The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-11-27
OTTUMWA, IOWA WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER g. 1861.

i gamesters. The back entrance to the hous
was also securly but unobtrusively watched
Only one fear disturbed me. 1t was les
the scoundrels should take alarm in sufficien
time to extinguish the light; destroy tn
forged papers, and possibly escape by SOM
private passage which might unknown I,
me exist ~ 3KH rsEF
Rousing ysef, as soon as the play wa
resumed, from the trance ofmemory by which
! had been in some sort absorbed. and frs
ascertaining that my pistols were within ca
sy reach, for I knew I was playins
desperate game, I rose, stepped carelessi,
to the door, partially opened it, and bent for
ward, as if listening to repetition of the
sound which had SO alarmed the company
To my delight the lalding and stairs were
filed with police officers, silent and stern as
death. I drew back and walked towards the
table at which Merton was seated. The
last stake, an enormous one, was being play.
ed for. Merton lost. He sprang upon his
feet, death-pa!e, despairing, overwhelmed,
and hoarse execration urged from his
clenched teeth. Sanford and his associates
coolly raked the plunder together their fea-
lures lighted up with fiendish glee. .a
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 7 shrieked
Mr.. Merton, as il smitten with sudden fren.
zy, and darting at Sanfords throat you,
devil that you are, have undone, destroyed
mev ~ a
NO doubt oft calmly replied Sanford,
shaking off his victims grasp, 'and think
it has been very artistically and effectively
done too. Snivelling, my fine fellow, will
scarcely help you much .r
Mr., Merton glared at the taunting villain
in speeches. agony and rage. ,..y
Not quite so fast, Carbon, if you please =
| exclaimed, at the same tine taking up
bundle of forged notes. 1T does not appear
to me that Mr.. Merton has played against
equal stakes, for unquestionably this paper
is not genuine 2
Dog roared Sanford, do you value
your life so cheap 2 and he rushed towards
me as il to seize the forged notes.
l was as quick as he, and the leyeled tube
Of a pistol sharply arrested his eager on.
slaught. The entire gang gathered near us
flaming with excitement. Mr.. Merton loof.
ed bewilderedly from one to another, appa-
rently scarcely conscious of what was pass.
ing around him.
Wrench the papers from him : screamed
Sanford, recovering his energy. Seize him,
stab him, strangle him y !,
Look to yourself, scopndrel 7 shouted
with equal vehemence. your hour is come
Officers enter and do your duty 7
In an instant the room was filed with DO.
lice and surprised, panic-strcken, paral-
yzed by the suddenness of the catastrophe,
the gang were all secured without the slight
est resistance, though most of them were
armed, and marched off in custody. Three
Sanford, or Carbon (but' he had half.a.
dozen aliases) one OF them-were transport
ed for life the rest were sentenced to yari.
Gus terms of imprisonment. NV task was
efiectually accomplished. My superiors
were pleased to express very warm commen
dation of the manper in which had acauit
ted myself; apd the first step in the pro-
motion which ultimately led to my present
position in another branch of the public ser
vice, was soon afterwards conferred upon
me. Mr.. Merton had his bonds, obligations
jewels and money, restored to him and
taught wisdom by terrible experience, never
again entered gaming house.
Neither he nor his lady mother was un.
grateful for the service had been fortunate
enough to render them.