The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-03-29

Of it and WithdsoW. He hnd. Won = large
sum Of money. and was evidently satisfed
With Ms evenings work. u
s He smoked Oh the boiler deck until III the
passengers had retired, and then loft Much
curiosity had bean manifested % know who
and what be was Nobody had seen him
before, and nobody remembered when be
came ON board, and what seemed most sin
gular Of al, he was not seen the next day,
though the boat had not stopped during the
night
The next day was Sunday, and at breakfast
time my Methodist friend made his appear
ance.
any good friend, have to thank You for
the good service you did me last evening.
am poor have none ofthis world's goods.
trust that all my treasures are laid up in
heaven. But the Lord will reward you it
cannot"
.Dun't mention it, my dear cir. am hap.
pv to have been the means Of saving you."
We conversed while upon the matter,
and my friend then poke OF having a service
on board, il agreeable to the passengers Of
course it was agreeable and the pars0n pray
| ed and exhorted with zeal that would have
done honor to the most celebrated Of the re-
vivaiists.
The impression produced BY the service, !
am sorry to say, was nut 50 permanent, for
when evening came, the gaming table was
spread out ~ usual and the games cnmmenc.
ed The mysterious gambler appeared again,
and much TO the surprise Of all for it was
believed that he had landed, or been lost
overheard. He played and swept the hoard
he was the devil in disguise. and their belief
al .rhn fI,a DIR
nothing ecu . found Of him.
The passengers made HIM the subject of
their conversation, and quite an excitement
was kiniled The captain swure that ii he
appeared again, ne would throw him into
the river A thorough search was made for
him, but in vain My Methodist friend was
especially indignant, and believed it would
he good plan to hang every gambler As
SOON as the true character was discovered,
agreed with him entirely.
One young man from Cincinnati was par
ticuiarly distressed in the sudden, disappear.
ance of the blackleg, for he had under the
influence of an overdose Of brandy, staked
and lost a hall eagle which his. mother had
given him just before her death 1t was not
the loss Of the money that distressed him,
for he had plenty III that, but it was the AZ
-
There WAS q history connected with it, he
said. and be v ould give double the value OF
it, if ne would return it with the little ring
attached to it.
That evening to the disappointment Of all
ON board who were prepared 70 deal with
him in summary manner, the biackleg did
pf knowing of the Indignation his acts had
him. Every part of the steamer VAS again
searched in vain for him. and it seemed
certain that he could not nave gone ashore.
The next day was talking with the Rev
Mr.. Goggles, not about the gambler, bur on
general topics. OF course, his lie, as an
itnerant, was full of interest to me. lie told
me how cheaply he lived and Travelled from
place to place, that he was often hungry,
and never had more than dollar at a time
II have only five, now, he said and to
verify his statement. he took froln his pocket
half eagle.
glanced at it. There was a hole in it
with ring attached 1t was certainly the
property OF the young man from Cincinnati.
What is this ring tor? | asked.
"rhis piece was given to me by woman
in Arkansas, who was converted under my
preaching.
The liar, had already made up my min
that he was an imposter, III short that he
was the mysterious gambler. Before dinner
time, had an opportunity to whisper my
views to the captain, and while we were at
dinner, his stateroom was searched A large
sum OF money was found there, and many Of
the gamblers tools, as well as the dress the
unknown had worn.
'Parson, can you swim 7? asked the cap
tain, as the Reverend Mr. Goggles came
upon the boiler deck.
"A little, he replied. with demure smile.
you will have the chance to trv am
gong to throw you overheard
The captain took him by the collar, and
explained the matter to the astonished pas
sensers who were quite ready to assist in
empVlng his pockets. and then throwing
him overboard-Tbe money taken from him
was paid over to his victims
The last we saw of him, he was swim
ming vigorously towards the shore, cursing
the captain with quite as muci, zeal as he
had used in praying and exnortins.
The young man from Cincinnati got his
cherished coin and trust learned u useful
lesson.