The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-08-28

ms SIDE anu ieil sntiektng upon MS oosou'-
They wore both borns away iusensibls to The
ladies' cabin.
As he deposited the winnings in his pocket,
the gambler emitted horse laugh that sound
ed frgh,ful a. the chuckle Of a find; but be
instantly los, color as u low, calm voice re.
marked in his ear
"v,Ilain, YOU play q strong hand at many
different games, bu, here stands one Who can
beat you at all Of lhem!"
He turned. met the glance Of those keen
blue eyes so preierns'nrslly bright, and shud
dered. Blu, he Immediately reenined his pre-.
sence Of miud-for he was q coward-and
then he frowncd Until his shaggy brows mel like
the coil of serpent, ard demanded s,ernly-
"Beggar. who are you 10 banter gentle.
man thus rudsly !"
81 am James Bowie, OF Texas" the c,he:
answered, with q ringing laugh; "and you
are John LATTE, bastard Of the Old pirate y
The gambler reelsd in his char as if he
had been struck with thundeI bolt, but recO
vering again from the shock in a moment,
asked in a firm tone
"Wba, game do you wish with mel
"Poker f ST. ard pistols Afterwards, If you
play foul" replied Bowie.
avery WE'LL" rt j,ined tho other, aud shey
took their seats q, the tube.
| For time the success seemed about eonsl
ly balanced, the gain aud loss being alternate.
At last the gambler ven,ured one Of his shlIiu
manduvres in dealing. Bowie smile d strange
ly az his quick eye detected the trek. He
said nothing, however, but looked at his hand
and bet FIVE thousand dollars, stalking the mo.
ney in ten large bills. The gambler went five
! thousand dollars higher, which resulted in 0
"cal." Bowie held "four jacks In, With
his habluul iendish chuckle. his antagonist
showed -four queens" eaclaimias as he did
So
"By heavens. the pile i, mine -
"Not yet" shouted Bowie, as with both
hands he raked heap Of notes 10 the tune oil
twesty thousand dollars into hi, own pocket
Choking and purple with rage ard shame
the gambler roated-
"To The hurricane deck, and let pistols be
.rumps this turn p
GOOD SO god !" replied Bowie. and the
Two hastily assembled the stairs and assumed
the separate postiops-,he gambler ever the
stern, ard Bowie over the bow.
At tina, instant the sun was jus. rising in a
cloud,ess skv. Nature looked sublime. The
.oods and wa.ers App.ared. a. part. Of one d.
vie picture, with the bouadless blus Ct kes
ven for i's back ground The broad bosom
ed river rolled away like an immense sheet 0
FURNISHED silver, speckled here and there viii
the fish Of golden bubb'cs; shining h.hs
sambolled in the sparkling waves; and ii! lht
bright birds-those swee. singers. who,e lIft
is d can, and hat dream only musc-chan.
cd their Wild tnhem to the new day whl!t
The two great duellIs,s. the most deadly cvel
known in the southwest, stood with cooke
pistols, eye to eye, and their fingers fixed OF
the hnir,,riggers, prepared and waiting It
STAY aud be slain.
81 am ready. You give the word, erie.
Bowie, in hi. clear. ringing voice, aud viii
that inseparable smile Of strange meaning OF
his lips.
81 an ready. Frel' shouted tho gam
bier, IN tones murdetous as death.
The two pistols roared simultaneously
, Bowie did not move, though he barely escs
ped with his life, 70, The Juliet Of the foe h.t
cut away one Of he golden locke Of bis yellow
hair. The gambler was shos through lh'
heart, and dropping on the brink Of the deck
had almost tuEbled into the river. He wa
buried by the squaliers q, the next wood, yard
And thus persisted, Justly, a bastard son Of III
grea, pirate Llifii,e.
There never was a jury smpsnaelIed in tn
West who would have brought ~ verc &c
sgalnsl any man for killing him, and nor
especially under the circumstances, becsus
Z public opinion pronounced " that he ought 1
( be killed" And such were the desperadoe
that Bowie commonly s1,ermipa d.
. The generous victor Immediately proceed
ed TO the ladies' cabin, and restored The wiu
0 ninss Of the gambler to ths young msteaan
: and bis beautiful VIE, who both received III,
8 boon as q glf from Heaven, with much srsti
/, tude and Joy.