Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-05-14

- T 4. I'm s I'd
"NoD sit doson and make yourself at
home" he laughed.
more entered this same place, have
never staked penny on n game Of
chance, and l cannot claim my eXemp-
ton from the general custom Of the
times on any grounds of personal mo-
rality.
1t was the evening of the dinner.
Pearson was talking to me in the little
room down stairs. The layouts-faro.
roulette, poker-were on the floor above.
"Tommy, my boy" he said, "we're
not in this respected occupation for
sheer love of it."
l had not yet recovered from the
shock of finding out that he was in it
Mt all.
Were out for the dust as people
say. But now, just word. l have no
right to give advice, Lord knows, but
you can stake your life that what tell
you is the truth. If you ever wish for
happiness, don't gamble"
He laughed rather bitterly, think,
and then went on:
We've had some good times togeth-
er, you and / and the Rajah, and he'd
tell you the same thing" (Roach had
gone up stairs.) "Now, the good times
may come back again. hope they
will. I've watched YOU" he said, tip
ping back my chair as he spoke, "and,
bar accidents, you are all right. You'll
grow q decent man and make some
thing. I'll back you for it"
"1'm sure It's very kind" l began.
II can't tell your
"No; it is not very kind" he interpos-
ed. "At least, Pm not SO sure. have
not finished what l was going to say.
Perhaps 1t would have been better If
had just nodded to you today or cut
you dead, but l could not have done 1t,
you know" he added, "even If I'd
thought"
He paused, and was about to speak,
when again he stopped me.
"Listeny' he said. "You need not
talk. Afterward you can do what you
please"
"Just now you can't possibly harm
yourself by letting me be your friend
When the time comes-the time yor
cannot do so-you'll find it out, or Il
you don't will tell you, mark me-"
at will never come" burst out
half extending my hand. for was
touched.
"You can't TELL" he answered. 81
think it will"
had not noticed until then thai
Roach had entered while we were talk
ling. He stood there big and silent
cigar in the corner of his mouth, hi.
heavy eyebrows arched and his fore
head wrlnkled in great folds, while hi
eyes had q faraway, thoughtful expires
sion in them. He was listening, coult
See that plainly.
Pearson glanced at him and smiled
Then he turned to me again and spok
in that deep, even voice of his.
"What mean Is this" he said. "W
will be glad to see you here where W.
are sitting. It's not a half bad place t
core to, but up there" and he jerke'
his hand toward the stairway "you d
not want to go-here or in any othe
eelpot. Promise me-"
looked about the room. 1t wa
small, as have said before, but it wa
big with books. What tempting thing
books are to those who love themt
"Let me tell you something" contir
ued Pearson, MS did not answer. II
placed his heavy hand on my knee IN
swung it to and fro. This is some
thing would tell any one who aske
me. No luck or system can beat hi
odds against you in the long run. w
live off people who think otherwise
Take my word for it. Don't we, Rs
jah?
Roach jingled the crystal pendant
of n candelabrum with his fingers an
nodded. Then he threw his big ciga
viciously into the fireplace and left tn
room.
My dismay at the avowal Of m
friends occupation had faded to du
regret. And yet, strange to say, cor
fessed to feeling of resentment Mt tn
rather patronizing air that though
Pearson had assumed toward me, an
l remained silent.
Suddenly he arose and took step Q
two backward, until lie leaned with Iii
broad shoulders against bookcas
and sprawled his arms along shel
and stood there watching me.
II am going to thank you for all Q
your past Kindness" said / at las
leaving my chair and walking to hin
"and also for the interest you've take
In me and your advice"
"Come now. don't try to be polite,
Pearson broke In, Strengthening hin
self as he spoke land curses for &C
,, vice--its cheap. wish to be you
friend If you will let me-"
extended him my hand. He GRASP
ed 1t warmly and held 1t.
snow sit down and make yourself q
nome" lie laughed. "Thcre IRE joll
. set of books" He pushed me gent
away from him and left me alone
There was n domineering magnetism
about Pearson that never could eS
plain. So l sat down in an easy chail
picked out book and read until late
! or, rather. early in the morning
was reading the voyages of Magellan
and Pearson looked in at me severn
times. He was in high spirits.
Rum beggars, those old sailor pee
pie" he said. "Plnyed for high stakes
!, didn't they? Eth? Islands and cont
,, nents-and they got their names dow
: on the maps foreverlasting We PEG
pie nowadays are only dummies"
And N.n fall,nd on tonathar For eo,,,,