Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-12-14

fresh pack, and passing them, as the atten-
dant brought them to him, rapidly through his
hand, he gave them to his adversary, remark
! ing to him as he did SO, to ssmind his deal this
| time,'' fixing on him searching glance as he
went through that operation. The game was
| that known as ssblutf.'' Thorn and his oppo-
nent having glanced at the cards commenced
the game, and ira few minutes 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. Thorn called. The
gambler had three Kings and an Ace, while he
had three Aces and King. With his eyes
fxed-steadily upon his opponent, he folded up
the money and crammed it into his pocket
ssFortune favors you,'' said the gambler,
| stoically, too we'll schooled to betray any e.
motion or chagrin at the result. s.But hope
| to meet you again, sir, for l must have my re-
yenge after such heavy run of luck this,
and now 1 have no doubt your friends will join
US in social sit down, for if you are good
at cracking bottle, or singing song, or tell
| ing story, as holding hand of cards, those
who are your friends fortunate.''
| 'sI must confess,' said Thorn, ssthat am
not of convivIal musical turn though |
| can occasionally tell good story. l have'a
| little history now, sir, upon my tongues end, !,
| that will be of uncommon interest to you.''
1t was now past midnight Absorbed in the
ticed the flight of time or that the adjoining
rooms were now nearly deserted by their oc-
| cupantS and that the players at the other end
| of the apartment in which we were, had finish
ed their own game and been spectators of that
| between Thorn and his opponent, and were
| now apparently interested listeners.
'SAbOut three years since,'' began Thorn,
ga young man in Kentucky, confidential a
| gent of large business firm, was Intrusted
| with sum OF money, and commissioned to
| transact some business in New Orleans; it was
| his first visit to the city he started happily,
| leaving behind him young wife and infant.
| Unfortunately, upon one of the Mississippi
boats or Immediately upon his arrival in New
| Orleans he fell in with ssprofessional' man
| imam of play, l mean. By the management
| of this ''professiohal, - the young man en-
ticed to sshell'' introduced to play piled with
wine, stripped of his money,-in short, to use
professional word, 'plucked.' The young
| man was perfectly sobered by his loss he re-
turned to his hotel ,Stung with remOrse and half
crazy with excitement, he placed pistol to
| his head and blew out his brains, leaving a
tarnished name as an inheritance to his wife
and innocent child.''
| ssBut what is all this to me ?'' said he gam
| bier, now as pale as ashes, beneath the fash
| ing eye of the speaker. ssIs it a moral lesson
| you are about 10 read here or a sermon you
| hsve to preach ?''
| s.What is it to you 20 continued Thorn, his
! voice quiVering with excitement. ssAh I'll
| tell You what it is to you. This meeting of
| you and me tonight, which, Tor three long
| years. have sought, is not mere chance. The
amount he lost was just the amount have
| this night Won from you-that very ring upon
| your finger, is his l am his brother and you
| are his assassin ~
Thorn pronounced these words in firm,
clear voice, and as he concluded, brought his
hand down with / blow upon the table at which
| they were sitting, which was instantly over
| turned as he aud his opponent started simulta-
neously to their feet. They were scarcely six
PAGES apart and both drew their weapons as
| they arose.
ssDe, liar!' shouted the gambler, discharg
ing his weapon the moment he gained his feet.
The bullet ripped open Thorn's waistcoat, and
| his watch flew in fragments from the pocket,
| dangling by its chain, at the same time the
| pistol he held exploded, and the gambler fell
back a corpse upon the carpet. This all passed
SO suddenly, ere we could interfere, that we
| stood as if paralyZed for iuStant-the SER
wants and the police alarmed by the noise, came
rushing into the apartment.
Thorn quietly surrendered himself, merely
| turling to us and the other two who were in
the room saying, as he did so, s.Genllemen,
| bear witness, fired in self-deferSe, and that
received the villianss fire here" and he point
ed to his shattered watch, and turning, left
| the room with the officers. He was tried, and
acquitted, as it was clearly proved that his ad-
versary fired upon him first. The fact that
| the gambler being a notorious rascal, whom
! the community could well afford to spare,
| might have had some influence with the jury.
| have never seen Thorn since, but the re-
| collection of that fearful scene is yet fresh
and vivid in my mind though many years have
| passed since it was enacted.