Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-06
Business Versus,
Luck
By THOMAS c. DEANE

There's lot OF luck in the world"
said John Jones, who in his younger
days had been an inveterate gambler.
When | was betting on the cards my
friends used to consider me all gone
wrong So l was but it was not the
chances Of the game that did IT; 1t was
the fact that gambling has bad effect
On the gambler. I'm speaking. Of
course. Of fair game. A man who
plays with professionals Is sure to get
cleaned out
Il was playing one Of those games
once when | was handed a note from
Tom Andrews, an old friend Of mine.
asking me to send him $500. Within Il
few hours had won $1,000, and the
$500 was q very small affair TO me.
thought of sending Andrews the
money.
ut occurred to me that within a
few hours more would probably have
lost all my winnings, then I could draw
on him for enough to start In with
again. But l was so absorbed in the
game that l doubt IL this more than
flashed through my mind.
IL didn't get cleaned out that day.
but did within a week didn't have
enough money to buy breakfast with.
was walking along the street looking
Iongingly into restaurants when who
should come along but Tom Andrews.
81 was much obliged to you for.
that loan you made me the other day.
he began.
What loan% You wouldn't believe
it. but had forgotten all about the
500 | had sent him. Then all Of
sudden it all came back to me.
You're just the man want said.
I'm strapped. Let me have hundred
or two to begin again
He looked kind blank. I'm awful
sorry,' he said, 1 wanted that money
for friend. not for myself. He had
once saved me from ruin. The day
sent to yon he came to me and said
that he had the prettiest opportunity
of making a big spec you ever saw.
All he needed was $500. Well, 1t put
me in very unpleasant position.
was under a great obligation to him.
and yet | hadn't the money for him.
so | told him that thought could
borrow it for him. but as he was go
ing into a speculation with 1t thought
the lender should be interested In his
profits IT, he made any. | knew You
took flyers with cards. and didn't
know but you'd take one in another
way. wrote you all about 1t In the
note sent asking for the loan which
was Didn't you read It?
"'No. | didn't. snapped. i may
take chances on cards. but I'm not
such a fool as to loan money to man
[ never heard OF to speculate with.
Let me have half n dollar to buy a
breakfast with
TON let me have $40. ate up
dollar of 1t and sank the rest in the
| usual way.
About that time fell in love. My
girl wouldn't have me unless l broke
Off gambling entirely; so, as | couldn G
do without her. | promised never TO
| touch a card again. We were married.
and to please her went into the
sa fest business could find. l set up
corner grocery. But l must estab-
Hsh trade, and the only way to do
that was to trust those who hadn't
the money convenient to pay with.
This drew in the class of persons who
run I'D big bills and let the grocer
whistle for his money. started In
with q $4,000 capital that l had won
at gambling. and it gradually got con-
verified into uncollectable debts: /
Skinned along for awhile. Then one
morning the sheriff came down on me
and closed me out.
! 81 went home to my wife and told
her that I didn't see the difference, in
taking risks on purchasers and on
cards. At least what difference there
was was in favor of the cards. She
said that the trouble with me was that
II was no manager. II we ever did
get set up again she proposed to take
the management of our affairs into
her own hands and would show me
that, while there was a good deal in
luck. there were conditions on which
one could calculate almost to GER
| tainty.
But we didn't get set up in a hurry.
| We passed through several years or
poverty that make my flesh creep to
remember. We had several kids and
to live In comfort required an Income
we didn't have. | was tempted to
try the cards again. but my wife
wouldn't hear of it l was too old to
get situation. and l was so wracked
with worry that my health broke
down.
"One morning on opening my mail l
| found a letter from man | had never
| heard Of inclOsInG Il check for $4,000.
The letter said that some years previ-
GUS he had purchased with money
! loaned by ME a suburban tract. which
lie had laid ont into lots and had re-
Gently sold the last lot He had prom