The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-07-03

down the platform together as
| friendly as could be, and when I saw
the other mans face you could have
knocked me down with a feather.
He had formerly been employed by
our firm as lift. man, but was dis
charged for making bets with the
clerks in the Office. He used to
make book" on every race in the
year except the human race, and
that, he said, was too uncertain. to
bet about.
I felt downright sorry at seeing
these two together. The instinct
that had told me Haywood was saw
ing for some straightforward pur-
| pose oozed out of me at once ON re-
ceiving such a squeeze as this.
1t seemed such pity to think
that fellow of his age should be
so irretrievably entangled. A slave
to gambling, mere low-class plum
ger! But it couldn't be so; there
must be better explanation. I was
trying to think out some excuse for
him all the way out of the station.
AS for the girl, I forgot all about
her, and that's the truth.
Half way across Waterloo bridge
I collided with chap who was star
ing miserably down at the river.
And when he turned round I saw to
my amazement that it was the very
man who was troubling my thoughts.
Hooking at the river?" said, try
| Snc 10 L IN, FRI
YES" he answered, drearily, lit
flows very smoothly, doesn't it?"
"Why, yes, I suppose it does. But,
look here, Shy-Heywood, what's the
use of being such miserab BILE sort as
you are? Look at me; I've far more
troubles than you, and yet you don't
catch me moping."
IF you've more trouble than I
have" he cried, passionately, "then
may Heaven help you!" and he
turned away to the river again, and
his head dropped miserably on to
his chest.
."While there's life there's hope" I
said, trying to cheer him up, land
however bad your luck is, it's better
than despair. That would be a mis-
cradle game. 1t would simply be ad-
hitting you were beaten"
"And I am almost BEATEN" he
groaned. -Four years have I fought
and done the best that could be done,
and now the end is closing in and the
odds are all against me, and in three
days from now-Oht" He shivered
from head to foot as he spoke, and
clutched me by the arm. Look here.
Slade, I think you're !xind-hearted
fellow. Come and spend this even
ing at my lodgings. Come and talk
to me, or I shall go mad. The sus-
pense is killing me-"
It was now or never with him.
"You mean you are killing YOURSELF
I said, sternly; "as for the end COM
ing in three days from now, that's
impossible while you hold on to your
situation.''
He stared in such a pitiful, aston
ishcd way that it almost unnerved
me.
"What do you mean?" he said,
quietly.
II mean that if you will give up
this gambling you've the best part
of your life, and a happy life, before
you. And if you'll promise ME to
give up gambling I'll help you any
way you like, except with money,
and that don't possess"
This time I'd touched him up, and
no mistake His face was as white
as chalk and his eyes fairly blazed.
And yet the poor beggar was so
. weak after his years of semi-starva-
ton that he had to hold on to the
bridge, he trembled so much. But
stood firm and waited for his reply.
And when it came I believe I felt
more shaky than he did himself.
"I'm sorry to have troubled you,"
he said, quietly enough. "You mis-
understood me, but I ought to get
used to that after four years. Good
night
"But how have misunderstood
you?" I cried. "You live on a third of
your salary, you meet and are friend
ly with professional gambler, you
| lulK VI luC OuuS oil y Ou,
and of ruin coming III three days. The
Derby is run three days from now
"Good night" he said again. "You
are mistaken, but no matter. I will
ask for no more sympathy. Good
night"
He turned and hurried away, and I
spent the rest of that evening alter
nately patting myself on the back for
my firmness and then wondering
whether we were all wrong in our opin-
ion of Shylock II.
The next day he did not turn up at
business, nor for many days after.
When week had gone by I became
anxious, and looked up his address in
our book at the office.
went round that evening, and mis-
cradle little place it was, away up four
flights of stairs, at the top of dreary