The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-06-11
CURED OF GAMBLING.
ODDLY, TOO, THE REMEDY eNTAILEo
CONSTANT GAMBLING.


Armed Young Gamesters Ceased. Yet
Das Not Cease. and Eventually Ac-
I Quired Wealth.
This Is the story Of two confirmed
young gamblers who seemed beyond re-
denption. but who struck system
whereby they continued and yet ceased
gambling and eventually acquired wealth.
They we're q pair Of young southerners
from the same town and friends almost
from babyhood. Therefore what one dii
the other was almost sure to do. Ihey
made up their minds that they needed IN
70 out and see the world and be happy
and that it was not the proper thing In
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 thcE
saw things good and bad and Indifferent
and among them were introduced to
thing named wheel.
Unfortunately In the first attempt one
Of them won $500 and the other $2OO.
and thereafter they devoted their young
lives and hundreds of dollars trying to
repeat the run.
When the wheel" proved faithless,
they wens to horse racing. which is more
dangerous because It includes not mere
luck. but an element of personal vanity
about ones knowledge Of Sunshine aud
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 the
weeks board and matched each other to
see who paid for breakfasts.
Things went on splendidly until on pay
days It was simply a matter Of an hour
to run from the office to a "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 mado
n big strike. Meanwhile they made little
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 hedged
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 nave
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 same
first Christian names 1t 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, It was about time ia
buy overcoats. They had spent nights
shivering on assignments for the want or
q proLer covering. but on pay days II
seemed folly to invest money In clothing
when there Gas a fortune to be made Dy
the turn of a wheel. AS both men were
prctty good in their line Of business they
made enough each week to buy three or
four new oyercoats il they had been able
70 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 q cent or an oyercoat
and with watches gone.
Al they were game to the core they sat
down In their seats in the Office ut desks
facing each other and like true sports be-
enn to write the stories Of their assign
rnents as il nothing had happened. Pres.
entity. without stopping his writing, Bill
remarked:
'Billy, you're fool" =.
"Just what was thinking Of you."
Billy returned, likewise disdaining to matt
In his work.
aGuess we're both it." Bill said rs be-
fore. .,|
"Maybe. but I know you are" said
Billy, and then for the first time both
put down their pencils.
"I'u tell you. I'll match you to see who
Ii the biggest fool: that's about oil I've
got left" said Bill.
THAT'S all right: I'll bet you a iver II
I wanted to could save more money In
q month than you could at that" the
other said.
arm 20 you ON that. It's Eve up that
at the end Of the month ! show fattei
hank account than you do"
And that Is all that was said until af
the end OF the month Bill produced
bankbook with $50 In II and Billy one
with $40 credited to him. Therefore
Bill paid Billy the S. and said:
"Ill 20 you again on that"
"An right; make It every month Il you
Ike"
"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 to
the account and swamp you. That leaves
SO which ] aeally saved against your
$50. 30 here Is your IS back and % more
which owe"
But Bill hesitated; then he said. "Well.
b this thing meant only for legitimate
saving?"
$50 supposed"
'aIhen here is the SO back. You sec I
was behind and only had $40 In bank. /
had everything to gain and nothing to
lose, I figured. so I drew the $40 aud
played Esmeralda, even money. and
banked the $50"
"Then we will call the thing OF for
this month. but hereafter It will be hve
month that show Q fatter account than
you do. and no more funny business
about it,
Neither Bill nor Billy knew what he
was doing that day. or he would NOT
have done It, but the excitement OF the
chase was on. and that was four years
ago. The last time Bill won with S4.20O
to BiIly's $4.170. and Billy swore he
would get the next 6ver II he had to do
the Isabella act and pawn his jewels.
Some day q pair Of fine girls will get
hold Of Bill and Billy and will put on the
finishing touches Of civilization. and
thereafter they win con6ne themselves to
l-ving odds on their wives. which u
legitimate-New York Times.