CHAPTER XII. — HOW SAM SUCCEEDED.

 Sam did not tell Henry of his purchase of a lottery¹ ticket, being well aware that his roommate would not approve such an investment.

 

"I'll wait till the lottery is drawn², and then if I get a prize I'll tell him about it. He can't say anything, then."

 

Such were Sam's thoughts. He knew, of course, that he might draw a blank; but he did not take much account of that. He lived in a dream of wealth till the day when the result was to be made known. On a certain day the lucky numbers were to be published in the Herald³, and for this issue Sam was anxiously waiting.

 

The number of his ticket was 7,567.

 

"Seven is a lucky number," said the acquaintance who induced him to buy. "Your number begins and ends with a seven. It's likely to draw something."

 

Sam listened to this prediction with complacency. He did not reflect upon the absurdity⁴ of one number being luckier than another, and congratulated himself that he had been so fortunate as to get a number containing two sevens.

 

Sam was not usually an early riser. As a general thing he lay in bed as late as he dared to; but on the particular morning which was to terminate his suspense⁵ he jumped out of bed at half-past five o'clock.

 

"What are you going to do, Sam?" inquired Henry, opening his eyes.

 

"I'm going to get up," answered Sam.

 

"What's up? Do you have to go to work earlier than usual?"

 

"No, that isn't it," answered Sam, evasively. "I'm tired of lying abed."

 

"Rather strange!" thought Henry. "Can it be possible that Sam is turning over a new leaf?"

 

He did not give much credence⁶ to this, but concluded that Sam had a particular reason, which he would learn in due time.

 

Sam dressed hastily, and walked round to the Herald office, and purchased a copy of the paper, which he unfolded eagerly. He did not immediately find the list of lucky numbers, but at length his eye rested on them. He looked eagerly through the long list, hoping to see number 7,567 in it, but in vain. A prize of fifty dollars was drawn by 7,562; but that was the nearest approach to good fortune.

 

Poor Sam! His heart sank within him. He had been dreaming golden dreams of fortune for a week past, but now he was brought down to the cold and barren reality. All his money was gone except a dollar, on which he must live for two days and a half, till his weekly wages were due.

 

"It's a shame!" muttered Sam, in bitter disappointment. "I was sure my ticket would win something. Wasn't there two sevens in it? I believe they cheated."

 

It was too early yet for breakfast, and he sauntered about idle and purposeless. Suddenly he came upon the young man upon whose advice he had purchased his ticket. He, too, had a Herald in his hand, but was not looking particularly elated.

 

"He hasn't got anything, either," thought Sam, shrewdly.

 

Just then he caught sight of Sam.

 

"Did you draw a prize?" he asked.

 

"No, I did not," said Sam, gloomily. "I wish I hadn't bought a ticket. That ten dollars is just throwed away. I wish I had it back."

 

"Better luck next time."

 

"What good'll that do me?" inquired Sam. "I'm dead broke. I haven't got money enough to buy another ticket. Didn't you tell me I was sure to win with two sevens in my number?"

 

"I didn't say you were sure. I only said it was a lucky number."

 

"Well, I wish I had my money back, that's all. I've only got a dollar to last me till Saturday night."

 

"I ain't much better off myself, Sam; but it's no use giving up. Of course a feller can't be sure to win a big prize the first time. It's worth trying five or six times."

 

"Where's the money coming from? Ten dollars don't grow on every bush."

 

"Can't you borrow?"

 

"My credit ain't good."

 

"Then, save up till you have enough money."

 

"How am I to save when I only get five dollars a week?"

 

"Well, I am sorry for you, Sam; but I'm just as bad off as you are."

 

"Are you going to buy another ticket?"

 

"As soon as I can."

 

The two parted, and Sam began to reflect.

 

"Perhaps he is right. I couldn't expect to draw a prize the very first time. I wish I could get money enough to buy another ticket. Henry could lend me it as well as not; but I know he wouldn't. He'd just give me a lecture for buying a ticket at all. I wonder if there is any way."

 

There seemed to be none except to try Henry, and, small as the chance was, he decided⁷ to do it.

 

Henry was just thinking of getting up when Sam returned.

 

"Back so soon, Sam?" he said. "Have you had breakfast?"

 

"Not yet."

 

"I see you have the Herald there. What's the news?"

 

"I haven't looked to see."

 

"You don't generally buy a morning paper."

 

"No; but there was something I wanted to look at this morning."

 

"You haven't found another ring, and bought the Herald to see whether it's advertised?"

 

"No; I wish I could find something."

 

"Have you thought about putting part of your money in the savings-bank, Sam?"

 

"How can I, when it's all gone?"

 

"Twenty dollars gone in little more than a week!" exclaimed Henry, in genuine amazement⁸.

 

"Yes," answered Sam, rather confused.

 

"What on earth did you do with it all?"

 

"I guess I must have spent about ten dollars going to the theater, and so on."

 

"What has become of the other ten dollars then?"

 

"I bought a lottery ticket," said Sam, little uncomfortably.

 

"Well, you were foolish!" said Henry. "What made you do it?"

 

"A friend of mine advised me to. He had one himself."

 

"He couldn't have been much of a friend of yours. I suppose you didn't draw anything?"

 

"No."

 

"I didn't expect you would."

 

"Other people did, though," said Sam, inclined to uphold the lottery system. "Do you see that long list of prizes?"

 

"I never knew anybody that drew a prize," said Henry, quietly, "though I've known a good many who bought tickets."

 

"Forbes tells me if I buy another ticket I'm pretty sure to get something."

 

"Then, you'd better not mind what Forbes says."

 

"Of course somebody must draw prizes," said Sam, obstinately⁹.

 

"It's a poor way to get money, even if you could win one."

 

"I'd risk that. I'd like to buy another ticket."

 

Henry shrugged¹⁰ his shoulders.

 

"I don't think you are very wise, Sam. It is well you haven't any more money to throw away."

 

This was not promising¹¹, but Sam did not mean to give it up.

 

"Henry," he said, "I wish you'd lend me ten dollars."

 

"What for?"

 

"I want to buy one more ticket."

 

"I can't lend it."

 

"I should think you might. If I don't get anything this time I'll never buy again."

 

"I can't oblige you, Sam."

 

"You mean you won't," said Sam, sulkily.

 

"No; it happens to be true that I can't."

 

"Haven't you thirty-five dollars in the savings-bank?"

 

"I had."

 

"You haven't spent the money?"

 

"I have invested it."

 

"How?"

 

"I've given the book to my employer as security to pay interest on a loan."

 

Then, seeing that Sam's curiosity was aroused, he proceeded to explain that he had borrowed five hundred dollars of his employer to pay for a share in a mercantile venture.

 

"Do you think you'll make any money out of it?" asked Sam, eagerly.

 

"I hope to."

 

"About how much?"

 

"Perhaps I may make a hundred dollars."

 

"I wish I had that much."

 

"I suppose you would buy ten lottery tickets," suggested Henry, smiling.

 

Sam admitted he should invest a part that way.

 

"I prefer to invest my money in legitimate¹² business," said Henry.

 

"I don't know about that," said Sam. "I might have drawn the twenty-thousand-dollar prize. That's better than a hundred dollars."

 

"So it is; but if I keep on I have a good deal better chance of getting up to twenty thousand dollars than you."

 

"I wish my boss would lend me five hundred dollars," said Sam.

 

"I wouldn't advise him to," said Henry, smiling. "Now let us go to breakfast."

1 lottery   

n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事

参考例句：

• He won no less than ￡5000 in the lottery.他居然中了5000英镑的奖券。
• They thought themselves lucky in the lottery of life.他们认为自己是变幻莫测的人生中的幸运者。

2 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

3 herald   

vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎

参考例句：

• In England, the cuckoo is the herald of spring.在英国杜鹃鸟是报春的使者。
• Dawn is the herald of day.曙光是白昼的先驱。

4 absurdity   

n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论

参考例句：

• The proposal borders upon the absurdity.这提议近乎荒谬。
• The absurdity of the situation made everyone laugh.情况的荒谬可笑使每个人都笑了。

5 suspense   

n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑

参考例句：

• The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
• The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。

6 credence   

n.信用，祭器台，供桌，凭证

参考例句：

• Don't give credence to all the gossip you hear.不要相信你听到的闲话。
• Police attach credence to the report of an unnamed bystander.警方认为一位不知姓名的目击者的报告很有用。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

9 obstinately   

ad.固执地，顽固地

参考例句：

• He obstinately asserted that he had done the right thing. 他硬说他做得对。
• Unemployment figures are remaining obstinately high. 失业数字仍然顽固地居高不下。

10 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

12 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。