Weekly Trinity journal., 1860-03-31

the cards in the false dealing box so as to split at
almost every turn for he aware that there
was no time to parey and he wanted, as he
expressed it to his companions, sure thing from
the start.
The two visitors placed themselves in chairs
before the lay outs, and the eldest called for a
hundred dollars worth of checks, and he laid
down a bill of that denomination, which Dangler
quickly exchanged for the ivory markers en-
graved as dollars, fves, and tens.
does not your companion play ?" said Dan
gler with great suavity of manner, while the
gamblers looked on compIacenty knowing they
were bound TO have share in the dealers profits
for that night at least.
"No-he is in leading strings yet" was the
reply; d" kind o. broke in on Kantuckloo old
sledgp, and whistlcJack but don know shucks
about the tiger. Billed lghtning there go for
half a nigger baby. King, Deuce" he added, as
Danger raked in a fifty dollar pile of checks
. Mr.. Dealer pull em Slow
"Don't yOu think we had better block the
game ~ said Kingpiu Jerry, with rough oath
" it's growing dark, and the hounds will be on
our track Course 'em) before long"
"There is no chance TO get rid Of the stiffs"
replied Dangler, and we want as much in our
favor as possible if we are taken. There is not
as much proof against now would hang an
Indian and we must play things hne."
"What in the round yeath are you barking
about, strangers ?' said the player, looking from
one to the other of the speakers, did his COM
panion, with an air of bewiderment
"Ob, mere nothing" replied Danglor,
showing the cards in the box. " The deuce is
soda"
/ The player lost at every turn, and at the close
/ of the deal the banker golden harvest
ahead. The lockers on could scarcely restrain
their exu!taton. Dangler had won enough to
pay all their passages to Pitsburg or New Or
leans, should they escape the vengeance of the
mob
"Tom, loan me some Dimes" said the player
to his companion at the end Of the deal "my
piles gin clar out"
The youth handed his friend gold piece Of
large size. 1t was n Spanish doubloon of the
reign of Carolus Ill, and on one side was en-
graved with several Masonic characters. Any
one who had ever seen the piece once would
know it instantly again. Then it that the
player altered his unGOuth manner and bearing
and he threw aside all provincalsms of speech,
as he exclaimed, in voice Of command
"Mister Dealer, shuttle those cards again
acW have the game on the square this time"
Something told Dangler that all his tricks had
been detected by the cearbue eye of the stran-
ger; and without a reply, he shu1ied the cards
fairly and placed them in the box The jack was
soda, and the stranger placed the gold-piece on
the queen. Dangler picked up the coin, exam
incd it attentively for moment and then, while
his hand shook like an aspen-leaf laid it down
again, and turning pale as death, he stammered
Where-wbence-h came this piece into
! your possession ~
The desperadoes, and especially Kingpin Jerry,
appeared to be waiting with intense anxiety for
the strangers reply.
"Why, on the square, | assure you, William
Dangler, alias Bluiler-Bll,' said the stranger, in
a taunting voice. at was once the property of
( a man who belonged to an order whose Office on
| earth is to betrend the widow and the fatheress,
! and whose deeds of mercy, charity, and love are
spread broadcast throughout the world Well,
! In bn bripf the Of this coin a MoStpr
| Mason and Judge of the Supreme Court of the
State of Louisiana. lie had some business North,
and on his route, concluded he would tarry in
this cursed place for one short night. A stranger
met him at the hotel where he stopped, who had
plausible address and winning way that won
| upon his honest Southern heart lie was enticed
into this very gambling hell. The thieves and
swtndlers who long have irequented this house
found that they could not win Judge Winners
gold upon the square, and so they slew their vic
tim in cold blood, and after ring the corpse,
they hurled 1t into the waters of the Mississippi
Tins talisman' (and here he took the gold piece
from the card and held it in his hand) - has,
through Masonic influence, made the chain Of
evidence complete 1t was stolen by the thief
and mul derer, William Dangler, oijas Blutter-Bill,
with few thousand dollars more beside; and
Thomas Wilmer, his poor orphan son, now seated
by my side, can tell the company here whether
have spoken truth or fasehood."
" 1t is the truth, so hel me heaven y said the
young man. solemny- y-the first words be had ut
tered since he had entered in the gamblers den
with his companion.
"'Iis false as hcllt' cried Dangler. 8" Com
rades, we are betrayed ~
"'rhat is, if we are fools enough to let these
popinjays escape alive" said Kingpin Jerry,
with bitter scowl of hate. If that boy owns
the name of Thomas Wilmer, who the devil are
you ~
"Who am /? Tia, ha, ha why. that's Joke
| that two can crack nj WhV what mnmorv
you have, not to remember pleasant scene that
was enacted once between us at the town of Lit
tie Rock, Arkansas. You was the bully and
desperate of that place, as you have been of
this, until one day yau did insult man who did
not fear your giant form or heavy hand. A duel
was the consequence and all can see that your
antagonist knew how to make his mark"
"Promise that you will point me out that man
once more, and by my mothers grave-in spite
of all that has occurred-you and your companion
shall leave this house in safety"
Behold him, them" cried the stranger, in q
voice OF thunder, AS he started to his feet, and
| tore away set of saucy whiskers that had hith-
erto disguised his features " behold him-the
man who chopped your hand off in fight at
Little Rock-the man who feels no mercy when
he deals with towards, thieves, and murderers-
the man who, half an hour hence will help to
pull the ropes from which the corpses of one
! William Dangler and one Jeremiah Hawkins
swings" And in u voice of thunder he added ::
"Douse the light, Tom !" while at the same mo-
ment he drew formidable weapon from beneath
his cloak, as sharp as a SICKLE and of model
since used in many desperate hand to hand
fight, from the wilds of Maine to the everglades
of Florida.
Ere the desperadoes had time to interfere, Tom
had obeyed the command, and the room was
shrouded in total darkness.
" Now, towards, thieves and murderers," he
exclaimed, in an eXultant voice, " we are at equal
vantage. It's seven to two but James Bowie
can use his own weapon as well in darkness as in
daylight, and the first one who cracks pistol at
= us, as we endeavor to make our exit, may consd-
. er his heart in jeopardy. You all know that
James Bowie always does things on the square
You'd better lower that barker, Kingpin Jerry,
; unless You have an ardent desire that | should
chop off your remaining hand before the clock
ticks thrice. All, that's better" he added, cool
L. L. Il,cl l.... |.