"
"Is Mr. Brandes wealthy?"
"Yes, the old man's pretty well fixed,
worth nearly half a million, I guess."
"Perhaps he will take you into the firm,"
suggested Carl.
"Very likely. That's what I'm working for."
"At any rate, you ought to save something
out of your salary."
"I ought, but I haven't. The fact is, Carl,"
said Chauncy Hubbard, in a burst of
confidence, I have a great mind to make a
confession to you."
"I shall feel flattered, I am sure," said Carl,
politely.
"I have one great fault--I gamble."
"Do you?" said Carl, rather startled, for he
had been brought up very properly to have a
horror of gambling.
"Yes, I suppose it's in my blood. My father
was a very rich man at one time, but he lost
nearly all his fortune at the gaming table."
"That ought to have been a warning to you,
I should think."
"It ought, and may be yet, for I am still a
young man."
"Mr. Hubbard," said Carl, earnestly, "I feel
rather diffident about advising you, for I am
only a boy, but I should think you would give
up such a dangerous habit."
"Say no more, Carl! You are a true friend.
I will try to follow your advice. Give me your hand."
Carl did so, and felt a warm glow of pleasure
at the thought that perhaps he had redeemed
his companion from a fascinating vice.
"I really wish I had a sensible boy like you
to be my constant companion. I should feel safer."
"Do you really have such a passion for
gambling, then?"
"Yes; if at the hotel to-night I should see
a party playing poker, I could not resist joining
them.
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