Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-06-01
EBENSDURG, THURSDlY, IUyB I, 1854.

Ter to have matters arranged within ten minutes.
When they reached the state room the major said
to him
& How is 1t that person of your age under
stands so much about cards as to beat these old
gamblers
& Curiosity led me to study them, bit never
play except for amusement. Most, if not all
| of the tricks 1 learned of fellow boalder, who
had formerly spent a great part of hb time at
the gaming table. / noticed these hoTest coun-
trylnen had been swindlcd and though that It
would be but an act of charity to beat tie gamb-
lers with their own weapons, and rcccTer the
money for my partner and his friend. Every
time noticed the gambler secrete cards called
for another pack ofa different color; and IxasEh-
cd them too closely to give them chance to
cheat in the deal They did not suspect me IN
til near the finish Of playing. You know ths
rest.
e Pretty good bat do you think that you could
face that fellows fire. lie is an old hand at the
business
d" But he's a coward or he would not have
drawn knife upon me. Yet, if it can be avoid
ed would rather not meet him. I would not
like to have him meet his death at my hands,
nor would like to sacrifice my own life for SO
unworthy purpose"
at is too late to back out now"
''Can it not be settled?
q No IF you refuse to meet hirn-most every
one will pronounce you coward"
.. Well, if it must be, I suppose it nust-but
have no weapons"
Never mind that, have prime pair Of
duclhng pistols, and so ifyou have any arrange
ments to make, be about it, for the time is short
and the affair should be settled before it gets
noised about the boat. II see to the other mat
ters."
Stay Make the distance short"
< Only the breadth of the boat
q That viii d.. [ VIII be prepared in time"
So saying the young man went to his OWL
state room, but soon returned and seated him,
self by table in the cabin and commenced
writing. His face pale, deadly pale, bu!
there was ffxedncss of features, which at one.
told that his mind was made up. y tear cours-
cd down his check as he wrote-but probably
that tear was for those who were far away, yet
still to menory dear. Strange thoughts fitted
through his mind-so young, and yet to stand
on the brink Of death-to make one fearful
carried by its current out into the Ocean ofEter-
nifty, to return home no more. y lifetime passed
in review in Z moment. Yet the evil gcnii said,
Go on-too late!" To die or kill-cither was
dreadful reflection. Yet the proud passioncd
youth would not submit to reflection. II must
be done and the sooner it is over the better-sO
reasoned passion, and passion triumphcd. When
he had finished hi. writing he gave it to the ma
jor, requesting him to follow the directions
which he would find written in 4 note addressed
to himself, in case he should fail. Also to give
his winnings 10 George to make Up or the loss
he had sustained.
They then went upon the upper deck Of the
boat. It was a calm, still night, and the moon
shonc forth in all its pale splondor. As far as
the eye could reach, nothing but forests and
water met the gaze. The pulling Of the high
pressure engines, alone disturbed the Stiffness Of
the scene. The boat had just rounded to for the
purpose of wooding; and when she was again
under way, the young stranger, his second, and
three other persons, anXiously awaited the ap-
proach Of the gamblers. Scarcely word was
spoken-none felt disposed to disturb he silence
that reigned-haf an hour passed, and the
gambler came not. twas now suggested that
some one should go in search of him. The mes
senger soon returned and reported that both the
gamblers had LETT The beat at the woodyaTd.-
When the young heard this, tcTvent
THANK God - escaped his lips, and the party
retired to seek rcpOse in sleep.
------s7S------ .