The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-08-07
A Duel on tho Gulf
~ FYTVlNUs conn. I'M.

steamers plying between New OiitMl aud
Mobile, llr belonged in NeV England and
boo the spring of thr above year ho spent q
month win his friends and relatives iu the
after section.
While at home be became strongly huuch-
cd % young mau named Edgar luHlry 70
distant relative of hi- wife, and when hr got
ready 10 leave for the South, Doc urged l.lgir
90 gu with him The y0uth-unly @l-had
lust graduated a. Harvard University, and
having NO business upon hIs hands, and
moreover being blcrsrd withuo great amount
OF money, hg concluded 60 accept the office
oiccrit nn bis boat ltumlcy was slight
built, delicate looking Young maui long und
hard study hld made him pale and tiuu hui
hc was quick and active, aud lhc bright
sparkle Of his small frame held o great and
free spirit
Edgar entered upou hs duties ng soon
ns lc reached Mobile, and Cre long he won
the confidence and esteem, NOT only Of lhr
uillCuh and mtu ON the route but ul ull
the travellers with whom hc became uc-
quliuiCd Ills manner wUV VUiTt md un1F
sumlug hc was polite and attentive 20 all
whu asked for information OF uFFiT'7Uro, UUf
get ho manirstcd dignity That never len
HIM, Cupt Burt loved him as though hc ul
hrnn 70 hlptAer. aud the affection WINS mutual
One duy, Hs the steamer took 300 the lNHi ui
her loading 90 Sew Orleans, Edgar received
a slap upon the shoulder thatmadc him start
/ 'A new clerk, ch Aud Yankee too !
/ thought Yankees were bigger
The youth turned and found The speaker
/ 90 hc "a tall, muscular fellow, dressed cNlrHNur
| gnntly, with q prpfu,ion Of black hnir upon
/ the face and nn evil dchluchcd look.
You are familiar, sir said Edgar, WITH q
/ dtsdaiulul curl Of the lip,
/ 'llh proud is it' By the powers, my
. ID 80 q & ...
you've been long In these parts.
fhc clerk gave the fellow q look Of disgust
and then turned 10 his business and with
mu;tcrcd 'Umph the stranger passed ON TO
the cabin,
DO YOU know that man p asked the pilot
who stood near.
NO said Edgar, 4 never saw him before
who Is hcP
That iaArchy Iodman.'
I.odmaur repeated hcyouth. IN quiet sur
prise the gnmcstcr nud noted duclj,"
'Ncs resumed ulc pilots 'thatia-h -he, the
most desperate man on the GuI lie has
been mp the river, guess ! haven't seen
him here before for month
Edgar was here called nwnyi and the pilot
went forward 10 the wheel house. IN duo
time the boat was cast loose, and steamed lt
down the rycr.a There were q number of
passengers ON board. and the clerk was soon
busy in receiving their fares.
'lIo"s your pride now my 10y IdFr
heard q rough voice cNclaim n' " new N'hE
note al crnmpIca ana twisted was snow"
under ms nose lie looked up ana saw sAI'NI
Lodmnu.
Ifyou1 attend 10 your own business, I'll
attend To- mine said the young clerk, with q
flash in the eye ond quick lush on the
check,
'Crusty for green 'un, aint he " the rur-
nan replied turning to companion VINO
wore hang dog look.
t-uvyrJt'y7 80, WIZ ttJC ry7Tr1TJ~ri u''r' tire
two walked ott'ioEether.
4t's:ss= i1i.ii' tl t ;.'T " 5ssa' si.if5zF'
the gulf, and ere long tho cards were living
M the saloon ArchN Lodman was I'D ms
element now and he handled the 'u'lN uI
pastcboard' with graceful skill
/ Play, he said, addressing Young man
who stood close hy, watching his movements,
just for bit Of sport
If YOU can make up party ] don't mind
/ the passenger replied He wa, q slim, gen.
/ tlcmnnly young fellow, not over five and
/ twenty, and proud 10 be the son of wealthy
| Louisiana planter
| Il wouldn't play with that man. whispered
avoicc i'm his ear
The youth turned aud saw Edgar ROM
/ lev They had mcp several timcsat the St
! Charles, -rrTd Tfing congcuial spirits, had
/ hcC0mc warm friends. RomlCv knew that
VIM. Balfour had been drinking generously
with some of his comp1uions in the city, and
hc feared he might hc led into trouble
Never fear me- Young Balour returned
iryidcntly n little touched to think that his
friend should regard him Incapable of caring
for himself
Fdgar saw the feeling in n moment and
he noticed the savage look which Lodman
gave him, for the gamcs,cr had read his pur-
pose.
In little while party Of four was made
IN. and the game commcnccd-.a game of
poEer-thc hang dog looking man being one