Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-06-17

state DouT business here, you" he said
Of Willis and the thought of what |,
meant to him gave him sober thoughts
on the subject. and he could not drive
them away. Mrs. Prestons prediction
concerning Willis more rapid fall
smote Edward as he thought of all he
owed Willis for the paper route and
many other old time kindnesses.
This feeling grew on him until he
could not resist tie growing conviction
that he ought to do something. But
he did not know just what to do. and
finally, in his perplexity, he went to
President Royce and told him about
the affair
The president listened with growing
seriousness.
81 had no idea that matters were so
bad in Raynor How many of these
gambling places are there on the
street,
81 don't know. sir Williams. who
carries a route on the other side, told
me the other day that there were two
big places in the west block. 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 place."
Il 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 tLem?"
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 right step"
NO. sir, not altogether" replied Ed
ward in a low voice.
"Well. my boy, we will not discuss
hat now. The question is what to do
lbout these gambling dens in Raynor.
They must be stopped if possible"
The president was silent a moment.
Then he spoke abruptly.
Are you willing to testify against
he place. Blake?
Instantly Edward confronted the
ltuation and understood what 1t might
mean. In the first place it would mean
n enemy on the part Of the proprietor.
hen rose in his mind the question of |
plying. He entered the place unchal. |
enged because he was on the paper
QUITE. II now he used that advantage
bring testimony against 1t, the fact. |
Vhen 1t came out In court, would mean |
he loss. not only Of that~one customer
or his paper, but probably Of several
ther keepers Of disrcputable places.
lie would have the whole crowd Of
awbreakers down on him, and 1t
'ould damage his prospects seriously.
But, on the other hand, here was a
eal moral danger. These men were
nemies OF society. Had he no duties
8 a citizen toward society? Was he
D plead as an excuse for noninter.
erence the probable loss that would
ONE to him If he testified against the
'rong? Was not this just what the
vefage citizen was constantly doing?
lie knew we'll enough that the real
wners Of the block where the gam.
ling was going on were the members
the business firm on the ground
DOR. They were men who passed as
'spectable citizens In Raynor be.
luse Of their wealth and social stand.
lg, and yet they took the rent from
lese gamblers and knew what was
Ding on and all for the sake of the
oney that was in 1t.
Edward was not too young to know
al understand these facts, and in his
cart he had long had contempt for
lese real owners Of the building who,
lille walking about like good citizens,
ere In reality accomplices and de.
rived stern punishment for their own
wlessness due to their love of gain.
The president was watching him I
osely and knew exactly what was
'ssln0 In his mind. When Edward