Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-11-13
N-qf THURSDAY NOVEMBER 49, 1886 -vn wv

IN aIgS9 5ds Is .gisEa -, :. q ..-------.-----
, Ito, a a hell induced to play, pile
|, with wine. stripped Of his money
in short, to- use a professional worf
! 'pIuoked sfe lis dj:
/. .Ha! hal the old story said th
1 gambler, sshe fate Of pigeons.
/ '.But Il. have not finished; tha
which will most interest you is ye
to come 4t.rfa4
Indeed !! Go on .s5..f 80
"rhe young mar. was perfectly
sobered by his loss; he returned t
bis hotel; stung with remorse,. an(
half crazy with excitement. be plaeee
pistol to bis head and blew ont hi:
brains, leaving a tarnished name as
an inheritance for bis, wife and inpo'
cent child, s,.s.. g.e+
But What is all this to me-? said
The gambler, now pale as death be-
meath the flashing Of the. speaker, is
It a moral lesson you are about to
read, or is it sermon you have to
preach?' go, ~ t
What is it TO you!' continued
Thorn, his voice quiyering with ex-
element. 'Ab! III tell you what it
is to you. This meeting Of you and
I tonight, which for three long
years have sought, is not mere
chances. The hand of Heaven is in
it. Twas three years ago this very
night, aye. this very hour, said be,
glancing at; his watch, that the
young man | spoke Of rushed mpdly.
into eternity-not by bis own band,
but bis opponent at the card table,
it is be that should be accountable
for this deed of blood. The amount
Of meney that he lost was just the
amouDt,I- have, won this night from
you. That re,y ring Hpon yous .fn-
ger IS his. | AM HIS BROTHER, AND
You, ARE, HIS Assassin ~ saaxe
s, Thorn pronounced these words in
affirm, clear, ringing voice, and as
he Concluded, brought bis hand down
with a blow upon the table at which
they we're sitting, which was Instant
y ersrturned as he aud his opponent
started simultaneously to their feet.
They. were scarcely six PAGES apart
after springing from their chairs, and
both drew their weapons as theyrose.
die! liarI shouted. the gambler,
discharging his weapon the moment
be gained his feet. The bullet ripp-
ed open Thorn''s waistcoats and his
watch, Aewg in fragments from the
pocket dangling BY its chain, at the
same moment his arm, which was
slowly rising. became rigid as that of
a statue-the pistol be held explo-
1ed, and the gambler fell back q
corpse upon the carpet. This all
passed SO suddenly, ere We could in
teriere, flat we stood as if almost par
.alyzed for an instant--the servants
alarmed by. the noise, and the police,
q H u.
came rushing into the apartment.
Thorn quietly surrendered himself,
merely turning to US and the other
two who we're in the room. saying, us
he did SO, 'GentlemeD, bear witness
I fred in self defence, and that | re-
ceiived that villains first fire here;
and be pointed to bis shattered watch
With a smile, and, turning, left the
room with~th officers. -.
|. He was tiled and acquitted, as II
was clearly proved that his adversary
fred upon him first. The fact o
the gambler being a notorious rascal
whom the community could well al
ford to spare, might have had some
influence with the jury.
/ / have never met Thorn since, bn
the recollection Of that fearful scene
lis yet fresh and vivid in my mind
| though many years have passed since
it was acted.