The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-05-02
TEMPTATION.

1t was generally admitted by the
members and friends of the Camboro
football club that the fact Of its hav-
ing reached the final stage of the Blank
shire cup competition was due in no
small MEASURE to the superior goal
keeping of Bob Templeton, and it was
believed that his individual proves
would just about turn the scales in ia
yor of the Camboro in the final tie
against William Rangers.
Bob Templeton was a fine, well built
young fellow, and his popularity in the
town was as much due to his good ma
tured; happy disposition as to his valor
in the football field. He had signed for
five years with the Camboro club on
advantageous terms and the present
was his second season.
Since his advent he had taken unto
himself a wife-pretty May punning,
the daughter of old Jack Dunning, the
| clubs professional trainer, and the
guide, philosopher and friend of the
members-and had furnished a neat lit
tie villa, half a mile out of town.
But at length the inevitable small
cloud appeared on the hitherto clear
horizon of his existence, and on the eve
of the great match Bob was in sore
trouble.
He was seated in the comfortable lit
tie parlor at home, his untouched break
fast before him, and staring blankly at
a legal looking missive he held in his
hand, while pretty May was crying
softly at his elbow.
The document was from the Camboro
Loan and Discount bank and stated
that unless Robert Templeton RENTED
the sum Of $500 by the following Mon
day a certain bill Of sale would be
acted upon forthwith.
Previous to coming to Camboro he
had supported his father and mother,
and even since his marriage had con-
timed to help them with weekly remit
tances, until, six months ago. he heard
that the good will of a small business
in his native town was for sale cheap,
and, believing that it would be the very
thing for his parents, he set his heart
upon purchasing it for them and thus
relieve himself of a responsibility.
-Four hundred dollars was asked, and,
in view of his improved income, he felt
justified in raising the amount with
his furniture as security.
Bob made his way to the imposing Of
fcesyof the Camboro Loan and Discount
bank. The manager gave evasive n
swers. Bob begged for a time, but was
refused, and after telling the manager
what he Thought of him in language
more forcible than polite, left the office
more convinced than before that there
was some u~ndercurrent in the affair
which he did not understand.
On leaving the bank Bob had not
proceeded far when a hearty "Good
morning, Templetoni" and a sounding
smack on the shoulder arrested his prog
ress, and before him stood a portly,
loudly dressed, mucH bejeweled indi-
vidual, well known in Camboro as
t'Colonel" Bill, the bookmaker.
"You don't look up to the mark,
Templeton, observed the colonel.
whats the matter2 Shall you be all
right for tomorrow?
"Of course. returned Bob. 'I'm a
bit worried about a private matter;
that all.
"Your natural modesty, Templeton,
went on the colonel, doesn't prevent
you being aware that the club look to
you as the leading factor in their pros
poets Of success, | presumed"
81 know nothing about that, an
swered Bob. "But l do know that the
Rangers won't.get the leather into the
Camboro net many times if l can pre-
vent them"
"You could, if you'd a mind, be the
cause of Camboro losing tomorrow, !"
suggested the colonel, glancing at his
companion.
"What do you mean 2' returned Bob,
wondering what the other was driv-
ing at.
"Now. look here, Templeton, said
the colonel, facing round, "we'd better
come to the point at once. l stand to
win a pile of money on my book if the
Wilmer Rangers beat Camboro tomor-
row, and you are the man who has the
best chance of bringing about that, from
my point of view, desirable consumma-
ton. l know what your little private
worry is about, for l may as well tell
you / myself practically constitute the
Camboro Loan and Discount bank, al
though few people are var of 1t. Now,
it would be a simple matter and no one
would be any the wiser for you to let
one or two of Williams shots pass you.
Anyhow. in a word. if the Rangers
win that pill of sale Immediately csases
to exist.
If any one had limited TO Bob Temple
ton that he was likely to give a second
thought to such a suggestion as the
~colonel's the hinter would probably have
measured his length upon the floor.
But he was only human, and when
Nays tears broke forth afresh upon
hearing the result of his visit to the
bank-he did not mention his encounter
with the colonel small, tempting
voice kept whispering to him the posi-
bic way out Of his trouble.
The next morning-the day of the
match-he was out early and went for
a long stroll with Walker, the captain,
and Jack Langford, just to get their
legs in going order. One moment he
loathed himself for ever thinking of a
dishonorable means of surrounding his
trouble, but the next that same trou-
BILE, accompanied by the tempting voice,
was uppermost in his mind.
While making his way to the pavilion
he caught sight of Colonel Bill on the
stand and received from him a signif-
cant glance. AS Walker at length led
out his team, the mayor of Camboro,
who was chairman of directors Of the
club, singled out Bob, and. shaking
hands with him, said:
ssTempleton, my boy, we are all put
ting our faith in you today, and we
know that it is in safe keeping. Play
up"
AT last the game started, Camboro
kicking off. The commencement was
sensational, as the Rangers forwards,
getting the ball among them, rushed it
up to the Camboro goal, Williams scor-
ing with an oblique shot, which neither
Bob nor any other goalkeeper could
have saved. Just on half time Langford
put one neatly through for Camboro.
thus equaiizing the score.