Year: 1872

could see was cognizant of all that was
going on, and seemed perfectly content.
gave an appealing look to the brawny
Scotchman, but it was to no purpose. He
would not interfere again. Our elderly
companion was too nervous to be of any
service. I ventured, therefore, to give
the. lad hint


"My friend" l said, "you are paying
dearly for that amusement Let me advise
you to stop!"


To my surprise, the sharper in the most
civil manner endorsed my advice. "Yes,"
he said blandly, "the luck runs against
you; suppose We shut up. You'll want
money for travelling expenses, you know"


"No no." shouted the other, I'm not
going to be humbugged. I've lost near
twenty pounds, and I've a right to win it
back, if can. 1 know what I'm about
and don't want anybody's advice; when 1
do want it, I'll ask for it."


1t was plainly of no use to interfere
further. In few minutes the infatuated
lad had staked his last gold piece aud lost
it. He searched his pockets turned them
inside out, examined each compartment of
his pocket-book, and emptying his netted
purse searched among its silver for SOW
erign 1t was in vain. The silly boy
was cleaned out.


."Tll accommodate you with twenty pounds
on the security of your watch and chain,"
remarked the sharper.


"Donc, replied the boy, and the loan
was made Thus reimbursed, he insisted
upon renewing the game, "to win back
his own," as he said. Brief indeed was
the contest that now ensued. The crafty
head had the silly heart in its leash. There
was hardly occasion to practice the Gus
tomary wiles. The victim was eager to be
deceived. 1t was pitiful to witness his loss
of one gold piece after another; with
scarcely ever turn of luck-if what was
transparent fraud can be dignifed with
such an honest Saxon word. Perspiration
streamcd down the face of the silly fool.
He could not repress his excitement. The
twenty sovcrigns disappeared in less than
as many minutes. think we were all
glad. Protracted suffering is not agreeable
to onlookcrs. The inevitable in such a
case cannot come too speedily. No sooner
had the manipulator of the cards drained
his victim dry, than he deliberately re-
stored the cards to the pack, deposited it
in his coat pocket, took out his cigar case,
lighted cigar, aud coldly settled down to
the enjoyment of its fragrance. r-


Out of compassion I turned my face
away from the "plucked pigeon" The
Scotchman did the same. But the poor
fellows feelings were too much for him.
After struggling with them for time, he
was weak enough to burst into passion
of tears. This relieved him in some de-
gree, and by way of apologizing for his
weakness, he began to say that he would
not have cared so much for the loss of the
money that the watch was a present from
his mother, now dead, and that he valued
it far beyond its worth, though it had cost
more than double the sum he had received
for it. a-7 81 a.a 1i.#


"Wcll," said the man who had received
the watch, "you can have it again if you
choose. Send to my address in Birmiug
ham with the twenty pounds, and will
return the watch and chain" At the
same time he handed the lad his card. AS
we approach the next station, the poor lad
drew his portmanteau from beneath the
seat, and announced his intention of re-
turning home by the next train. We lost
him when We stopped.


| When the train moved on again, the
Scotchmau thought fit to take the sharpers
to task for their cruelty to the lad. "My
dear sir" and the chief performer, speak
ing with an JUNCTION that was edifying,
"you may depend upon it this morning s
work is the very best thing that could
have happened to the young man. 1t will
do him more good than anything else, and
will be worth more than the money it has
cost him. He is immensely conceited, as
you must have noticed, and this experience
will take the conceit out of him. If he
had taken the advice you were good enough
to offer him he would have saved his money
and his watch, and might now be enjoying
his holiday, instead of returning homo
penniless. Another time he will remem.
Der the lesson of to-day, and win not dis
pise the advice of friend Will you
take cigar, sir?