The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1859-09-02

loaded pistol. lie was still seated in
his chair, his cold penetrating gray eye
looked mp unflinching from his massive
brow, and turning deliberately, with
his pistol, from one to the other of
those dark men, whose swarthy features
expressed astonishment, rage and fear.'
4It's swindIe!n said the boldest
suddenly, with his hand still extended
as if to grasp the money. 'You never
got them cards honest; that moneys
and wen have iti'
@Take itv' said Paul Rathbun, quiet
", without the change of a muscle ;
and with the words there came sharp
click, as his thumb drew back the ham
mere of his pistol.
'By this time I was standing at his
back, with a Bowie-knife in my teeth.
and cooked and Ieyeled pistol in
either hand"
BE modest fellows, and only claim
what is your own, said l."
"Ah Frank are you theree' cried
Paul, with animation, partly turning,
his head 10 me, though without re-
moving his eyes from bis antagonists.
+ A thousand pardt,ns my dear fellow,
for the way I abused and insulted you
So you thought I was in liquor, eh !
Hal ha! you may be pardoned forthat,
considering that these shrewd sharpers
thoughtthe same. But it was necessary
to deceive you, my boy, IN order to de-
Iceive them-and 50 forgive me! Drunk
Ieh9 2 ! tell you old gamblers, you are
caught for once, and by a mere boy
for ] am only a boy; and SO if you were
to play with men, where would you be!
II is a swindle is it and no honest
hand? Look there Frank!-fonr aces
against four kingsl Is not chat honest,
leha And see, my dear fellow, what
those four aces won seventeen hum
dred dollarsall the money these ras-
Gals have, and enough to pay our trip
to New Orleans and back. Go to, for
shame five against one, and that one
a YOUTH Do me the favor to play
next with mere child, and never pride
yourselves on being the equal Of any
Southern gentleman Of any age
aWhiIe Paul Rathbun continued 10
rattle on in this manner, sometimes ad-
dressing me and sometimes the gam
bler's, several gentlemen came out Of
their state-rooms and gathered around
us. On learning the true state Of aG.
fairs, they greeted with a laugh the dis
comftted Williams, who in attempting
to fleece my friend, had themselves been
aeeced By him, 7
Though, At first evidansg DETER
mined to fight fon money. tie
gamblers soan So cowed by The
appea1auHs Il numbers. gradually skunk
awa with crestiallen looks, and finally
left the boat at the next landing swear
ling vengeance"
@l'aal Rathbun hugely enjoyed wha.
he termed his practical joke, but pro-
missed me he would never attempt the
like again"
aPoor fellow I believe he never
did. At New Orleans he spent most
of bis downward winnings in charity.
and was suddenly recalled home, by a
letter from his father, announcing the
illness of beloved sister. he lefs the
city a couple of days before me, but /
arrived first at his fathers mansion. in
fact he never arrived; and what became
Of him is not certainly known to this
tday. He had a stateroom 10 hinselt
lon bis upward trip, and one morning be
was found missing, with blood on the
sheet Of his berth. It IS supposed he
was stabbed in bis sleep, and bis body
thrown into the river. The murderer
Ior murderers riaed his baggage, and
probably robbed himof large amount
lin money and jewels
il sBut whether or not his death indi
rectly arose through revenge Of Ii.
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