The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-06-28

Claude was missing during the even
ing-down at The Rise, my mother
supposed, with IA sigh. He was there
too often. Perhaps my influence might
do something to stop it. | turned over
a page or two of my book, if Claude
was doing anything likely to get him
into any sort of trouble, I was most
distinctly not going to stop it,
When my mother retired l strolled
out into the wintry darkness. | might
as well see what was going on at The
Rise for my own satisfaction.
Within five minutes walk of the
Widows house 1 passed Claude or
rather setpped back into the shadow
to let him pass me. He was whistling
rather ruefully. | went on and looked
for a chink in the enchantress' shut
ters.
As luck would have it, the cousin had
drawn back the curtains to look out at
the night. I saw into the room. The
table was covered with evidences Of
card playing and of whisky drinking.
1t struck me that the lady had been
sharing in both pursuits. The cousins
appearance did not appeal to my taste,
well, Adde," he said, dropping the
| curtain so that | could only gain a
chance glimpse of either of them, your
pupil comes on promisingly. He'd
marry you in a minute if ii weren't for
the little obstacle that he don't know
| of; hut as that can't be, we must make
what we can of him otherwise. We
| have more than emptied his pockets to-
night, only unluckily the contents of n
| bot 70 NVit
1T was no use, answered Adela, with
| an air of apology. He is too shrewd
| and cold -blooded. There's no turning
him round your little finger like Claude.
like the boy, John; you must not go
| too far with him"
! The man laughed brutally.
I'm go no farther than his money
| goes. Come; I'm ready for bed. | have
done a good days work"
/ stepped back quietly out of the gar
| den. | knew enough; Claude was like
| ly to pay dear for the widows favor,
! but | was not called upon to intervene.
After that I heard little or nothing OF
! Mrs. Sinclair. My mother rarely men
! toned her, and Claude never. | worked
| steadily at my profession, and had lit
room in the multitude of my thoughts
for women or love.
One evening at the beginning of Junt
! Claude came in upon me abruptly. Hi'
dress was unusually careless, his eyes
We're red, and his whole appearance
showed signs of distraction.
I'm i'm awful trouble, George" h,
| said, sinking into a chair in front %
| me. Il don't know how TO save my
self, and I'm come to you for help"
The boy looked wretched enough, bu
! ! concealed my qualification At IN
sight of his misery
ITS through Rr2reton, Mrs. Sin
clair's cousin" he explained. she di,
give me a hint to be careful, but j
was too late then. He turned up a
oxford and made me introduce him L
Il lot Of the men, ana he's ileeCed then
as we'll as me. And" here the bo,
broke down, and the rest Of the stor.
! got from him piecemeal.
Brereton ha1 got him so deeply il
debt that his father, after paying on
demand for extra money, he had re
fused TO allow him more. He tried
as Samesters will, to mend his forunt
by continuing to gamble--a hopeles
! speculation i'm most cases, and Ger
tainly fatal with such an opponent a
this. Then came a night when Brere
ton after his usual success, taunted hi
| miserable debtor and having muddlc
him with drink, and threatcnend hn
| with exposure to the squire and IN
college authorities, terrorized him int