A Blackjack Bargainer 321
come to my house and stay until you are yourself again, and as much longer as you will. We heard of your being down in the world, and in the midst of temptation, and we agreed that you should come over and play at our house once more. Will you come, my boy? Will you drop our old family trouble and come with me?"
" Trouble!" said Goree, opening his eyes wide. "There was never any trouble be- tween us that I know of. I'm sure we've always been the best friends. But, good Lord, Colonel, how could I go to your home as I am a drunken wretch, a miserable, degraded spendthrift and gambler
He lurched from the table into his arm- chair, and began to weep maudlin tears, mingled with genuine drops of remorse and shame. Coltrane talked to him persistently and reasonably, reminding him of the simple mountain pleasures of which he had once been so fond, and insisting upon the genuine- ness of the invitation.
Finally he landed Goree by tellkig him he was counting upon his help in the engineering and transportation of a large amount of felled timber from a high mountain-side to a water-
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