Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-05-27
A BIT OF SILVER.

II want 20 ask o q quCSbOn, To-
,me2."
"Well, my dear boy, what Is it,"
"Where did you got your money!
Tho question was nh abrupt one-it
was almost inipertineut. But Gomez do
BonflEwgns an intimate friend Of mine,
O good fellow, Gnd-we had dined. To
say truth, we had not only dined. but
wined, and it was over some excellent
~postprandials in the shape of furtheE
wine aud fragrant cigars that l had
asked the question. But | had long
wished to do go, and will tell you
why.
Some two years before Gomez was
door az q church mouse. lie was always
a good fellow, hnt then, SOU know,
there is IL difference between good fell
lows rich aud good fellows poor. And,
to my shame be it spoken, | think l
liked him better rich han POOR. Well,
as / said, lie was almost destitute. Ee
had a profession, it is trao-he was q
journalist, but in Spain the gains Ct
the fraternity Of the pen arc not large.
What little be did earn went to the
bad, for no VS. sn inveterate gambler.
But from a poverty stricken Journal
list he suddenly blossciBed nj into =
msn of wealth. He had the finest
horscs, ne belonged to tho most fash
ionablu club, he had tliesnoSt luxurious
~ fitted town house, 1o had purchased
tho country seat of q dtcayed grandee,
ho had the best cook in Madrid, and ho
moved in the best society. for, alas, even
in Srain thc golden key is beginning to
open adj portals. But 60 not think from
what 1 say that Gomez was not n gen.
tlcman. for he came Of an excellent
family.
Well, as l said, wo had 5ast finished
an excellent dinner and over the wal
nuts and tho vino 1 put my question:
Gomez. where did you got your
money!"
lie locked at me thoughtful;y, and
knocked tho ash from his cigar.
"Where did 1 get my money!" he re-
pcated slowly. "And what sGys Dame
Rumor concerning it, Pedro?'
"Thnre are all sorts Of stories, " l re-
piled 'some probable, some wildly
impossible, some good humored, more
81 natured. You will pardon my frank
ness if l tell you that have heard some
people call your wealth ill gotten
gains whisper of retired h~ighwayman,
and tho like. There are others who hint
darkly ut counterfeting. Among the
lower classes there is a widespread be-
lief that you have sold yourself to the
devil. Aud l have even met intelligent
people who limited as supernatural
means.
perhaps they were right was his
iaoonic reply.
/ stared at him.
Listen, and yon may perhaps tell
me whether the meats were supernatu-
raj or no. I awe never been abie TO de-
eide. Tho reason that the source of my
fortune has mover been discovered was
because the only man who knew Of it
left the city the day after''-
He paused.
"The DAY after what?'' l quaried.
"Well 1 will begin at the beginning.
Tho story is n curious one and should be
told in sequence"
Ho lit a fresh cigar and then began:
"Ycu knew me two years ago when
L was poor. You also knew. IA did all
my friends, that l had u passion fol
gaming. You would all Of you chorns,
when speaking Of mo:'Poor Bonillai III
has the worst Of viees-ho Isl desperate
gambler You were ali wrong. 1 die
not play simply for love Of it. / played
because / was poor. / was not O gam
bier. was a speculator. l had fxe,
Hpon q certain sun which l considereC
a competence. / saw nc way Of aoquir
ing it By my profession, so l devote,
myself 10 the green cloth-how assidu
ously you know"
Ho smiled at tho expression Of assen
which involuntarily fitted over m.
c~ountenance. watched the smoke wreath
curling over his head for a moment an
continued;
zone evening / was feeling unusual
~ blue. l never drank, as you know
that Is, never TO excess-and certainl
never TO do what is called 'drownin
sorrow. My esource was the gamin
table. Unfortunately l had in my pos
session n considerable sum of money
which had been intrusted 10 me by
friend for the purpose Of paying som
debts. He had been suddenly calle
away from the city. l entered the gan
bling hell and seated myself at the ror
lette table. Fortune was against ms
Tho few duros that belonged TO m
were soon gone. Something seemed
possess me that night. l was not my
self. / did what l never should hay
dreamed myself capable Of doing
staked my friebd's money. 4 staked /
and / lost il ALL"
/ was about to speak.
"Do not condemn me, " he interrup
ed. "YOu could say nothing sewers
than we're my self reproaoLss Long
al there. glazing at the other player
Al watched the ivory ball spin rouE