Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-12-21

gamble-nevcr! And l felt that, If he
should learn that / had staked a large
part Of my entire fortune on a single
gambling operation, he would straightway
cut me off from his confidence. would look
on me as too deeply tainted by my Ions
career as q 'bucket-shop'' man 10 be
worthy of fun rank and power as Il fnan-
cier. Financiers do not gamble, Then
only vice is grand larceny.
All this was flashing through my mind
while | was thanking i'm.
II am glad to have such a long fore
warning" ] was saying. can | be Of
use to you? You know my machinery Is
perfect can buy anything and In any
quantity without starting rumors and
drawing the crowd"
mo thank you, Matthew" was his an
swer. II ave all of those stocks l wish
at present"
Whether IL is peculiar to me, | don't
know-probab!y not-but my memory is so
constituted that II takes an indelible and
complete impression OF whatever is sent
60 Il by my eyes and ears; and just as
by looking closely you can find in a pho
tographic plate a hundred details that
escape your glance, so on those memory
plates Of mine / often find long afterward
many and many a detail that escaped me
when my eyes and ears were taking the
impression. On my memory plate Of that
moment in my interview with Roebuck, l
find details so significant that my failing
TO note them at the time shows how unfit
[ then was TO guard my interests. For In
stance, L find that just before he spoke
those words declining my assistance and
implying that he had already increased his
holdings. he opened and closed his hands
several times, finally closed and clinched
them-a sure sign of energetic nervous ac-
ton, ard IN that particular instance a
sign of deception, because there was no
energy in his remark and no reason for
energy. / am not Supcrstitious, but / be-
lieve in palmistry to Il certain extent.
Even more than the face are the hands a
sensitive recorder Of what is passing in
the mind.
But was then TOO intent upon my dill
emma carefully to study a MAJ who had
already lulled me into absolute confidence
in him. l left him as soon as he would
let me go. His last words were, mo
gambling, Matthew! No abuse of the OPP
portunity God Is giving us. BE content
with the just profits from investment. /
nave seen gamblers come and go, many of
them able men-very able men. But they
have melted away. and where are they!
And | have remained and have Increased,
blessed be God who has saved me from
the temptations TO try to reap where | had
nor sown, / feel that I can trust you.
You began as a Speculation. but success
has steadied you, and you have put your
self on the firm ground where we see the
solid men into whose hands God has given
the development OF the Astounding re-
sources Of this beloved country Of ours"
DO you wonder. that l went away with II
heart full of shame for the gambling pro-
jects my head was planning upon the in
formation that good man had given me?
L shut myself in my private office for
several hours of hard thinking-as ! can
now see, the first real attention L had
given my business in two months. 1t
soon became clear enough that my Textile
plunge was a folly; but 1t was too late to
retrace. The only question was, could
and should / assume additional BURDENS?
/ looked at the National Coal problem from
every standpoint-so / thought. And l
could see no possible risk. Did not Roe
bucks statement make 1t certain as sun
rise hat as soon as the reorganization
was announced, all coal stocks would rise?
Yes, L hould be risking nothing; j could
with absolute safety stake my credit: TO
make contracts to buy coal stocks at pres
emit prices for future delivery was no
more OF gamble than depositinG cash in
the United States treasury.
you've gone back to gambling lately,
Matt" said | to myself. You've been on
Il bender, with your head afire. You must
get out of this Textile business as soon as
possible. But iCs good sound sense to
plunge on the coal stocks. in fact, your
profits there would save you Il by some
~mlschance Textile should rise instead of
fall. Acting on Roebrck's tip isn't gam
bling, it's insurance.
l emerged TO issue orders that soon
threw into the National Coal venture all
| had not staked on a falling market for
Textiles. / was not content-as the pious
g~ambling-hater, Roebuck, had begged me
TO be-with buying only what stock l could
pay for; | went plunging on, contracting
for many times the amount 7 could have
bought outright.
The next timeI saw Langdon was full
Of enthusiasm for Roebuck. I can see his
smile as he listened.
II had no idea you were an expert on
the trumpets Of praise. Blackjack said
he finally. "A very snowy accomplish
ment," he added. but rather dangerous,
don't you think? The player may become
enchanted by his own music"
Il try to look on the bright side of
things" said 1. 'even of human NATURE
Since when?" drawled he.
/ laughed-a good, hearty laugh. for this
shy reference TO my affair of the heart
/ tickled me. i enjoyed to the full onIv in
long retrospect the look he gave me.
AS coon as a man falls in love" said
he, trustees should be appointed to take
charge Of his estate
You're wrong there, old man." re-
piled. 1--WE never worked harder or will
a clearer head han since I learned that
there are''-I hesitated. and ended lamely-
other things in l.fe."
Langdon's handsome face suddenly
darkened, and 1 thought / saw in his eyes
a look of savage pain. Il envy you." said
ne with an effort at his wonted lightness
and synicism. But that look touched my
heart; I talked no more oil my own happi-
ness. To do SO, / felt would be like bring
ing laughter into the house of grief.
XVI.