The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1860-02-23

politely, passed on with her companion,
who had taken a more circuilous but less
dangerous TO his polished boots) route to
the sidewalk.
Hesiatlng moment, the miner turned
and followed. He started as he saw her
entering the gambling saloon. Pushing
his way through the crowd, he next dis.
covered her seated behind monte table.
We do not wonder that he looked at her
more than oncc--that his heart beat and
his dark eye hashcd--for her swee. face
w, pale and care worn, and the smile that
played upon tas meaningless as wayside
moonbeam. Her companion, who "call.
ed' and "cashed' the game as she turn.
ed the cards, was what any lady, with
out a too careful scrutiny of the face
would have pronounced a fine looking
man. He was dressed in the extreme of
good taste! with the exception, perhaps,
of too great display Of jewelry. His
features were regular and his eyes were
piercing and restless; but that proud curl
of lip, which not unfrequently denotes
manly independence, in him was repul.
sive indication of reckessness and dis.
dain.
The cards were shuiflpd and layout
given. "Make your bets, gentlemen. !"
sang out the gambler, willie he jingled a
pile CT silver before him; Jack and a
ten-make your bets"
Pulling his hat over his eyes the miner
approached the table and carelessly tossed
golden ounce upon the ten. This dealer
looked up and again her eyes met those
of the unsborn stranger. She knew not
why---!or thousand eyes had gazed as
intently into hers before-but the color
mounted to her cheek, and she idvolunta-
lilly admonished the miner with look to
withdraw his bet. The indication, slight
though it appeared, was not lost to the
gambler, who answered it with a frown
dark as midnight, and turned searching
stare upon the stranger, who met it with
a glance of defiance that brought the
hand Of the gambler TO the handle of a
revolver in his belt. The woman observ-
cd all. The miner quietly folded bis arms,
and the dealer, with trembling hand,
proceeded to draw the cards. The jack
won. Again the cards were dealt, and
two ounces were down by the stranger,
instead OF one. He lost second time,
and again, until a pile of golden pieces had
been transferred from his pocket to the
table.
"Letyour husband DEAL" said the loser
addressing the women; perhaps it may
change my luck"
"Certainly," replied the gambler, as
lie reached for the cards. At the mem
ton Of the word "husband," peculiar
smile rested upon his lips, and the eyes
of the woman dropped to the table, as il
to avoid the scrutiny Of the stranger, that
he might not read in them confession
that she had no husband, although she
was m other. But he read all.
Again the cards were dealt. There
was perceptible nervousness of the hand
and strange twinkle in the eye of the mi
ner, as he drew from the pocket of his
overcoat two purses. All eyes were turn
towards him.
"l'l bet hundred ounces on the ace!"
he exclaimed to the astonished gambler,
dropping the sacks of dust upon the table,
"and will draw the cards myself
give hundred dollars is the limit" re-
piled the gamble.
"There is no limit to your rascality,"
Numbered the stranger, "nor should there
be to your camel" and he replaced the
purse in his pocket.
The gambler sprang to his feet, with
his hand upon his revolver. but ere be
could draw it blow from the horny fist
of the stalwart miner sent him reeling to
the floor.
In moment all was confusion. A
dozen gamblers from the adjoining tables
rushed TO the rescue of the fallen black
leg. with pistols and knives glittcring in
the lamp-light. The woman had risen to
her feet and stood speechless behind the
table.
"Stand back!s shouted the miner, as he
drew from his belt with his left hand q
huge bowe knife, and swung an eight
=, oh voyx, rouo1,a, .. A. a,l... .t...