After the supper, cigars were introduced, and after the cigars, cards. A few games were played for shilling stakes. Green, under the influence of more liquor than his head could bear, and in the midst of companions whose sphere he could not, in consequence, resist, yielded in a new direction for him. Of gambling he had always entertained a virtuous disapproval; yet, ere aware of the direction in which he was drifting, he was staking money at cards, the sums gradually increasing, until from shillings the ventures increased to dollars. Sometimes he won, and sometimes he lost; the winnings stimulating to new trials 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.