African Camp Fires | Page 6

in
the hope of further success, and the losses stimulating to new trials in
order to recover, if possible; but, steadily, the tide, for all these little
eddies of success, bore him downwards, and losses increased from
single dollars to fives, and from fives to tens, his pleasant friend, Bland,
supplying whatever he wanted in the most disinterested way, until an
aggregate loss of nearly a hundred and fifty dollars sobered and
appalled him.
The salary of Martin Green was only four hundred dollars, every cent
of which was expended as fast as earned. A loss of a hundred and fifty
dollars was, therefore, a serious and embarrassing matter.
"I'll call and see you to-morrow, when we can arrange this little
matter," said Mr. Bland, "on parting with Green at his own door. He
spoke pleasantly, but with something in his voice that chilled the nerves
of his victim. On the next day while Green stood at his desk, trying to
fix his mind upon his work, and do it correctly, his employer said,--
"Martin, there's a young man in the store who has asked for you."
Green turned and saw the last man on the earth he desired to meet. His
pleasant friend of the evening before had called to "arrange that little
matter."
"Not too soon for you, I hope," remarked Bland, with his courteous, yet

now serious, smile, as he took the victim's hand.
"Yes, you are, too soon," was soberly answered.
The smile faded off of Bland's face.
"When will you arrange it?"
"In a few days."
"But I want the money to-day. It was a simple loan, you know."
"I am aware of that, but the amount is larger than I can manage at
once," said Green.
"Can I have a part to-day?"
"Not to-day."
"To-morrow, then?"
"I'll do the best in my power."
"Very well. To-morrow, at this time, I will call. Make up the whole
sum if possible, for I want it badly."
"Do you know that young man?" asked Mr. Phillips, the employer of
Green, as the latter came back to his desk. The face of Mr. Phillips was
unusually serious.
"His name is Bland."
"Why has he called to see you?" The eyes of Mr. Phillips were fixed
intently on his clerk.
"He merely dropped in. I have met him a few times in company."
"Don't you know his character?"
"I never heard a word against him," said Green.
"Why, Martin!" replied Mr. Phillips, "he has the reputation of being
one of the worst young men in our city; a base gambler's stool-pigeon,
some say."
"I am glad to know it, sir," Martin had the presence of mind, in the
painful confusion that overwhelmed him, to say, "and shall treat him
accordingly." He went back to his desk, and resumed his work.
It is the easiest thing in the world to go to astray, but always difficult to
return, Martin Green was astray, but how was he to get into the right
path again? A barrier that seemed impassable was now lying across the
way over which he had passed, a little while before, with lightest
footsteps. Alone and unaided, he could not safely get back. The evil
spirits that lure a man from virtue never counsel aright when to seek to
return. They magnify the perils that beset the road by which alone is
safety, and suggest other ways that lead into labyrinths of evil from

which escape is sometimes impossible. These spirits were now at the
ear of our unhappy young friend, suggesting methods of relief in his
embarrassing position.
If Bland were indeed such a character as Mr. Phillips had represented
him, it would be ruin, in his employer's estimation, to have him call
again and again for his debt. But how was he to liquidate that debt?
There was nothing due him on account of salary, and there was not a
friend or acquaintance to whom he could apply with any hope of
borrowing.
"Man's extremity is the devil's opportunity." It was so in the present
case, Green had a number of collections to make on that day, and his
evil counsellors suggested his holding back the return of two of these,
amounting to his indebtedness, and say that the parties were not yet
ready to settle their bills. This would enable him to get rid of Bland,
and gain time. So, acting upon the bad suggestion, he made up his
return of collections, omitting the two accounts to which we have
referred.
Now it so happened that one of the persons against whom these
accounts stood, met Mr. Phillips as he was returning from dinner in the
afternoon, and said to him,--
"I settled that bill of yours to-day."
"That's right. I wish all my customers were as