The Gonzales inquirer. [volume] (Gonzales, Tex.) 1853-current, 1853-06-18

ped on the floor as il hc had been shot
through the brain; and the beautiful young
wife flew to his side, and fell sbrieking upon
his bosom They were both borne away in
sensible to The ladies' cabin
As the gambler deposited the winnings in his
pocket, Inc emitted coarse laughter that
sounded frighthl as the chucklc of ficnd,
hut he instantly lost color, rs a low, calm voice
remarked in his car
"Villain, you play strong hand at many
different games, but here stands one that can
beat you at all of them"
lie turned and met the glance of those keen
blue eyes so preternaturally bright, and shud
dcrcd; but he Immediately gained his presence
Of mind, for he was no coward, and then hc
irowncd till his shaggy brows met like the coil
of serpent, and demanded stcrnly--
"Bcggar, who are you to banter gentleman
thus rudcly."
81 am James Bowie, of Texas" answered
the other, with ringing laugh, "nnd you are
John Laiittc, a bastard of the old pirate! !"
The gambler rcclcd in his chair, as If he had
been struck with thundcrbolt, but recovered
again from tho shock in IL moment, and asked
in n firm tone
"What game do you wish with mcy''
"Poker first, and pistols afterwards, if you
play foul! replied Bowie
"Very WE'LL" rcjoincd the other, and they
took their seats ut the table
For time, the success seemed about equal
ly balanced the gain and loss being alternate.
AT last the gambler venturcd one of his skill
ful manTuvres in dealing Bowie smiled
strangely as his quick eye detected the trick.
fIe said nothing, however, looked at his hand
and bet five thousand dollars, stalking the
money in ten large bills. The gambler went
five thousand higher which resulted in
"call"
Bowie held "four jacks;" but with his
habitual flcndish chucklc his antagonist show
cd four queens" excaiming AZ he did So
BY heavens, the pile is mine!"
Not yet" shouted Bowie, as with both
hands ho raked the heap of notes, to the tune
of twenty thousand dollars, in his pocket
Choking and purple with rage and shame,
the gambler roarcd--
"'ro the hurricane deck, and let pistols be
trumps this turn!"
"Good as goldl" replied Bowie; and they
hastily asccnded the stairs and assumed thcii
separate positions, the gambler over the stern
and Bowie over the PROV.
AT that instant, tho sun was just rising in 9
cloutllcss sky. Nature looked sublimc--a bri;l,
worthy of her almighty husband and God
The woods and waters appeared as parts of tho
divine picture, with the boundless blue Of
heaven for lis back ground The broad bosom
cd river rolled away like nm immense sheet o
FURNISHED silver, spcckled here aud there Will
a flash Of golden bubbles; shining fshe,
gamboled in tie sparkling wave, and tho bright
brls---thosc sweet singers whose life is q
dream of music--cha,nted their wild anthems
to the new day; while the two great duelis,s
the most deadly ever know In the southwest
stood with cooked pistols. eye to eye. aud til,
fingers fixed on the hair triggers, prepared ant
waiting TO slay and bc slain.
:" a,n ready. You give tho word !" erie,
Bowie, in his clear ringing voice, aud with tha
inseparolable smile Of strange meaning on hi
lips
81 am ready. Fret shouted the gambler
in tone ,ntr,crous as death.
Tho two pistols roared simultaneously. -
Bowio did not move. though hc hal harol,
escaped with his life. for the bullet Of his o.,
had cut away one Of the golden locks Of hi.
yellow hair The gambler wss sho, through
the hear, sni dropped ON the brink of III,
deck. and almost tuntsci in the river liz
was buried hy the slnas,sss NJ the nsSt wood
ys,l A,sd thus pss,slie.! justly bastard scu
,i,c shc pirate I-aii,s.,
T,r,e aevSt ws~ jury cmpahncilssl IN the
Yves, Who wc,.la have hrc.gh, in verdict
ssains, any man snr killing him, And nsow
especially unsler the circumstances, because
rat,Ge oriesoa pronounced THAT he oagl,, 10
isc ktlhcl Aesi sassis were the ,les,erssIc,s
tbs, bowie cssnnealy esteunms,sa
Tbs gSesnsa> sIeses imsaeslistriy rnsScc,ls.l
"a The lss;ies cabin. sp! rcsservsl the wiaa.t.g
~ the psssssos AMI MS bess,sfsi wife. wis,
both re.lye,s The s~san ss gif, sresa heaven.
With - snash gssssnsie ss jes,
co. nrs"s, ssSi rn elderly taly ncsa,ss
10 he il-, ,lss sslstsssssi s.sae-sss,cr, IN IL
serislas the sfss, u sssscasssi slass. I can
seishsr iay nee 49,
tn that case, rsrslsss Ne, y ssscali s~ccea,
snena sAs rsrssssty cf ry~.sts~s'
An ss'itf~i cd lsis ~ass =, hs,e lsss,s
sswssl shssarvns-t'ye bass.ss my hassssri
yet, in al ,Aess srvsssss. I've fssna ces,s,'ss;.s
ia that rs~sx~ q Scripture vh<er IL xsy,>
:" gf, w., thy ssasss~i-
w c,ssssa asessa. hos icssx have s.sa h~<n