Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-08-30


that | was only waiting in London to re-
celve between four and five thousand pounds
part of uncle Passgrove's legaey-and
then intended Immediately to hasten back
to canny Yorkshire. 70 have seen the
villains eyes as incidentally, as it were,
announced my errand and intention They
fairly flashed with Internal glee! All,
Sandford, Sandford you were, with all
your cunning, but sand-blind idiot to be-
iieve the man you had Wronged and ruined
could so easily forget the debt he owed you!
The crisis came swiftly on, Mr. Mer-
tons mortgage money was to be paid on
the morrow and OH that day, too, an
nounced the fabulous thousands receivable
by me were to be handed over. Mr.. Mer-
ton, elated by his repeated triumphs at
ecarte, and prompted by his friend Sand
lord, resolved, instead of cancelling the
bonds and obligations held by the conspir-
ators, to redeem his losses by stalking on
that game his ready money against those
Liabilities. This was at first demurred to
with much apparent earneslness by the
winners; but Mr.. Merton, warmly sec
onded by Sandford, insisting upon the con-
cession, as he deemed it, it was finally
agreed that ecarte should be the game by
which he might hope to regain the fortune
and peace of mind he had SO rashly squan-
dered; the last time, should he be success
ful-and was he not sure of success ?-he
assured Sanford he would never again
handle cards or dice. He should have
heard the mocking merriment with which
the gang heard Sandford repeat this reso-
luton 10 amend his ways--When he should
have recovered back his wealth
The day so eagerly longed for by Mer-
ton and the eonfederates-by the spoilers
and their prey--arrived. and | awaited
with teverish anxiety the coming on of
night. Only the chief nspirators-eight
In number--were to be present; and no
stranger except myself-a privilege owed
TO the moonshine legacy had just received
was to be admitted to this crowning TIL
umph of successful fraud One only hint
| had ventured TO give Mr.. Merton, and
that only under promise, on his honor
as gentleman" of inviolable secrecy. 1t
was this =" Be sure before commencing
play tomorrow night, that the bonds and
obligations you have signed, the Jewels YOU
have lost, with sum in notes or gold to
make up an equal amount to that which
YOU mean to risk is actually on the table"
He promised to insist On this condition. Ii
Involved much more than he dreamt of.
My arrangements were at length thor
oughly complete and few minutes past
twelve O'Clock the whispered password ad-
mltted me into the house. An angry alter
cation was going on. Mr.. Merton was
insisting, as had advised, upon the exhi-
bltion of sum equal TO that which he had
brought with him-for, confident of win
ming, he was determined TO recover his
losses TO the last farthing; and although
his bonds, bills and obligations, his sisters
jewels, and large amount in gold and
genuine notes was produced, there was
sill heavy sum deficient. " All, by the
by" exclaimed Sandford, as / entered,
d" Waters can lend you the sum for an hour
or two-for consideration. =" he added
in whisper, " it will soon be returned.''
- No, thank you." | answered eoldly.
Il never part with my money till have
lost it,
A malignant scowl passed over the seoun-
drcls features, but he made nc reply. Ulti-
mately it was decided that one of the fra
ternlty should be despatched in search of
the required amount. lie was gone about
half an hour and returned with bundle
of notes. They were, as | hoped and ex-
pccted, forgeries on foreign banks. Mr..
Merton looked at and counted them, and
play commenced.
As 1t went on, so viyidlv did the scenes
recall the evening that had witnessed my
own ruin, that | grew dizzy with excite
ment, and drained tumbler after tumbler of
water TO allay the fevered throbbing of my
veins. The gamblers were fortunately too
much absorbed TO heed my agitation.-
Merton lost continuously, without pause or
The stakes were doubled,
trebled, quadrupled His brain was or
fire; and he played or rather lost with the
of madman,
Hark what's that ," suddenly ex-
claimed Sandford, from whose satanic fea- !
lures the mask he had so long worn before
Merton had been gradually slipping. "Did
you not hear noise below %
Ny ear had caught the sound, and could
better interpret it than he. 1t ceased.
g Touch the signal bell, Adolphe," add
ed Sandlord,
Not only the play but the very breathing
OF the villains was suspended as they lis
tened for the reply.
ltcame. The answering tinkle sounded
once--twice-thrce. "All right" shout
ed Sandford, proceed The farce is
nearly played out
| had instructed the officers that two of
them, in plain clothes, should present them
selves at the front door, obtain admission
by means of the password | had given
them, and Immediately seize and gag the
doorkeeper. had also acquainted them
with the proper answer to the signal ring