Washington telegraph., 1854-11-15

exclaimed
Il allow no man to call me thief, and
you must give me satisfaction !"
'1'll give you any satisfaction you want,
you cowardly cut-throat' was the reply.
And if you can't I'm the chap that will,,''
| exclaimed George, throwing off his coat
and hat.
! Stop. my friend, tilis is my quarrel, and
I'll allow no man to take my place in it %
| Good, my young Davy but that fel-
low is big enough TO swallow you
Yes; but he can't digest me-
cit wouldn't be fair fight, !" interposed
several bystanders.
well, there is something that nullfes
brute force, and places all on an equal foot
ing
That's the talk, Davy. You're nv
man." exclaimed George, slapping the
| stranger on the back
Hes right said one of the bystand-
ers, man about forty years old, stepping
/ forward.
'The young man is right; I'm his friend
in the matter. It's as clear as day, and the
matter can soon be settled
This speaker had been an officer in the
| Texas revolution, and he led the stranger
down the cabin towards his state-room. tell
ing the gambler to have matters arranged
in fifteen minutes. When they reached
the state-room, the major said
"How is it that person of your age un-
derstauds 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 the tricks, learned, of fellow
boarder, who had spent great part Of
bis time at the gambling table | MOTTO
ed that these honest countrymen had been
swindled, and thought it would be an act of
charity TO beat the gamblers with their own
weapons, and recover the money for my
partner and his friend Every time | notc-
ed the gamblers secret cards [ called for
| another pack of cards of another color, and
watched them too closely to give thema chance
to cheat in the deal They did not suspect
me until near the finish of cur play. You
| know the rest
pretty good but DO you think that you
could face that fellows fire? lie is an old
hand at the business
"But he'sa coward, or he would not have
drawn q knife on me- Yet if it could be
avoided | would rather not meet him. ]
would not like to have him meet his death
by my hands, nor would I like to sacrifice
my oN'n life for so unworthy purpose
1T is too late TO back out now"
Can it be settled -
No. if you refuse to meet bim, every
one will pronounce you a coward"
"Well. if it must be | suppose it must
but | have no weapons ?"
"Never mind that | have pair of du-
cling pistols, and so if you 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. I'll see to other mat
! ters.
Stay make the distance short. !"
"Only the breadth of the boat
So saying, the young man went to his
own state-room but soon returned ard seat
ed himself by table liz the cabin and CON-
menced writing. His face was pae-dead-
! ly pale-but there was a fxedness of fea-
lures that at once told that his mind was
made up. 4 tear coursed down his cheeks
as he wrote-but probably that tear was for
those far away, yet still to memory dear
Strange thoughts firted through his mind
so young and to stand on the brink of the
grave-to make one fearful plunge into
that dark, unknown river, and to be carried
by its current out into the ocean of etern-
ty, to return home no more. \ lifetime
passed in review in moment. Yet the
genii said, Go on-too late ;" To die or
kill-elther was dreadful reflection 1t
must be done, and the sooner it is over the
better-so reasoned passion, and passion con-
quered When he had flushed his writing, he
gave it to the major, requestieg him to follow
the instructions which he would find in a note
addressed to himself, in case he should fall
Also to his winnings to George to make up
for the loss he had sustained
Then they went upon the upper deck of
the boat 1t was calm still night, the
moon shone in all its pale splendor. As
far as the eye could reach, nothing but for
ests and water met the gaze. The boat had
rounded to shore for the purpose Of wood
| ing and when she was again under way,
the young stranger his second, and three
other persons anxiously awaited the ap-
proach of the gambler. Scarcely word
was spoken-none felt disposed to disturb
the silence that reigned. Half an hour
passed, the gambler came not 1t was now
suggested that some one should go in search
of him. The messenger soon returned
and reported that both gamblers had left
the boat at the wood yard. When the
young man heard this, fervent 'thank
Cod escaped his lips, and the party re-
tired to seek repose in sleep.
"What do you drive such pitiful look
ing beas, as that for ? Why dou't YOU put