and excited. Quirk was opposite
him, and two other clerks made up the party. Wilkins was standing behind
Arthur, attempting with earnest tone and warm entreaties to draw him
away; but with every sentence Arthur answered him insolently, and rudely
shook the pleading hand from his shoulder.

"Your conduct shall be reported, sir, to-morrow," at last said Wilkins,
hoping to move Arthur by his pride.

"Report it then if you choose; don't you see I'm trying to win enough to
pay that d----d debt of mine?"

"How much have you won already?"

"One hundred and eleven dollars."

"One hundred and eleven dollars! well, boys, you must be staking your
salaries to-night, I should think; but, come, Arthur, if you have won
that much, stop now; for you won't win much longer, and if you'll give
up this kind of business, I'll make up the rest for you, and your debt
shall be canceled. Come, I can't bear to see a young man of your
abilities, and one who has a mother with a heart to break, beginning
this practice. It's awful!"

At any other moment an appeal of this kind might have touched Arthur's
heart; but he had drained his wine cup several times, and the exciting
draughts had already exerted their powerful influence over his young
frame to a degree which rendered him deaf to everything beyond the
prospect of regaining that sum which he had so unluckily, as he
declared, lost.

"You are altogether too good, Mr. Wilkins, but I don't need any
assistance when I am prospering as I now am."

"That's right, Pratt!" exclaimed Quirk, with an encouraging wink; "pick
up your cards, and show 'em you ain't to be nosed around by anybody, and
that you didn't come so many hundred miles from home tied fast by your
mammy's long apron-string."

"Had I known this was your intention, Mr. Quirk, when you asked me for
the key, you would never have got it I assure you," said Wilkins,
coldly. "Isn't it enough for you to be bad and unprincipled, without
dragging those who might do better, if let alone, with you into the
pit?"

"'Taint my fault if he can't resist temptation," replied the other,
doggedly. "Come, Pratt, it's your play."

"Arthur, don't throw another card!" exclaimed Wilkins, at the same time
arresting the uplifted hand.

Arthur struggled to release it, but Wilkins held it firmly, and drew him
back from the table as he sat in his chair, and held him fixedly there
in his grasp.

"Arthur, I treat you as I would a younger brother; an eye e