The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-05-02

4
nmote Edward as he thought of all he
owed Willis for the paper route and
many other Old time kindnesses.
This feeling grew on him unit! he
could pot resist the growing conviction
that he ought TO do something. But
he did not know just what to DO. and
| finally. in his perpleXty. 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
Dig 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 placer"
81 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
J among them?"
Yes. sir" said Edward. with some
reluctance.
Preston has been going down faster
than ever lately. I've had to have HIN
in here twice within the last two weei;s
and warn him. fear he is in Il very
bad way. I'm sorry for his mother
OF course | know you have left him
Are you sure that was II right step?"
mo. ST.. not altogether" replied Ed.
ward in Il low voice.
I 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 n moment.
Then he spoke abruptly.
Are you willing TO testify against
the Place. Bla!p?"
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 1t 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 it
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 we'll enough that the real
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 as
respectable citizens in Raynor be-
cause Of their wealth and social stand
|
these gamblers and knew what was
going on and all for the sake of the
money that was in it.
Edward was not too young to know
and understand these facts and in his
heart he had long had contempt for
these real owners Of the building who,
while walking about like good citizens,
were in. reality accomplices and de-
served stern punishment for their own
lawlessness due to their love of gain.
The president was watching him
closely and knew exactly what was
passing in his mind. When Edward
looked up, he was strengthened in his
final resolve by the look on the presi-
dents face.
eyes, sir; I'm willing to testify in
the case" he replied.
"Are you? Then | will 60 with you"
said the president quietly.
"You go with me" exclaimed Ed
ward slowly.
Eyes. Why not? Are these young
men in peril not my young men? Is
1t not the duty of the citizen to do his
part in the republic in times of peace
and lawlessness as well as in times
of physical war? What l have asked
you to do Is nothing more than what
the law expects every good citizen to
do. According to the ordinance. II |
remember it rightly, all that the law
requires Is that an eyewitness Of the
gambling testify to the use of the
gambling device. know enough
about the condition Of local politics in
Raynor to feel convinced that appeals
to the authorities will do very little
good. Preaching and praying and
teaching have got to be supplemented
with some kind of action that the peo-
pie of Raynor will respect. We need
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 had
a respect for that kind OF courage and
began TO think less OF his own possible
losses and more Of the probable
amount of criticism that the president
would suffer for such course.
"When, do you think we had better
go, BlakeT the president asked after
| n cbort cilonoo