New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-10-10

The gamblers exchanged glances. 4
Another pack was brought: the game COM
nienced. and the gamblers won. Bob grew I'M
easy 5ts 535 & + AZ tsH'
''Come, let's double the stakes! ~, said the
whose turn it was to deal.
g just as you like said the gamblers.
The stakes were doubled, and the stranger
and his partner won. A CLEAN Of sunshine illu-
mined Bob's countenance. Another game was
played, Bob and his partner we're again success
fall The stakes increase--the gamblers lose
g Bar keeper, bring ns another pack of cards,
of another color from these" said the stranger,
who was about to deal. TN
One Of the gamblers looked at his partner,
while dark frown overspread his features.
Three more games were played, and Bob had
retrieved his losses. The stranger again called
for another pack of cards. AT this one of the
gamblers exclaimed
& No more changing We play with these! I
!, You play with what you please" replied
the young man, as an almost imperceptible
smile passed over his features, 6 but if my
partner and myself play, we must have another
pack
Bob looked at his partner and then at George
Stick to what your partner says, Bob He's
the right stripe, and will come out head horse,
or Pm q nigger!" exclaimed George, slapping
Bob on the shoulder. ,-e.+5
sc agree to what my partner says said Bob,
H
The gamblers exchanged looks, and then con-
sented to the arrangement. IL d Is
Four more games were played, and each time
Bob and the stranger won.
It was again the strangers deal. One of
the gamblers watched him close closely, and
suddenly exclaimed
s. You $3.50 young villain Cheating, are.
you'"
playing with you at your own game. /
have watched you all night, and saw you cheat
my partner and his friend. Even now you have
got dozen cards in the sleeves of your coat. |
never play on the square with thieves!' - re-
piled the stranger, hastily, as deadly paleness
stole over his features.
A knife CLEANED in the gamblers hand, and,
as the blew aimed at the stranger descended,
dozen cards fell from his sleeve on the table.
stranger avoided the blow, and with rapid
movement caught the assailant by the throat,
giving his crayat a twist, and they both rolled
on the floor. 49, e
g While this was taking place, the spectators
prevented the other gambler from interfering,
and in the struggle number Of cards dropped
from his coat. The social hall was now a scene
of confusion. lf: ~ 45
Came clear grit, by thunder!'' exclaimed
George, as he with others separated the comba-
tants. i
The gamblers face and breast were covered
with blood, as was also the young strangers
hand.
e Has the white liyered thief stabbed you, my
young hickory'' said George, as he pulled the
young man toward the light.
es" No, guess not y sss
But the blood dropped fast from the young
mans hand and upon washing off the blood, it
was discovered that his right thumb was nearly
severed In the scufle he succeeded in disarm-
ing the gambler. and thus probably saved his
life. The wound was dressed and bound up,
and the stranger returned to the social hall
The gambler, who was chafng with rage, eyed
him with a demoniac look, then shaking his fist
at him, exclaimed 77##
g allow no man to call me thief, and you
must give me q satisfaction
g I'll give you any satisfaction you want, you
coWardly cut-throat," was the reply. IN s.
6 And if you can't, Pm the chap that will .
exclaimed George, throwing off his coat and
hat. +. - III ISL -
:. Stop, my friend, this is my quarrel, and TIL
allow no one to take my place in it y
IS Good! my young Davy; but that fellow is
big enough to swallow you
$ Yes; but may be he can't digest me-
90 1t wouldn't be a fair fight interposed sew
eral bystanders |
Well, there is something that nullifes brute
force, and places all on an equal footing
g That's the talk, Davy. You're my man.
exclaimed George. slapping the stranger on the
back. - + ~ Il n = " +
..He's right p said one of the bystanders,
man about forty years old, stepping forward
s The young man is right, and Pm his friend
in the matter. It's as clear as day, and the
affair can soon be settled saa 5s45Y &#
This speaker had been a Major in the Texas
Revolution, and he led the stranger down the
cabin towards his state-room, telling the gam
bier to have matters arranged within; fifteen
minutes. When they reached the state. room,
the Major said
g How is it that a person of your age under
stands so much about cards as to beat these old
gamblers '''
- Curiosity led me to study them; but I
never play but for amusement. Most, if not all
Of the tricks, learned of q fellow boarder, who
had merely spent a great part of his time at the
gambling table. noticed that these honest
countrymen had been swindled, and thought it
would be an acto charity to beat gamblers
with their own weapons, and recover the money
for my partner and his friend. Every time
noticed the gamblers secret cards, | called for
another pack of cards of different COLOR and
watched them too closely to give them chance
to cheat me in deal. They did not suspect
| until near the finish Of our play. You know the
rest 4s5#t .559=5 WEI 4.s#i Yep
ssPretty good but do you think that you
could face that fellows fire He is an old hand
at the business" \ i3S.5 lss!#zs54-As
s'But he's q coward, or he would not have
drawn knife on me. Yet if it can be avoided,
would rather not meet him. would not like
| to have him meet his death at my hands, nor
would like to sacrifice my own life for 50 IN
worthy purpose. ---I5 -
sItis too late to back out now y 5000
Can it be settled"
"No if you refuse to meet him, every one
will pronounce you a coward"
| g Well, if it must be suppose it must; but
| have no weapons.
ssNever mind that; have pair of dueling
pistols, and SO if you have any arrangements to
make, be about it, for the time is short, and the
affair should be settled before it gets noised
about the boat. I'll see to other matters"
"Stay make the distance short" z
Only the breadth of the boat"
So saying, the young man went to his own
state-room, but soon returned and seated him
self by table in the cabin and commenced
writing His face was pale--deadly pale-but
there was a 6xedness of features which at once
told that his mind was made up. A tear
coursed down his cheek as he wrote-but prob
ably that tear was for those far away. yet still
to memory dear. Strange thoughts fitted
through his mind-so young and yet to stand
on the brink of death--to make one fearful
plunge into that dark, unknown river, and t.
be carried by its current out into the ocean 0
eternity, TO return home no more. A lifetime