The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-05-22
VOLUME II-NUMBER 6s.

erss and looked on with that interest which such
extraordinary concentration ofintellect and passion
never fails to inspire even in bosoms that shuddeT
at It's excess The merchant and the gambler at
traeted all eyes, and kept many awake and gazing
till morning. Among the latter was one present.
ing countensnce piteous that IL might have
melted hearts OF marble TO tears A pale and ex-
qnisItely beautiful face peeped ncessantly from the
hsIfopened door of the ladies' cabin, weeping all
the while as if oppressed by some dreadfui sensa~
ton Of immediate sorrow. IL the merchants
lovely wife weepDgher farewell to departing hopei
There was one spectator, also, whoss appearance
and actions excited almost much curiosity the
players did themselves. He was tall spare man,
Of about thirty, with handsome features, golden
hair, keen blue eyes Of preternatnral brightness,
and his firm, thin lips wore perpetual smile-s
mysterious smile, Of the strangest the most inscru-
table meaning. With the exception Of his red
calico shirt this person was dressed wholly in
buck-skin, ornamented with long swaiing tassels,
and wild figures wrought out OF yariegafed beads,
alter the fashion Of some western Ine:aus. He
stood close beside the eard-table, and held in his
left hand sheet Of paper, in his right large PEN
ell, with which, and anon, he dashed off few
words as Il engaged in tracing the progress Of the
game. sss
Still the merchant and the gambler psrserved in
their physical and mental toll The dial OF the
stars, with Its thousand fingers of golden fire,
pointed to the world shadows Of midnight; but still
they did not pause. 1t still shuttle and cut,
and pass ante up, and call you and rake down the
pile. Towards the morning a tremendous storm
arose. The red lightning flashed awfulIy-the hail
poured like frozen cataract-the great river Foared
till it rvaled the loudest thunders Of heaven and
the very pilot at the wheel was alarmed. But the
mad players heard it not What was the tumult Of
the raging elements TO them, whose destiny huag
on the turning OF a card And the smiling blue
eyed stranger in buck-skin still stood by them with
his pencil and paper, calmly noticing the develop
ments of the game.
Finally the storm passed as the beautiful day
break came out like thing Of glory in the great
gray East Then the infatuated merchant, dis
traeted with his heavy lossesf dared the climax Of
folly. He staked FIVE thousand dollars, comprising
his last cent Of money in the world, on two pairs
of sings" The whskered gambler called" him;
they showed hands the blackleg had . two pairs
Of aces" and raked the board" The merchant
dropped to the floor as if he had been shot through
the brain, and that beautiful young wife few to his
side and fell shTieking upon his bosom They
were both borne away insensibIe to the ladies' cabin
As he deposited The winnings in his pocket, the
gambler emitted hoarse Iangh that sounded fright
ful the chuekle Of fend bur he Instantly lost
color as a low, calm voice remarked in his ear
Villain, you play a strong hand at many differ
ent games, but here stands one who can beat you
at all of them !" sE e5s-s1 81
He turned, met the glance Of those keen Blue
eyes SO preIernaturslly bnghf, and shuddered But
he Immediately regaiHed presence of mind, for
| he was no coward, and then he frowned till his
shaggy brows met like the coil Of a serpent, and
demanded slernly-
:" Beggar. who are yoa to banter gentleman
/ thus rudely I"
81 am James Bowie, Of Texas,'' sbe other an
swered wi,h ringing langh =. !. and yd4 are John
Lafiloe, a natural son Of the old pirate ~
THE gambler reeled in his chair as If be had been
struck with thunderbOt, but recovered again
l from the shock in moment, and asked in firm
tone
"What game do you wish with me I"
Poker first, and pistols afterwards if you play
FOUL" replied Bowie.
".very well,' reloinsd the other. and they took
their seats at the table.
For time the success seemed about equally
balanced the gain and loss being alternate At
last. the gambler ventuFed OF his skillful
neuvres in dealing. Bowie smiled strangely as
his quick eye detected the trick He said nothing,
however, but looked at his hand aad bet 1--WE thou
sand dollars stakng the money in ten large bills.
The gambler went Eve thousand dollars higher,
which resulted in "caL" Bowie held four
jacks" but with his habitual fendish chuckle, his
antagonist showed four queens" exclaiming as
| he did So
:" By heaven, the pile is mine r.
Not yet" shouted Bowie, as, with both hands,
he raked the heap Of notes. to the tuns Of twenty
| thousand dollars, into his own pocket
Choking, and purple with rage and shame, the
| gambler rOared-
To the hurricane deck. and let pistols be trumps
/ this turn %
| GOOD gold :" replied Bowie, and the two
hastily ascended the stairs and assumed their sepa-
| rate positions-the gambler over the stern and
| a, ~ 80, -. ~ ~ 49,,
S N,.-" Ii.I siJ Jus. t1slIs ~ e.oIu
nf ~ y.,,sht1, unah"J aJ 80 T wos.y
81 80. ..ss.i .a n ~, e
Nth IL hoppJia hI.s ~ b La'
nn5 1hs bsaad heso'.i ~ -: Ill III ~
/ iiEs an ;mmsnss sbss, oF hn,n.hs5 stu. s.aotaS
hera and thsre with The aash az goiden hphhlss-
SHINING f;shes ssmhoed in he ssua,Ll l;ng Sssvs
and ali The bright hrdstbose sSveet singer Sghoss
| life is dream and that dream onlv musicehaunt-
| ed their wild anthem to the new day: white The
| two duelists, the most deadly ever known to the
| south west stood with cooked pistols eve TO eye
and their fingers fixed on the har.trgqers. prepared
| and waiting 10 slay and be slain
"I am ready. You give the word, - cried Bowie,
in his clear, ringing voice, and with that nsepara-
| Bile smile of strange meaning on his lips.
| al am ready. Fire !" shouted the gambler, in
tones murderous as death.
did not move. though he had barely es.-.,ed with
| - Er- - - IIe.r - - ~ -
his HE, Tor the bullet Of hs Toe had cut away one
| OF the golden locks OF his yellow hair. The gam
i bler WAS shot through the heart and droopinr ON
7 | ~ 80 80 80 80 80 s ~ = IrFFe -
tne Drink Oh the oeck nad almost tumnieo INTO the
- 10 nn AaVEN N no a n N -