The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-11-27

order not only to clear off his enormous deb
Of honor but to acquire fresh means Q
winning back that ignus fatuus of all gam
blers--his tremendous losses A new pre
liminary dodge was, I observed, now bro
into action. Mr.. Merton esteemed himsel
knowing hand at ecarte. Itwas produced
and he was permitted to win every game
much to the apparent annoyance and dis
comfture of the loosers. As this was pre-
cisely the snare into which had myself fall
en-, | ofcourse the more readily detected it
and felt certain that the grand coup was
meditated In the meantime had mo-
been idle. Sanford was confidentially i'm
formed that | was only waiting in Londor
to receive between four and five thousand
pounds-part Of Uncle Passgrove's legacy.
and then intended to Immediately hasten
back to canny Yorkshire. To have seen the
villains eyes as accidentally, as it were
announced my errand and intention They
fairly flashed with glee All, Sanford San
ford you were, with all your cunning, but
a sand blind id OF to believe the man you
had wronged and ruined could so easily for
get the debt he owed you.
The crisis came swiftly on. Mr.. Merton's
mortgage money was to be paid on the NOR
row and on that day too, / announced the
fabulous thousands received by me were
to be handed over. Mr.. Merton, elated by
his repeated triumphs at ecarte, and prompt
ed by his friend. Sanford, resolved, instead
of cancelling the bonds and obligations held
by the conspirators, to redeem his losses by
stalking on that game his ready money against
these liabilities. This was at first demurred
to with much apparent earnestness by the
winners, but Mr.. Merton, warmly seconded
by Sanford, insisted upon the concession, as
ne deemed it, it was finally agreed that
ecarte should be the game by which he
might hope to regain the fortune and the
peace Of mind he had so rashly squandered;
the last time should be successful-and was
he not sure Of success ?-he assured Sanford
that he would ever handle cards or dice. He
should have heard the mocking merriment
with which the gang heard Sanford repeat
this resolution to amend his ways-when he
had recovered back his wealth
The day so eagerly longed for by Merton
and the confederates-by the spoilers and
their prey-arrived, aud | awaited with
feverish interest the coming of the night
Only the chief''conspirators, eight in number.
were to be present, and no stranger but my
self-a privilege owed to the moonshine
legacy ! bad just received-was to be ad-
mittsd to the crowning triumph Of SUCCESS
ful fraud. One hint only had ventured to
give Mr.. Merton, and that under promise,
'on his honor as gentleman of inviolable
secrecy. This was it: BE sure, before COM
mencing play, tomorrow night, that the
bonds and obligations you have signed, the
jewels you have lost, with sum in notes or
gold to make up an equal amount to that
which you make the risk, is actually depos-
tied on the table, 1t involved more than he
dreampt Of then. a.r raEe5a sts.
My yarrangementswe were at length thorough
ly complete, anda few minutes past twelve
o'clock the whispered password admitted me
into the house. An angry alteration was
going on. Mr.. Merton was insisting, as
had advised, upon the exhibition of sum
equal to that which he had brought with
him--for, confident Of winning, he was de.
termined TO recover his losses to the last
farthing and although his bonds, bills, onli-
cations, his sisters jewels, and large
amount in gold and genuine notes. were
produced, there was still heavy sum de-
ficit. 'Ah, by the by exclaimed Sanford,
as entered, Waters can lend you the sum
for an hour or two-for consideration he
added in a whisper. 1T will soon be re-
turned
No, thank you,' I answered coldly. 4
never part with money till have lost it,
a malignant scowl passed over the scoun
drers features, but he made no reply. ulti-
mately it was decided that one of the frater-
nifty should be dispatched in search Of the
required sum. He was gore about half hour
and returned with bundle Of notes. They
were, as hoped and expected, forgeries on
foreign banks. Mr.. Merton looked at and
counted them, and the play commenced. As
it went on. SO wildly did the scene recall
the evening that had sealed my own ruin,
tha. | grew dizzy with excitement, and
drained tumbler after tumbler of water to
allay the fevesed throbbing Of my veins
The gamblers were certainly too much alb
sorbed to heed my agitation. Merton lost
continuously without pause or interm,ssion
The stakes were doubled d-trebled- -quadru-
pied His braiiYwas on fire and he played
or rather lost, with the recklessness Of a
madman.
'Hark what's that suddenly exclaimed
Sanford, from whose Satanic features the
mask he had solong worn before Merton had
been gradually slipping. Did you hear a
noise below s4 ~ - @f ssi
My ear had caught the sound andlI could
better interpret than he. II ceased. '
Touch the signal bell, Adolphe,' added
Sanford. dea a' tas = 80 2sI
Not only the play, but the very breathing
ofthe yillian:, was suspended as they listen
ed for the reply. 1t came. The ansa ering
tinkle sounded once--twice--thrice. sAll
right I shouted Sanford. Proceed The