M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-11-13

operation. The game was that known
as Bluff or Poker | know not
which, but at any rate one on which
the players bet upon the cards they
hold. Thorn and his opponent hav-
ing each glanced at their cards, COM
menced the game.
"l'll go you one hundred" said
Thorn, commencing.
Two hundred better than that, y
said his opponent.
"Another hundred" continued
Thorn. E a....r. .r..
Hmm! three hundred betterl'-
said the gambler, producing the notes
from his pocket book. --l..
Three hundred more" said Thorn
quietly.
The game was getting exciting to
US as spectators; three thousand dollars
lay upon the table to be decided by
the cards held by the players, each
of whom seemed, from his bets, to be
confident of success, though their
countenances betrayed not the least
emotion.
Zone hundred more" said the gam
bier again.
II call you" said Thorn.
"Ah! three kings and an ace !"--
said the sharper, triumphantly.
"Three aces and a king" said
Thorn quietly, as he displayed his
cards, and with his eyes fixed steadily
upon his opponent, folded up his mon
ey and crammcd it into his pocket.
"Imust confess" said Thorn, "that
lam not of a convivial or musical turn,
though | can occasionally tell a good
story. ! have a little history now,
sir" upon my tongues end that will
be Of uncommon interest to you."
"To me! Pray tell it, sir" said the
gamester, with laugh. sit will be
a wind up for the evenings entertain,
ment."
1t was now long past midnight
absorbed in the excitement of the
game, we had scarcely noticed the
flight oftime, or that the other play
ers, at the other end Of the apartment
in which we were, had finished their
own game long since, and been spec
tators of that between Thorn and his
opponent, and were now apparently
interested listeners.
"Aoout three years since" began
Thorn, "a young man in Kentucky
the confidential agent ola large bust
ness firm, was entrusted with sum
OF money and commissioned to trans,
act some business in New Orleans;
it was his first visit to the city ; he
started happily, leaving behind him a
young wife and a lovely infant. I'm
fortunately, upon one OF the Mississ-
iPpi boats, or Immediately upon his
arrival in New Orleans, he fell in with
a professional mana man of play,
| mean, you understand"
The gambler nodded, and Thorn
continued. "By the management ul
this professional, the young man was
enticed to hell induced to play,
piled with wine, striped of his money
in short, to use a professional word,
'plucked'-,"
"Ha, ha! the old story" said the
gambler, "the fate of pigeons. But
what is all this to mel Is it a moral
lesson you're about to read, or a ser
mon you have to preach"
"What is it to youG" continued
Thorn, his voice quiverng with ex.
citement. "Ah! LII tell you what it
is to you. This meeting Of you to-
night, for three long years | have
sought. Twas three years ago this
very night, aye this very hour
said he, glancing at his watch, "that
the young man ! spoke ofrushed mad
ly into eternity--not by his own hand,
but his opponent at the card table is
accountable for that deed of blood
the amount OF money he lost was just
the amount | have this night won
from you, that very ring upon your
fingeris his! | am his brother, and
you are his assassiuw
Thorn pronounced these words in q
firm, clear, ringing voice, and as he
concluded, brought his hand dowr
upon the table at which they were sit.
ting, which WAS instantly overturned
as he and his opponent started stimuli
laneously to their feet. They wert
scarcely six PAGES apart after spring
ing from their chairs, and both drew
their weapons as they arose.
die, liara" shouted the gambler
discharging his weapon the moment
he gained his feet. The bullet ripped
open Thorn's waistcoat, anu his watch
few in fragments from the pocket,
dangling by its chain; at the same mo.
ment his pistol exploded, and the
gambler fell back corpse upon the
carpet. This all passed so suddenly,
ere we could interfere, that we stood
as if almost paralyzed for an instant
the servants alarmed by the noise. and
the police came rushing into the apart