Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-04-11

Mating in watching the little ball spin
rapidly around for awhile. then begin
to coquette with the different pockets.
Rolling toward one striking a point and
nearly being knocked into another.
poised for moment on the edge of a
third never settling into it's choice till
the excitement OF the watchers has
reached fever heat Otis was banker
he Won all the money had about me:
1oen began to give him due bills.
About + O'Clock added these amounts
ana found that was bankrupt
1t was plain to me that Otis had
grown frightened at my large bets.
He had a wife and child. and If in
stead OF the bank having broken me
had broken the bank it would have
| been terrible The fires of hell were
burning within me. This man had de-
pr1Ved NE OF the woman upon whom
had set my heart, and now he had TAX
en- every dollar l possessed As
drowning man will catch at straw l
ran my hands through my pockets and
felt coin the size Of half dollar
drew it from its place and in doing so
dropped it. and it rolled under lounge.
arose to get it.
Never mind said Otis What was
tip
Fifty cents, believe"
Very well: it's safe. Make your
bet
bet on the mum Der giving the high
est returns The ball spun around,
/ Ia
into my number From this on had
an astonishing run OF luck till I had
won back $500 OF my losses. played
on the luck continuing with me. Dim
ner was announced but we paid no at
tentlon to it. At II O'Clock I had re-
gained all had lost besides consid-
cradle sum from Otis He figured his
losses a nd in a trembling voice an
nounced that they were $1,000, or near
~ $1,000 more than he could possibly
pay. had broken the bank
The revenge had coveted now that
It was attained suddenly turned bitter.
After the first exciting moment Of
realization that had saved what
possessed. won all Otis had and placed
him in the position l was in when I
found the half dollar revulsion came
over me- He was my friend and had
never Injured me- l had loved the
girl who was his wife, and his child
was devoted to NE. Nevertheless
had ruined him and ruined his wife
and child
otis said. when had lost all
this afternoon I found half dollar,
with which retrieved everything and
broke your bank. It rolled under that
lounge. Go and ind it and see what
you ca u do with it. My opinion is that
there's rare luck in it,
he went to the lounge, got down on
the toor. found the piece and brought
it to the table. I noticed a curious ex-
preston on his face and turned my
eyes from it to the coin 1t had rather
the look of german silver than the true
white metal
That's no half dollar" said Otis
It's a check for something"
1t was check for an umbrella that
I had carried for a week | had re-
gained my fortune and won Otis for
tune on a vaIueless bit OF metal We
stood looking at each other while the
truth was breaking over US. His for
tune was his own, and be was entitled
to mine
The remembrance OF that moment al
ways gives me great sa tisfacrion- In
stead Of experiencing disappointment
felt pleasure. preferred that Otis
should possess the money His wife
and child would share it with him, and
as tor me. was young and would dou
bic my efforts to retrieve my losses
There was CRATE in the room, and
Otis. without speaking. gathering the
due bills. both his own and mine. toos
them there: then striking match. hs
lighted them When they were burned
, be came to me with outstretched hand
, saying:
The games a draw, old man AMI
it's the last game that will ever b,
played in this house and the last TIM
q III ever play for money"
Breaking up his gambling utensils
be stuffed them in the CRATE, and Will
they were burning we went down
? stairs to good supper.
- tried hard to induce Otis to take th
. money that was due him, but failed
= Years afterward / managed to enabl
: him to make 8 similar amount in
business deal, but at that time wa
rich
Our friendship today is like steel
WESTCOTT ATWELL-