East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-08-01

/ 'Passgrove Is deadF interrupted my ol'
acquaintance eagerly, and you are hi
heir. This is indeed charming revers'
of circumstances ''' eE otie4
yes; but mind have given up the
old game. Nomore dice-deviltry for me
L have promised Emily never to touch
card again. ~. tfk
The cold hard eye Of the incarpat'
fiend--he was little clse--gleamed mock
ingly as these good intentions of prac
ticed gsmester fell upon his ear but he
replied, Very good, quite right my dea'
boy. But come, let mo introduce you tc
Mr.. Merton, highly-connected person
age, assure you. By-the-by, Waters,
he added in caressing, confidential tone
my name for family and other reasons
which i will hereafter explain to you, is
for the present, Sandford.' if
'Sandford!'
yes; do not forget. But allons, OF
the ballet will be over
was introduced in due form to Mr.
Merton, as an old and esteemed friend,
whom he--Sanford-ha not seen for
many months. At the conclusion of the
ballet, Sandford proposed that we should
adjourn to the European Coffee House,
nearly opposite, and out we sailed. At
the top of the staircase we jostled against
the commissioner, who, like us was leav'
ing the house. He bowed slightly to Mr..
Merton's apology, and his eye wandered
coldly and briefly over our persons; but
not the slightest sign of interest or rec
ognitiou escaped him. thought it pos
siblc he Gid not know me in my changed
apparel; but looking back after descend
ing a few steps was quickly undeceiyed.
y sharp swift glance, expressive both OF
encouragement and surprise, shot out
from under his penthouse brows, and as
swiftly vanished. He did not know how
little needed spurring to the goal we
had both in view.
We discussed two or three bottles OF
wine with much gaiety and relish. Sand
ford especially was in exhuberant spirits;
brimming over with brilliant anecdote and
sparkling badinage. He saw in me a
fresh rich prey, and his eager spirit rev
eled by anticipation in the victory which
he nothing doubted to obtain over my
excellent intentions and wife-pledged
virtue About half past twelve o'clock
he proposed to adjourn. This was eager
~ assented to by Mr. Merton, who had
for some time exhibited unmistakable
symptoms of impatience and unrest. .
you will accompany us. Waters !?
said Sandford as we rose to DEPART
There is, | suppose, no vow registered
in the matrimonial archives against look
ing on at game played by Others
'Oh, mol but don't ask me to play
Certainly not and devilsh sneer,
curled his lip. your virtue shall suffer
no temptation, be assured
We soon arrived before the door Of a
Quiet, respectable-looking house in one of
the streets leading from the Strand. A
low peculiar knock, given by Sandford
was promptly answered; then password,
which / did not catch, was whispered by
him through the keyhole, and we passed
in. ...,.r
We proceeded upstairs to the first
floor, the shutters of which were carefully
closed, so that no intimation of what was
going Oh could possibly reach the street.
The apartment was brilliantly lighted,
a roulette table and dice and cards were
in full activity; wine and liquors Of all
varieties were profuscly paraded. There
were about half dozen persons present,
/ soon discovered, besides the gang, and
that comprised eleven or twelve we'll
dressed desperadoes, whose sinister as
poets induced q momentary qualm lest
one or more of the pleasant party might
suspect or recognize my vocation. This
however, | reflected was scarcely possible.
Ny beat, during this short period | had
been in the force, was far distant from
the usual hauuts of such gentry, and L
was otherwise unknown in London. Still,
questioning glances were eagerly direct
ted towards my introducer; and one big
burly fellow, foreigner---the rascals were
the scum of various countries un-
pleasantly inquisitorial. "J'ea responds'
| heard Sandford say, in answer to his
iteratcd queries; and he added something
in whisper which brought sardonic
smile to the fellows lips, and induced a
total change to his demeanor towards
myself This was re-assuring; for though
provided with pistols, l should, felt,
have little chance with such utterly rcck-
less ruiiians as those by whom / was sur
rounded. Play was proposed; and though
at first stoutly refusing, 1 feigncd to bc
overcome by irresistible temptation and
sat down to blind hazard with my foreign
friend for moderate stakes l was gra.
oiously allowed to win, and in tho end
found myself richer in devils money by
about ten pounds Mr.. Merton was soon
absorbed in tho chances of dice, and lost
large sums for which, when the money he
had brought with him was exhausted he
gave written Acknowledgements. The
cheating practiced upon him was really
audacious, and any one but tyro must
have repeatedly detected it. He, howev-
er, appeared not to entertain the slightest
suspicion of the "lair play Of his oppo-
ponents, guiding himself entirely by the
advice Of his friend and counsellor, who
did not himselfplay. The amiablc as
semblagc broke up about six in the morn.
ing, each person retiring single by, the