Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-08-16

SNiiJ "'0SHlSN W W Ahi' NhClA AolF WIZ
t had for some time exhibited unmistakabE
= symptoms of impatience and unrest
I " You will accompany us, Waters /?
( said Sandford, as he rose to depart
There is, | suppose, no VOW registered
, in the matrimonial archives agains
looking at a game played by others"
sob no but don't ask me to play"
"Certainly not" and dcyilish sneei
curled his lip. " Y our virtue shall suffer
no temptation, be assured"
We soon arrived before the door of ;
quiet, respectable looking house in one o
the streets leading to the Strand a low
peculiar knock, given by Sanford wa'
promptly answered; then a password
which did not catch, was whispered by
; him through the keybole, and we passed
in.
We proceeded up stairs to the first
floor, the shutters Of which were carefully
closed, so that no intimation Of what was
going on 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 profusely paraded. There
we're about half dozen persons present.
| soon discovered besides the gang, and
that comprised eleFen or twelve well
dressed desperadoes, whose sinister as
poets induced momentary qualm, lest
one or more Of the pleasant party might
suspect, or recognize, my vocation. This,
however, | reflected was scarcely posi-
BILE. My beat during the short period |
had been in the force, was far distant
from the usual haunts Of such gentry,
and / was otherwise unknown in Lon
don. Still, questioning glances were di-
rected coward my introducer; and one
big bUrly fellow, foreigper-the rascaIs
were the scum of various countries
was unpleasantly inquisitorial. " j en-
respOnds?" / heard Sandford say, in an
swer to his iterated queries and he ad-
ded something in whisper which bro't
a sardonic smile to the fellows lips, and
induced a total change in his demeanor
towards myself This was re-assuring
for though provided with pistols, should,
! felt, have little chance with such utterly
reckless ruflians as those by whom / was
surrounded. Play was proposed; and
though at first stoutly refusing, | feigned
to be overcome by irresistible temptation
and sat down TO blind hazard with my
foreign friend for moderate stakes. | |
was graciously allowed to win, and in the
end found myself richer in devils money
by about ten pounds. Mr.. Merton was
soon absorbed in the chances of dice, and
lost large sums, for which, when the mo-
ney he had brought with him was ex-
hausted, he gave written acknowledge
ments. The cheating practiced upon him
was really audacious, and any one but
tyro must have repeatedly detected it. He
however appeared not to entertain the
slightest suspicion Of the fair play" of
his opponents, guiding himself entirely
by the advice of his friend and counsellor,
who did not himself play. The amiable
assemblage broke up about six in the
each person retiring singly by
the back way, receiving, as he departed.
a new password for the next evening.
A few hours afterwards / waited on the
TO report the state of affairs.
He was delighted with the fortunate de-
but / had made, but still strictly enjoined
patience and caution. 1t would have been
easy, as l was in possession Of the pass
word, to have surprised the confederacy
in the act of gambling that very evening
but this would have only accomplished a
part of the object aimed at Several of
The fraternity-Sandford among the num-
ber-were suspected of utering forged
foreign bank notes, and it was essential
10 watch narrowly for legal evidence to
if possible, the property and Sc
curities of which Mr.. Merton had been
pillaged. ;
Nothing of special importance occur
red for seven or eight days. Gaming 8
went on as usual every evening, and Mr..
Merton became, of course, more and /
more involved; even his sisters jewels, +
which he had surreptitiously obtained
o such depth of degradation will this
7ice plunge men otherwise honorable
lad been staked and lost and he was,
~ the advice of Sandtord, about to con-
,lude heavy mortgage on his estate, in
rider not only to clear off his enormous =,
debts of honor" but to acquire fresh :
means of winning back"-that igais .
Iatuus o. all gamblers-his terrible loss
IS. A new "preliminary dodge" was, ! o
deserved, now brought into action. Mr.. =,
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