The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-04-08

all, but MS employer y.
Ruin stared him in the face at every
turn.
How was he to pay Grayeon, the
gambler VINO had won his money, and
replace that he had stolen from the
firm?
The next morning, when he reached
the office, later than usual, worn out
with want of sleep, he found to his dis.
may the accountants had already com.
menced work.
Ere many hours had passed he
learned their names. They were
Smith & Grayson. Could there be any
connection with one OF them and the
gambler OF the club? With that
thought in his head Dick made tracks
for their offices; he would set his
mind at rest on that point at once.
Mr. Grayson was in. Yes, he was a
dual individual-a man of business in
the daytime and a gambler by night.
He looked up on seeing Welby, and
Dick plunged into the matter at once.
you're auditing Bransom & Bran
SONS accounts. and I've been appro.
priating money from the firm-in all
about thousand dollars. Mr.. Gray
son." and his voice trembled, you
hold the ruin of a man in your hands.
What are you going to do?"
The man looked at the other calmly.
What if | do what you want me to
dc-prevent your exposure?"
I'll never touch a card again"
1t was the gambler who laughed.
DO you think that's possible? I've
said that to myself scores of times, but
the fever's got too tight hold"
"But I've wife and child swear
it, for their sakes!"
why didn't you think of that be-
fore?"
He went to desk. and from a
drawer produced pack of cards.
"Sit down." he cried. "You win,
and the shortage is made good and
your debt Cancelled, but on conditions
only"
He looked straight into his CON-
pdnlOn lace.
and those conditions are that you
never play a game of chance again,
and take care of your wife"
He dealt out the cards, and, the
other not replying, the two commenced
a battle to be fought under such ter
rible circumstances and with such mo-
mentous issues. Dick Welby's face
became CHASTITY pale and his hands
trembled as he turned up the cards
mechanically. But something seemed
to tell him that Grayson, the inveter-
ate gambler, was once playing reck'
lessly and carelessly.
For few minutes-it seemed an
hour, there was a deadly silence, and
then Dick rose excitedly to his feet.
Thank heaven!" he had won.
George Grayson gathered up the
cards and carefully locked them in his
desk again. He had crossed the room
and shook his companions hand.
"Welby, can't help thinking I've
been assisting your ruin. You must
look after your wife. You don't know
the treasure you've got"
Dick glanced at the speaker in as.
constituent
"My wife! Do you know herr"
Eyes. Were l in your place l should
be a different man. Listen! Welby,
you've usurped a position l once
hoped to obtain. reckoned on Mabel
becoming my bride. But it wasn't to
be. She sought me here yesterday as
an old friend to assist her in some
temporary difficulty. And now you
know Good-by, Dick, and heaven
bless you!" stretching out his hand
again.
Dick remained silent for moment,
unable to grasp the situation at first,
and then replied:
"You say you would be a different
man had you been in my place. Come
home with me tonight; we both owe
you so much-let us thank you"
The man hesitated. and then said:
"Well, yes. promise"
And Dick Welby lett the Office with
light heart.
He is a wealthy man now, and has
kept his promise never to gamble
again; and Grayson himself, since
that memorable afternoon in his Of
fee, never touched another card.-New
York News.