The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1850-09-12
Ffom Neah'. Weetl, Twoe..
TIE GAMBLERS DUEL,

Ahb VA hMDLEN = III Ell.
Finally the storm passed, and III,
beautiful day break cane on like q
thing Of glory in tie gray east. Th.i
the infatuated :nerchant. distracted
with his heavy losses, da.cd the eli
max Of folly. lie s,akcd fve ,hou
sand dollars colnl,isin. his last cen,
IN the world. on two air Of kings
The ~hiskcrcd gambler "called y
him they showed hands the black
leg had 1.-TWO lair of aces and
" raked the board" The merchan,
dropped on the floor as if lie had
been sho, through the brain. and tina,
beautiful young wife few to his side
and fell shrieking upon his bosom. -
They were both borne away inscnsi
Die " the ladies' cabin.
As he deposited the winnings in his
pocket, the gambler emitted a hoarse
laugh, that sounded irightful as the
ohucklc Of a 6cnd; but lie instantly
los, color, as low, calm voice re.
marked in his ear
Villain, you play a strong hand
O. many different games, but here
stands one who who can beat you at
all Of them :"
lie turned and met the glance of
those keen blue eyes, 50 preternatu-
rally bright, and shnddcrcd. Bu, he
Immediately gained his presence Of
,nind, for he MAS no coward, and then
he fro~ned till his shaggy brows met
like the coil Of serpent, aud de.
manded sternly-
Beygar, who are you, to banter
a gentleman thus rudcly:"
~ am James Bowie, Of Texas
tho other answered with u ringing
laugh; land You arc John I.affite, a
bastard Of the old pirate ~
The gambler reeled in his chair as
though he had been struck with a
thundcrbo!t, but lac recovered again
fruu, the shock in meuient, and ask
in firm tome
What game do you wish with
me - ...
"Poker first, and pistols after.
wards, if you play foul - replied
Bowie.
Very wcll," rcjoincd the other.
and thcy took seats at the table.
For q time the success seemed
abou, equally balanced, The gain and
loss being alternate. At last the
gambler yenturcd one Of his skllltul
maneuvres in dealing. Bowie smil-
cd strangely as his quick eye detect.
cd tho trick. lie said nothing how
ever, but looked at his hand, aud bet
FIVE thousand dollars, stalking the
money in ten large bills, The gam.
bier went Eve thousand dollars higher,
which resulted in a call" Bowie
held "foar jacks )" but, with his ha'
Lituai iiendish chuck,e, his antagonist
showed four queens exclasnins
as he did So
BY heaven. the pile is mime y
"Not vet. 20 shouted Bowie, as
with both hands he rakcd The heap OF
notes. 70 the tune Of twenty thousand
dollars, into his own pocket
Choking, and purple With rage and
shame, tho gambler roarcd-
"To the hurricane deck, and let
ristols be trumps this turn y
"Good as gold:." replied Bo vie,
and the two hastily assembled the
stairs and assumed their separate po'
sitions-the gambler over the stern'
and Bowie over the bow.
A, that Instant the sun was Just
rising in a cloudless sky. Nature
looked subLme-a bride worthy her
Almighty Husband and God. The
wood and waters appeared as parts
Of one divine picture, with the bound
less blue Of heaven Cor its back ground.
The broad bosomed river rolled away
like an immense sheet Of FURNISHED
silver, speck!ed here and there with
the aash Of golden bubbles; shinin Z
ssbes gamboiisd IN the sparkling
Naye; and all the bright biris-hose
ssee, sinsen, whose life Is q dream
AID ,llai dream ouly mosic--ehAaat
Cd their Wild anthem 70 the nex day
NAls the two grea, daelisis, the mos,
deadly known IN the south-ses'' stood
With cooked pistols, eye 70 eye An'
,aeir6nssu fixed On the hair trisssrs'
prepared and waiting 70 sisy and b
SIAN.
Il AN ready. You give The word,
cred Rn~;s I'm l,s clear sIl-lnS