The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-08-10
THE GAMBLER. ,:

1.-THE GAMBLER. - ,
In Il room OF Il Gibraltar hotel sat
Ecryl Faulkner. looking white and anx-
iou> \ few yards away stood Il young
man--hp was hardly more imam Il boy. in
an officers uniform. They were the only
occupants Of the room. and Il glance ut
their faces revealed that they. were
brother and sister.
The boy Was gazing witt, set express
sion 1T III open letter he held in his hand.
He WAS deadly pale.
"Every penny Of my money will have
to 20 to save the honor Of the tirnl,'" he
read out. "Oh, it's .:,W full: DO You grasp
what it means to YOU. Brryl!'
''\ot SO much to me- as to You, Ted.
dear" she said hravely. II shall be able
to h~ u Soverntss or something. but you--
vow will have t. give up the regiment -
sell ont..
The boy sank into Il chair and buried
his face in his hands.
His sister Went to him and tWincd hrr
arm about linn.
"We must Think" she said softly,
that il means more to- tho dear old IA
thcr than amy one else. We shall have
to try and do our best to put things
STRAIGHT for him. | know it will be hard
leaving the regiment. butt
1T : not that" he burst out.
"What then, Ted, lcHr?" she said any
iorSly:
He raised his head and turned Il white
face TO her.
"3dv can tell tou:" he cried broken
ly. five been Il fOnl--WUrSr than Il fool.
1.,.,il> i,,. y ..ry i, >l,@
of honrr.'
1--WE yamhlc1 and lost he continued
gloomily "Thrre'S :: man here who
likes high StakrS-an1 he holds a batch
of my l. O. u.s.. OF course. l never
dreamed Of this horrible thing happen.
inS. l cablru to the governor last night,
thinking the only result OF my folly
would be that he'd blame me for my
rNtravayancr.
"lIow much do YOU owe this man,"
give hundred pounds. It's debit Of
honor. and it can't he paid: N.Y. God.
it can't be paid.:' he repeated between
his teeth.
"Tive hundred pounds" she said: with
little gasp. ''tIe let you--a mere boy
play until You owed him that"
HE did NOT know but what | could
afford ii. -: =.
\ buy!r rang out from the far end of
the town. Young Eaknrr >prany to his
feet.
Il have to %o:' he said hoarscly. OH
come and see YOU again after lunch.'.
\ little later the same morning, Can't
CroSbie Drystlale was stro1ling in the
Alameda Gardens He was II guol-look-
ing man Of about thirty. he climbed The
paths lrsuroly. apparently deep in
thought. Presently his eyes fell on tho
figure OF a girl who was sitting. a few
yards higher up. lie recognized hcr i'm
italy MI ,.,,l
int" his eyes.
"Tno hot for our old friend. Mrs. Crcs
frla?' he asked with a laugh. .opp;nc
into the seat beside hr". "N'hrn is youl
visit up?'
Rrryl made no reply He glanced at
her and saw that her face was turned
! toward Europa. He noticed thai sh,
were wet with tears.
II am very ~orry," h" said. in low
synpa1 he1ir voice. "If''-hc r;uSr:
! rsitatin%ly-"if ! can be of any u E|'?:''''
she turned her head. and their eyes
met >>hr had only known him i week
yet Il KIND OF mutual understanding haG
sprung up between them. Somehow h,
seemed different from most of tho mo,
>h" had met.
II should Ike to help if I COULD" h,
She shook her head.
40 one can hclp. she said, with lii
tie catch in her voice. "Thcre is moth
ing to be done: we are ru;ned::"
He said nothing. \ sudden desire &c
tell him her trouble crcpt over her. y
"PcrhapS if YOU told ME" he hcya!
in Il tone OF lwrSuaSion
Inc story came to him gradually. He,
father was engaged in commonwealth
head of a firm of good position. lie was
getting o!d, and had allowed his junior
partner to attend to most OF the bust
ness. Then one day the crash came. Il
ne;, n Junior partner had been Sprculat
ing wildly had lost. and in desperation
had appropriated money belonging to thu
firms clients. Finally. he had absyond
ed leaving Mr.. Faulkner TO weather tn,
storm as best he could.
DrySdale listened to the tale. his eyes
staring ont t" sea. He bit his lips as he
rcal!zed what 1t all meant to the girl at
his side.
II am sorry-more than sorry" he
said in Il jrrky tone ut the finish 1t
scmnled terribly lame but they were the
only words he could find.
but that isn't the worst:"' she said
with Il little sob. "Leaving the regiment
would not be much in itself to Ted
But he must leave it in debt: lie tells
me he has been gambling. and owes q
large sum OF money to one of the Off
GERS. He can't pay-and the disgrace
will break his hcart"'
The man at her side clenchcd his teeth
He did not speak. however.
."rhis cruel yambling!!' she cried
"Nhat do YOU think Of a man who lets
q mere boy like Ted play with him until
he owes hundreds of pounds? What dc
you think Of him." she repeated excited
ly. -
Il think him b!ackguard,' said Drys.
Gale slowly.
Il feel as if hate that man, she
said. .'more than anyone else in this
world"
,Drysdalc was still looking out to sea
There was curious light in his eyes
.'You would never forgive him. he
asked evenly.
Il loathc gambler, and he did his
best to make Ted one. He has ruined
our happinesS. no, i would never for.
give him.
There was slight noise a few yards
way. They looked up and saw Mrs
/ Cresticld approaching them. Drysdale
rose to his feet.
''T0u AFRO u,1ite richt' 'hc So;l in y