The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1860-06-22

no coward, and then he frowned till his
shaggy brows met like the coil of ser
pent, and sternly demanded
+" Beggar, who are you, to banter
thus rudely."
81 am James Bowie. Of Texas," the
other answered with ringing laugh !;
nd you are John Laftte, bastard Of
Use old pirate"
The gambler reeled in his chair as if
he had been struck by thunderbolt,
but recovered agar. from the shock in
momers, be asked in firm tone:
What do you wish with mel"
"Poker first and pistols afterwards,
if you play foul" replied Bowie.
Very we'll" rejoined the other, and
they took their seats at the table.
For time the success seemed equal
ly balanced, the gain and loss being al
ternate. At last the gambler ventured
one of his skillful maneuyers in deal
ing.
Bowie smiled strangely as his quick
eye detected the trick. He said moth
ing, however, bat looked at his hand
and bet five thousand dollars. stalking
the money 10 ten large bills. The gam
bier went five thousand dollars higher,
which resulted IN "call.n Bowie
held four jacks = but bis Antagonist.
with his habituaI clluckle, showed
four Queens" excfaiming as he did so.
BY heavens the pile is mine !"
"Not yet !" shouted Bowie, as with
both hands he raked the heap of notes
to the tune of twenty thousand dollars
in his own pocket.
Choking and purple with rage and
| 10 the hurricancs deck, aaa let pis.
tolls be trumps this turn !"
sAs good as gold!" replied Bowie
and the two hastily ascended the stairs
and assuming their seperate position
| the gambler over the stern and Bowie
over the bow.
At that instant the sun was just ris
ling in cloudless sky. Nature lookeC
sublime--the woods and waters appear
ed as part of one divine picture, viii
the bound,ess blue of Heaven for it
back ground. The broad boson,ed rive
rolled away like a sheet Of burnishe'
silver, specked here and there with th
4 flash of golden bubbles shining fis
4 ganboled in the waves; and and th
bright birds those sweet singers, who's
life is a dream, and that dream oul
music-chanted their wild anathems /
to the newday, while the great duslist
the most deadly known in the soutl
west, stood with cooked pistols, eye
t eye, and their fingers fixed TO their tri,
gers; prepared to slay and be slain.
! am ready, you give the word
: cried Bowie, IN bis clear ringing vOie
and with that inseparable smile
strange meaning on his lips.
81 am ready--fre !" shouted 4
E gambler 10 tones as murderous as deaf
a The two pistols roared sinultaneot
e ly. Bowie did not move, though
b had barely escaped with his life
!. the bullet Of bis foe had cut away Q
l. Of the golden locks Of his hair.
n The gambler was shot through
ID heart, and dropped on the brink of
Is. deck and almost tumbled into sic riy
!" He was buried BY the sosatters at I
ut next wood yard. And thus perish'
% justly, the son oftb< great pirate Laht
u There never was jury impannel
III 10 the WSst who would have brous
=
re il verdict against any N
s. fes killing him, and more espeei
lly under these circumstances, beca
is public opinion pronounced that
Sc ought to be killed. And such "
be the desperadoes Bowie extermiaated
lly The victor immediately proceeded
TX the ladies cabin, and restored the !
nings of the gambler to the yo'
at merchant and beautiful wife. who /
aat received the boon as from heaven, !