an excellent dinner and over the wal
nuts and the wine put my question:
Gomez, where did you get your
money!"
He looked at me thoughtfully, and
knocked the ash from his cigar
where did get my money! he re-
peated slowly. "And what says Dame
Rumor concerning it, Pedro?''
''There are all sorts of stories," re-
piled; ''some probable, some wildly
impossible, some good humored, more
i'll natured. You will pardon my frank
ness if tell you that have heard some
people call your wealth ill gotten
gains, whisper of retired highwayman,
and the like. There are others who hint
darkly at counterfeiting Among the
lower classes there is a widespread be-
lief that you have sold yourself to the
devil. And have even met intelligent
people who limited at supernatural
means.
perhaps they were right, - was his
laconic reply.
| stared at him.
Listen, and you may perhaps tell
me whether the means were supernatu-
raj or no. have never been able to de-
eide. The reason that the source of my
fortune has never been discovered was
because the only man who knew of it
left the city the day after
He paused.
1.-THE day after what?'' queried.
"Well, l will begin at the beginning
The story is curious one and should be
told in sequence. -
He lit fresh cigar and then began:
"You knew me two years ago when
was poor. You also knew, as did all
my friends, that l had a passion for
gaming. You would all of you chorus
when speaking of me: Poor Bonilla! He
has the worst of vices-he is desperate
gambler. You were all wrong did
not play simply for love of it. played
because was poor. l was not gam
bier. | was speculator. l had fixed
upon certain sum which l considered
a competence. l saw no way of acquir-
ing it by my profession, so devoted
myself to the green cloth-how assidu-
ously you know"
He smiled at the expression of assent
which involuntarily fitted over my
countenance, watched the smoke wreaths
curling over his head for a moment and
continued:
lone evening was feeling unusual
ly blue. never drank, as you know
that is, never to excess-and certainly |
never to do what is called drowning
sorrow. My resource was the gaming
table. Unfortunately had in my pos
session a considerable sum of money,
which had been intrusted to me by |
friend for the purpose of paying some
debts. He had been suddenly called |
away from the city. l entered the gam
bling hell and seated myself at the rou-
lette table. Fortune was against me- |
The few duros that belonged to me |
were soon gone. Something seemed to
possess me that night. was not my |
self. l did what never should have
dreamed myself capable of doing-I
staked my friends money. 1 staked it,
and l lost it all -
was about to speak
Do not condemn me, he interrupt |
ed. "You could say nothing severer
than were my self reproaches. Long l |
sat there, glaring at the other players.
AS watched the ivory ball spin round
my brain seemed to spin round too. My
senses seemed to be leaving me. felt
as if life were no longer dear to me.
Penniless and dishonored, what was
there left to live for?
GAS these thoughts passed through |
my working brain the night wore on.
The players dropped off one by one.
The tables were gradually deserted.
Soon there was but one left lighted
the roulette table before which l sat,
and at which one persevering gamester
was trying his luck. Finally he, too,
wearied, and l was left alone with the
banker, who was the proprietor Of the
gambling hell. y
ooh, l remember" l interrupted;
"Jose Herrara, who disappeared SO sud-
denly couple Of years agoP
1.-THE same, replied Bonilla, fixing
his eyes keenly upon me.
do not know why, but I began to
feel uncomfortable. However, he con-
tinued:
1.-THE banker looked at me inquiring
ly. l half rose to retire. had fully de-
termined to blow out my brains in the
street, and that did not do so is owing
to one of the strangest of circumstances
so strange that you will not blame me
for wondering whether it was supernat-
ural. half rose 1 say, and as did SO
/ saw upon the floor round, bright OBJ
ject which had a silver simmer as the
gaslight fell upon it. 1t was a coin, a.
"a peseta, interrupted breathless-
ly.
eyes," he went on, "a little bit of
silver coin-only peseta. But it saved
my life. / placed my foot upon it, and,
motioning to the banker, said:
A peseta on the 17P
1.-THE banker knew me well-he had
cause to-and without making any in
ouiries he repeated my wager after me |