Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-09-23

The snail pace at which | was travelling
brought me in due time TO the door OF this
hamlet. aud as IL was al! closed up, gave
a loud rap. A grua voice from within an
swored, " come IN"
lifted tie latch, and pushed the ricke,y
door back sufficiently TO allow me to enter
and, in doing 50, I found myself face to face
with the man was looking for. | knew
him a, once from the description my friend
had given mo ofhim.
Taking of my hat, | made an awkward
bow, and thus introduced myself: 81
have jos, arrived in these dissings, aud have
been directed to your house as the most
likely one TO obtain nights lodging
They tell me your name is Mr. Daccy, aud
that you are the right .or, Of man; but
that "a neither here nor there, for I'm near
ly gone ou, and wish to camp here"
stranger, demanded Dicey, "where
DO you hail from and what is your busi-
ncs,?'
replied, 81 came to dig gold, bu, need
a little rest first. for have made a long
tramp Of il. You see, two months ago |
left Salt Lake. whore she Mormons cleaned
mo out. LISA long story, bot to be hon.
est I'm an cmisrant from the State Of Mis-.
souri,. have no money, but il can pay
you for few days board by any light
work, why, all you have got to do is TO say
the word"
"well, Mr.. Emigrant, ifyou are sure
that you are not yourself a Mormon, aud
will swear to 1t, I'll le. you put up with me
bu, mind, II you deceive me, I'll kill you
As sure as my name is Bill Daccy, for lm
particularly down on the Mormon tribe"
| convinced Dacoy that his suspicious Of
my character were groundlcss, and, by play.
ing the agreeable 80 him, that night drew
him out. Like most men he was vain. and
by touching ,hi, tender point, | set him a
talking. while, | listened, or rather studied
the man. Before bedtime my plans were
laid, aud tell asleep thinking had an ca.
~ task to perform.
With the gray lish. Of the next morning
was up, and making myself generally USE
ful about the premises. On meeting Da-
ccy, he salutcd me with the usual set phase
Of good morning, and then added, IL see
you are no idler, and as you are very handy
With the axe, wish you to finish the job
you are now working on, and then build
me rough shed u pa, my horse under in
stormy weather"
For three days laborcd steadily, and
had nearly completed my task, when my
employer came to mo aud banierci me TO
play game Of cards.
Iroplisd that was ignorant OF the art,
but II he would teach me, | would Tor the
.ake Of amusement try to lcarn."
That afternoon he faithfully enieavorcd
to make me ian old gambler) understand tbs
game Of "scvsn up" but proved a poor
scholar, aud several ,imcs he was about CIV.
ing up Ito business, as being hopeless
However. managed to keep him in good
humor, nnI thus ended the Grs, day Of my
undertaking.
Daccy was now 50 interested in teaching
me the secrets OF gaming that the next
morning hc could not resist the temptation
Of proposing fresh trial Of our skill.
On thi. occasion. seeing, as he said, be-
Gan to know something, be offered to lend
me small sum Of money, 50 that We could
make i, interesting by betting.
| .,ou,Iy refused TO do thi' for some time,
but the arguments OF my new friend pre-
vailed. and | yielded. Three hours flew
rapidly by. and by dint OF wonderful lueG
a. he styled ii, | had now quite nice SUN
Dacey now began to show signs Of bewIl'
derment a. my occasional bad playing and
yet my success. lie finally became 50 rita
tel a, his continued bad play that he rcius'
ed to 60 on with tie game.
The cards were hardly placed to one eide
before expressed my desire to return to
him his gold. Said |, "Mr Dacey do take
the money, for | feel as slough had stolen
i, from you. Ny conscience will not per-
init me to rest until you have again your
property"
mo, no, my good fellow said he,
keep it; you come by it fairly; I obtain
ed /, in the same way from the miners"
Tha, evening my hos: was less cheerful
than had before seen him. He was seem
iugly engaged in deep thought; and al
though kept up an animated fire ofsmall
talk, yet he would no, join in, but instead
chose to retire to his blankets at an early
hour.
Dacey was very restless during the night
and once or twice no muttercd something
that sounded like my name. The next
morning, after giving inc directions as 10
wha, to do during his absence, he started
away on horseback IN the direction Of the
nearest settlement. Late in the afternoon
however, hc returned. but with him came
another man whom he introduced to mo by
the name Of Martin. They brought with
them jug Of whiskey, and both men pre-
tended to be drunk.
/ at once saw what was m the wind, and
determined to nc, accordingly. Martin, |
knew from his manner. to be a blackleg,
and the errand which had taken Dacey
from his home in tho morning was to get
Li,, % e,me and win his money hack. Af-