News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1900-11-07

estate uottr business here, you" he said.
big places in the west block. I know
of three smaller places at the end Of
my route down by the river"
How many of the students did you
see in this one placer
II think eight or ten in all. OF
course | didn't stay long enough to
notice much. But there were at least
that many"
you say that Mr.. Preston was
among them"
Yes, SIR" said Edward, with some
reluctance.
Preston has been going down faster
than ever lately. I've had to have him
in here twice within the last two weeks
and warn him. | fear he is in a very
bad way. I'm sorry for his mother.
OF course | know you have left him.
Are you sure that was a right step"
mo, sir, not altogether" replied Ed
ward in low voice.
"Well, my boy, we will not discuss
that now. The question is what to do
about these gambling dens in Raynor.
They must be stopped if possible"
The president was silent a moment.
Then he spoke abruptly.
care you willing to testify against
the place, Blake"
Instantly Edward confronted the
situation and understood what it might
mean. In the first place it would mean
an enemy on the part of the proprietor
Then rose in his mind the question of
spying. He entered the place unchal-
lenged because he was on the paper
route. If now he used that advantage
to bring testimony against it, the fact
when it came out in court, would mean
the loss. not only of that one customer
for his paper, but probably of several
other keepers of disreputable places
He would have the whole crowd of
lawbreakers down on him, and il
would damage his prospects seriously
But, on the other hand, here was q
real moral danger. These men were
enemies of society. Had he no duties
as citizen toward society? Was he
to plead as an excuse for noninter
ference the probable loss that would
come to him if he testified against the
wrong? Was not this just what the
average citizen was constantly doing
He knew well enough that the rea
owners of the block where the gam
bling was going on were the members
of the business firm on the GROUND
floor. They were men who passed al
respectable citizens in Raynor be
cause of their wealth and social stand
ing, and yet they took the rent from
these gamblers and knew what was
going on and all for the sake of thu
money that was in it.
Edward was not too young to know
and understand these facts. and in hi!
heart he had long had a contempt foI
these real owners of the building who
while walking about like good citizens
were in reality accomplices and de
. served stern punishment for their owl
lawlessness due to their love Of gain
The president was watching hin
closely and knew exactly what was
passing in his mind. When Edward
looked up, he was strengthened in hi.
final resolve by the look on the presi
dents face.
eyes, sir; I'm willing to testify il
the case" he replied.
care you? Then will go with YOU
said the president quietly.
"You go with mew exclaimed Ed
ward slowly.
"Yes. Why not? Are these younI
men in peril not my young men? Il
It not the duty Of the citizen to do hi
part in the republic in times of peace
and lawlessness as well as in time,
of physical war? What l have asked
you to do is nothing more than wha
the law expects every good citizen t,
do. According to the ordinance, If
remember it rightly, all that the Law
requires is that an eyewitness Of tn,
gambling testify to the use of thu
gambling device. | know enough
about the condition of local politics II
Raynor to feel convinced that appeal
to the authorities will do very littl
good. Preaching and praying ant
teaching have got to be supplemented
with some kind of action that the PEG
pie of Raynor will respect. We neet
an old fashioned revival of righteous
ness in Raynor."
Edward listened in establishment
and yet his admiration for the presi
dent increased as he went on. He hat
a respect for that kind of courage an,
began to think less Of his own possibl
losses and more of the probabl
amount of criticism that the preslden
would suffer for such a course.
when do you think we had bette
go, Blake9" the president asked afte
a short silence.
zone time is as good as another,
said Edward.
"sov this evening, then. I'll star