Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1856-03-01
The gamblers face and breast were

young strangers hand.
'Has the white livared thief stabbed
you my young hickory said George, as
he pulled the young man towards the
light.
No, guess not
But the blood dropped fast from the
young mah's hand, and upon washing
off the blood it was discovered that bis
light thumb was nearly severed. In
the scufile he succeeded in disarming the
gambler, and thus probably saved his
life. The>wounh was dressed and the
stranger returned to the social hall. The
gambler, who was chafng with rage,
eyed him with demoniac look, and
shaking his fist at him, exclaimed
I allow no man to call me thief
and you must give me satisfaction =
Tll give you any satisfaction you
want, you cowardly cut-throat,' was the
reply.
And if you can't, Tn the chap that
will ? exclaimed George throwing off
his coat and hat.
Stop, my friend, this is my quarrel.
and I'll allow no man to take my place
in itr
Good. my Young Davy; but this fell
low IS big enough TO swallow you.
Yes; but may be he can't digest me.
1t wouldn't be fair fight inter
posed several by,standers.
We'll there's something that nullifes
brute force, and places all on an equal
footing
That's the talk. Davy. You are my
man. exclaimed George, Shaping the
stranger or the back.
Hes rightr said one Of the bystand-
ers man abou, forty years old, step
ping forward.
The young man is right and I'm his
friend in the matter. It's As clear as
day and can soon be settled
| This speaker had been Major in the
Texan Revolution, and he led the stran L.
ger down the cabin towards his state~
room, telling the gamblers to have
matters arranged within fifteen minutes.
When they reached the state-rooln, the
Major said:
How IS it that person of your age
understands so much about cards as to
beat these old gamblers? 2
4 Curiosity led me to study them. but
never play but for amusement. Most
ii not all the tricks, | learned Of fel'
low boarier who had spent a great part
of his time at the gambling table.
noticed that these honest countrymeu
had been swindled and thought it would
be an act of charity to beat gamblers
with their own weapons, and recover the
money for ms partner and his trlend.--
Every time I noticed the gamblers Sc,
crete cards [ called for deck Of anoth-
er color: and watched them too closely
| 10 give them a chance to cheat me IN
deal. They did not suspect me unit
near the finish of our play. You know
the rest ..
Pretty good =! but do you think yov
. eould face that fellow fire. He is an Ok
hand at the business.
But he's a coward, or ho would no
have drawn knife on me. Yet, II /
can be avoided, would rather not NEE
/. him. / would not like to have hin
meet his death at my hands, nor woul'
| ike to sacrifice my own life for SO un-
worthy purpose.
1T is too late to back out now
f Cant it be settled! 2
No! If YOU refuse to meet HIM, ever
one will pronounce you coward.
We'll, if it must be | suppose it must
! but I have no weapons
Never mind that; ! have pair
: dueling pistols, and SO if you have an
j. arran gements & be about it for the time
short, and the affair should De settle
! before it gets noised around the boat
I'll see to other matters
}. STAY make the distance short
v Only the breadth Of the boat :.
: SO saying, the young man went 20 d
n own stateroom, but soon returned an
: seated himself by table in the cab
9 and commenced writing. His face wi
S pale-deadly pale-bus there was a II
edness of features which at once told th;
5 his mind was made up. A tear course
3 down his cheek as be wrote-but prot
II able that tear was for those far away, y
s still TO memory dear. Strange though
,e fitted through his mind-so young, ar
vet to stand on the brink OF DEATH
Y make ono fearful plunge into that dal
d unknown river, and to be carried oy
cure, out into the ocean OF eternity,
loma ~, more. A lifetime pas