The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-06-25
CURED OF GAMBLING.
ODDLY, TOO, THE REMEDY ENTAlLEo
CONSTANT GAMBLING.

CONSTANT GAMBLING.
A Scheme BY which . Pair Of Con.
Armed Young Ganesters Ceased, fee
Did Not Cease, and Eventually Ae-
quired Wealth.
This Ii the story Of two confirmed
young gamblers who seemed beyond ne
demption, but who Struck q system
whereby they continued and Jet ceased
gambling and eventually acquired wealth.
They were L. pair OF young southerners
from the same town and friends almost
from babyhood. Therefore what one Old
the other was almost sure to do. They
made up their minds that they needed to
20 out and see the world and be happy
and that it was not the proper thing to
live ON their fathers. They came to New
York to make their own way and to see
things and In order to see them better
became newspaper reporters. Then they
saw things good and bad and Indifferent
and among them were introduced 20 .
thing named wheel"
Unfortunately In the frst attempt one
of them won $500 and the other 500,
and thereafter they devoted their young
lives and hundreds Of dollars trying to
repeat the run.
When the wheel proved faithlcss,
they wens to horse racing, which Ii more
dangerous because II includes not mere
luck, but an element Of personal vanity
about ones knowledge Of Sunshine AMI
Spindrift and weights up and hard and
soft tracks. Poker and the other diver
sions were added to the list until the
spirit of gambling entered their daily
lives, and they gambled with each other
and threw dice to see who would pay tho
weeks board and matched each other to
see who paid for breakfasts.
Things went on splendidly until on pay
days It was simply q matter OF an hour
to run from the Office 10 q Joint" Or
poolroom and to return dead broke ready
and cheerful for another days work.
They owed money. restaurant bills and
money borrowed outright, which they
| hoped to pay some day when they made
| big strike. Meanwhile they made utrI
strikes, enough to lead them on. In time
they got to the point when their faces no
longer showed whether they had lost or
won. Therefore they were "full fedged
sports" Therefore, also. hard lines were
digging into their faces about their
mouths and eyes, and II their families
down in the land Of sunshine could have
SEEN them parading arm In arm up Park
row there would have been tears or re.
buifs, according to sex.
| As both Of the young men had the sams
| first Christian names II Is necessary TO
call one Of them Bill and the other
Billy. Bill and Billy were In for crisis.
The summer and the greater part Of au-
tumn had gone when It dawned on them
| that In the name Of decency, II not In the
name of comfort, Il was about time to
buy overcoats. They had spent nights
shiyering on assignments for the want OF
q proper covering. but on pay days u
seemed folly to invest money In clothing
when there vas fortune to be made oy
the turn Of wheel. As both men were
pretty good In their line Of business they
made enough each week to buy three or
four new overcoats IL they had been aDle
to let the wheel alone. They realized this
one morning and left the office together
with their salaries In their pockets, bound
for tailor's shop. and they returned two
hours later without cent or an overccas
and with watches gone.
| Az they were game to the core they sat
down in their seats In the Office at desks
facing each other and like true sports be-
pau to write the stories Of their assign
ments rs IL nothing had happened. Pres.
entity. without stopping his writing. biu
remarked:
"Billy. you're fool"
"Just what I was thinking Of you,"
Billy returned. likewise disdainins to halt
In his work.
"Guess we're both It." Bill said as be-
fore.
"Maybe, but know you are" said
Billy. and then for the 6rst time both
put down their pencils.
"l'u tell you. Ill match yon to see who
Is the biggest fool: that's about oil I've
got left" said Bill. -.
THAT'S all right: I'll bet you fver II
I wanted to could save more money IN
month than you could ut that" the
other said.
"Ill 20 you on that. It's Eve mp that
at the end Of the month show q fatfer
bank account than you do"
And that Is oil that was said unit! at
the end Of the month Bill produced Q
handbook with $50 In It and Billy one
with $40 credited to him. Therefore
Bill paid Billy the S. and said:
"I1l 60 you again on that"
"Al right: make 1t every month II you
like"
"Suits me. my son." said Billy, "but.
look here. sport Is sport. don't think
ought to have taken that 6ver. ! bor'
rowed $50 from the governor to add 70
the account and swamp you. That leaves
SO which ! spaIly saved against your
$50. so here Is your IS back and - more
which owe"
But Bill hesitated: then be said. "Weil.
Is this thing meant only for Legitimate
saving?"
$50 supposed"
.Ihen here Is the $40 back. You see
was behind and only had $40 In bank. !
had everything to gain and nothing 70
lose. l figured. SO drew the $40 aud
played Esmeralda, even money. and
banked the $50"
.aThcn we will call the thing OF for
this month. but hereafter It will be hvs Q
month that ! show fatter account tnan
you do. and no more funny business
about It."
Neither Bill nor Billy knew what he
was doing that day. or he would noe
have done II. but the excitement Of the
chase was on, and that was four years
ago. The last time Bill won with A.2oO
to Billy's S4.l10. and Billy swore he
vould get the next fver II he had to DO
the Isabella act and pawn his jewels.
Some day q pair of fne girls will get
hold Of Bin and Billy and will put on the
finishing touches Of civilization. and