Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-11-07

tuus of all gamblers-his tremendous losses
A new preliminary "dodge" was, | observed,
now brought into action. Mr.. Merton esteem
ed himself knowing hand at ecarte; it was in
troduced, and he was permitted to win every
game he played, much to the apparent annoy
ance and discontinue of the losers. As this
was precisely the snare into which l had myself
fallen, | of course the more readily detected it,
and felt quite satisfied that a grand coup was
meditated. In the meantime | had not been
idle. Sanford was con6demialy informed that
| was in London to receive between four and
FIVE thousand pounds-part of Uncle Pass
groves legacy-and then intended to immedi-
ateIy hasten back to canny Yorkshire. To have
seen the Villains eyes as l incidentally, as it
were, announced my GRAND and Intention
They fairly flashed with Internal glee! All,
Sanford, Sanford! you were, with all your
man you had wronged and ruined, could so ca
silly forget the debt he owed you!
"No, thank you," answered coldly. 81 ne
yer part with my money till have lost it" This
was in reply to Sanford, that loan him some
money.
A malignant scowl passed over the scoun.
dreis features, but he made no reply. Ulti-
mately it was decided that one of the fraternity
should be dispatched in search of the required
amount. He was gone about half an hour and
returned with a bundle of notes. They were,
as | hoped and expected, forgeries on foreign
banks. Mr.. Merton looked at and counted
them, and play commenced:
As it went on, so wildly did the scene recall
the evening that had sealed my own ruin, that |
grew dizzy with excitement and drained tumb-
Ter after tumbler of water to allay the fevered
throbbing of my veins. The gamblers were
fortunately too much absorbed to heed my agi-
tation. Merton lost continually, without pause
or intermission. The stakes were doubled
tripled-quadrupled! His brain was on fire;
and he played, or rather lost, with the reckless
ness of a mailman!
sHark! what's that?' suddenly exclaimed
Sanford, from whose satanic features the mask
he had so long worn before Merton had been
gradually slipping. "Did you hear a noise be-
lowe"
NY ear had caught the sound, and l could
better interpret it than he. 1t ceased.
"Touch the signal bell, Adolphe," added
Sanford.
Not only the play but the very breathing of
the villains was suspended as they, listened for
the reply.
1t came. The answering tinkle sounded
Observation-Disclosures. Cali right!' shouted
Sanford. proceed, the farce is nearly played
out"
had instructed the officers that two of them,
in plain clothes, should present themselves at
the front door, obtain permission by means of
the password had given them, and immediate
ly gag the door-keeper. had also acquainted
them with the proper answer to the signal ring
three distinct pulls at the bell handle commu-
nicating with the first floor. Their comrades
were then to be admitted, and they were all to
silently ascend the stairs, and wait on the land
ing till summoned by me to enter and seize the
gamesters. The back entrance to the house
was also securely but unobtrusively watched.
One fear disturbed me: it was lest the acoun-
drels should take alarm in sufficient time to ex-
tineuish the lights, destroy the forged papers,
and possibly escape by some private passage
which might, unknown to me, exist.
Rousing myself as the play was resumed,
from the trance of memory by which | had
been in some manner absorbed, and first as
certaining that the handles Of my pistols were
within easy reach-for knew | was PLAYING a
desperate game with desperate men-I rose,
stepped carelessly to the door, partially opened
it, and bent forward, as iflistening for a repeti-
ton of the sound which had so alarmed the
company. To my great delight, the landing
and stairs were filled with police officers
towards the table atwhich Mr.. Merton was seat
ed. The last stake, an enormous one, was be-
ing PLAYED for. Merton lost. He sprang upon
his feet, death pale, despairing, overwhelmed,
and a hoarse txecration surged through his
clenched teeth. Sanford and his associate
coolly raked the plumber together, their features
lighted up with fendish glee.
Observation-Disclosures" shrieked Mr..
Merton, as if smitten with sudden frenzy, and
darling at Sandford's throat: "you, devil that
you are, have undone, destroyed me"
"No doubt of it" calmly replied Sanford,
shaking off his victims grasp: aand / think it
has been very artisticallyly and ~effectual done,
too. snivelling, my fine fellow will scarcely
M. Merton glared upon the taunting villain
in speeches. agony and rage.
sNot quite so fast, Carbon, if you please,"I
exclaimed, at the same time taking up q bundle
of forged notes. ut does not appear to me
that NJ. Merton has plyed against equal stakes,
for unquestionable this paper is not genuine"
"Dog!! r. roared Sanford, "do you hold your
life SO cheap!'' and he rushed towards me, as
if to seize the forged notes.
was as quick as he, and the levelled tube
ofa pistol sharply arrested his eager onslaught.
The entire gang gathered near us, flaming with
excitement. Mr.. Merton looked bewilderedly
from one to another, apparently scarcely con-
| scious of what was passing around him.
sWrench the papers from HIM" screamed
Sanford, recovering his energy. @Seize him
stab, strangle him"
"Look to yourself, sconndrelr" / shouted, with
equal yehemence. aYour hour is come! OFF,
GERS, do your duty"
In an instant the room was filled with police
and surprised, panic sticken, paralyzed BY the
suddenness Of the catastrophe, the gang were
all secured without the slightest resistance,
though most of them were armed, and marched
off in custody.
There-Sandford, or Carbon, but he had half