The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-02-20

q LLlGs n,G2 AZ ,Itn JNs ~ i-tllt! l.Ss AH sa
+i:n9At first, fortune wavcrcd between
them'in in an impartial balance, but as
they continued to play, a bewildering
surprise dawned upon the mind of Lilo
mi, and he soon after turned it. to q
stream Of success. Their game was
one Of skill, in which the willy Italian,
by dint Of long study, had formed
secret method Of his own. 10 his as.
tonishmcnnt, De Nerycl attempted the
very same ruse de taue,1e!. Conceal
ing his wonder at q = contretsmpts that
had never occurred before, Lioni alter.
cd his tactics, and met tho unexpected
weapon With a foil. The result soon
proved that De Nerycl was unable to
cope with his subtle adversary. He
grew excited and doubled tho stakes,
while Lioni, artfnl and unimpassioncd,
bafllel hun at every turu, until the two
piles Of gold which had risen on oppi-
site sides of the table were merged in.
to asinglc heap beside thelItalian.-
De Ncrvcl then rose, declaring he
would play no more
AS the rest of the players had re.
linquishcd the tables, they now began
TO seperatc in, different directions.-
Considerable sums ofmoncy had chang
cd hands that night, and the winners
and losers were easily distinguishablc
by their varied expressions which thcy
wore. This was n"t thass. case, !Ae4,e.ss.r,,, ~, !,
with Do,Ncrvol, wbssss lost more
/, thar an 5aeft4 one else Sent. His coun.
lenancc was indeed deadly pale, but a
ghastly smile played around the mouth
the character Of which was difficult to
define. He asked Lian which way he
was going, regretted that his hotel lay
IN an opposite quarter, and having de-
,nanded his revenge OH The following
nighr, they parted on tie, Bouleyards.
IS Owing to the violence Of the storm,
there was no conveyance in sight, SO
Lioni was obliged toproceod on foot to
his lodging in tbe Faabourg St. Ger
main nldiias d tightly around
"a: and
/ vi ssiA
tl.l;ss lsls i'sssss ssss 81
elements tswardss gont Neuf.
!" Nj n human being gwas Visible in his
forsaken path, yet he carefully kept
the middle Of the road in order to guard
against surprise. Nothing, however,
seemed abroad save the tempest and
the shivcriny gamcster. lie now
threaded the principle streets which led
to the river; bcrorj him loomed the
bridge, beneath rolled the dark waters
of the Seine, and the elements ragged
with double fury in the open space.
The rain beat upon lin like the blows
of hammer, the wind howlcd through
his garments as if to warn him back,
but still he bore on viii logged persc-
vcrance. Two thirds of the bridge
were passed, when suddenly heavy
blow struck him from behind-hc fell
into the arms Of an assassin.
a sudden movement had avertcd in
some degree the WEIGHT Of the stroke,
which would otherwise have fcllcd him
10 tic ground, and he Immediately
closed with h 5 adversary in tho instinc-
tive knowledge Of despair. Graphing
hlm Ike vice, Lipui pinioncd mis-
rival $ arms, and thus they swayed to
and fro like one solid mass, now hover.
lag on the verge of the pavement, anon
in terrible proximity TO the rarapct.
While the desperate struggle proccc.
dcd, a dark figure appeared from
sheltered nook and crept scaltlily to-
wards them. 1t was one of those
wretchcd beings who haunt tho Partisan
bridges at night, and whose life is sus.
tanned by robbery. and the casual re-
ward gained hy rcscuing corpse from
the liver. He chung closer and closer
until within few yards, and then
crouchcd agaiu into the shadow.
The comhatants Were both men or
gigantic personal strength. and the
struggle Of life and death was one tliat
called forth all their power. As they
wrIthod and twisted in 'incxtricab!c
fight, the wind lulcd an instant, and Il
broad sheet Of flame liz mp the heavens,
revealing to Lioni the features Of Dc
Ncrvc', his antagonist.
"'V hat would you3' gaspcd the for
mcr, in terror and surprise.
"Moncy!' said De .Nervcl. and his
dark eyes flashed even through the
midnight darkness. MY moncy-it
was not won fairly = the dovil must havo