Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-31

| drawing IOUlly III QeClQlLg 10 DC MI EAoAtOu.
My course Of action was at once determined
upon. Pausing only to master the emotion
which the sight of the glitteriug reptile in
| whose poisonous folds had been involved and
! crushed, inspired, I passed to the opposite side
| of the house, and boldly entered the box. Car
! don's back was toward me, and l tapped him
| lightly on the shoulder He turned quickly
| round, and if a basalisk had confronted him, he
1 could scarcely have exhibited greater surprise.
/ by aspect, nevertheless, was studioUsly bland
/ and c0nCilistory, and my Outstretched hand
seemed to invite a renewal of our old friendship.
Waters he at last stammered, feebly ac'
cepting my pro8ered grasp-"who would have
| thought of meeting you here 2"
! Not you, certainly, since you stare at an
| old friend as if he were some frIghttul goblin
about to swallow you Really"
Hush let US speak together in the lobby.
/ An old friend" +" he added, in reply to Mr. Aer-
! toms surprised stare; eve viii return in in
/ slant"
Well, what's all this, Waters ~ said Carbon,
| recovering his wonted sang frOid the moment
we were alone. understood you had retired
| from amongst US; were, in fact-what shall l
say :"
better than you"
" Ny good fellow, you do not imagine
imagine nothing, my dear Carbon. was
| very thoroughly doHe--done brown, as it is
written in a vUlgsr tongue. But fortunately my
| kind old uncle
Sc Passgrove is dead - interrupted my old ac-
quaintance, eagerly jumping TO a conclusion,
''and you aTe his heir. l congratulate you, my
! dear fellow. This is indeed charming reverse
of circumstances
Yes; but mind, l have given up the old game.
| No more devilry for me- have promised Emily
never to touch card again"
The cold, hard eye Of the incarnate fend-he
was little else-elesmed mockingly as these
! good intentions" Of a professional gamester
fell upon his ear, but he replied: Every good,
quite right, my boy. But come, let me intro
duee you to Mr. Merton, highly connected per-
sonage, l assure you. BY the way, Waters" he
added in a caressing, confidential tone, my
name, for family and other reasons, which will
hereafter explain to you is, fox the present, San
ford"
Sanford"
eyes, do not forget. Let US 60 in, or the bal
let will be over"
was introduced in due time to Mr. Merton,
as an old esteemed friend, whom he Sanford
had not seen for many months. at the c0nclu-
sion of the ballet, Sadiorl proposed that we
should adjourn to the European coffee house.
nearly opposite, and cut We sailed At the top
of the staircase we jOstled against the commits
si0ner, who, ike us was leaving the house.
He bowed slightly to Mr.. MertOn's apology, and
his eye wandered cOldly and briefly over our
peTs0ns; not the slightest sign of recognition es
capped him. l thought it possible no did not
know me IN changed apparel-but looking back
after descending few steps, l was quickly IN
deceived. sharp, quick glance, expressive
both Of encouragement ard surprise, shot out
from under bis eyebrows, and as quickly vanish
ed He did not know how little encouragement
l needed for me to gain the goal we had in view.
We consumed two or three bottles Of wine with
great relish. Sanford, especially, was in e1u-
beTant spirits-brimmiug with brilliant wit and
CALLING bsdinsge He saw in me fresh victim,
and his eager spirit swelled by an intuition in
the victory which he doubted not to obtain over
my excellent intentions and wifs-pledged virtue.
About halEpast twelve he proposed to adjourn
This was eagerly assented TO by Mr.. Merton,
who had FOR some time exhibited uulnlstakable
signs Of Impotence and unrest
'YOU will accompany Us, Watersl" said San
ford, as we rose to depart. ''Ihere is, suppose,
no vow registered in the matrimonial archives
against looking On at a game played by OtheTsl"
"Oh, no but do not ask me to play"
Certainly not, and a deVilish sneer curled his
lip. your virtue shall suffer no temptation, be
assured"
We soon arrived before the door of quiet,
respectable looking house, in one of the streets
given by Sanford was promptly answered; ;
then password, which l did not catch, was
whispered by him through the ksy-hOle, 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 apart
ment was brilliantly lighted, roulette table
and dice aud cards were IN full activity; wines
| and liquors of all varieties were pTofusely
4 f.If I,
I soon discovered, besides the gang, and that
comprised eleven or twelve well dressed despe-
Tadoes, whose siRistcr aspect induced a momen-
! tary qualm, lest one or more of the pleasant
party might suspect or recognize my Yoc2-
cation. This, however, l reflected was scarcely
possible My beat during the short time had
| been in force, was far distant from the usual
haunts Of such gentry, and was otherwise un-
! known in London. Still questioning glances
were eagerly directed toward my intrOducer ;
and one big burly fellow, foreigner-the ras-
| Gals were the scum Of various countTeS-was
unpleasantly inquisitive. 50 Ten responds :"
| I heard Sanford say ia answer to his iterated
| queries, and he added something in q whisper
| which brought a sardonic smile 10 the fellows
| lips, and induced a total change Ia his demeanor
/ toward myself This was TeassUring for though
provided with pistols, should, felt, have little
| chance with such utterly reckless fellows as
| those by whom I was surrounded. Play was
proposed and though at first | stoutly resisted
l feigned to overcome by irresistible temptation,
| and sat down TO blind hazard with my foreign
| friend for moderate stakes. was graciousy
allowed to win, and in the end found myself
richer ia money by about ten pounds. Mr.. Mer-
/ ton was soon absorbed in the 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 prac-
| ticed on him was really audaci0us, and any one
/ but q tyrO must have repeatedly detected 1t. he,
however, appeared not to entertain the slightest
suspicion OF the % fair play of his opponents,
| guiding himself by the advice OF his friend and
| counsellor, who did not himself play. The
| amisble assemblage broke up about six O'Clock
| in the morning, each person retiring singly by
! the back way, receiving, as he departed, new
| password for the next evening.
! a few hours afterwards | waited on the COM
missioner to report the state of affairs. He was
| delighted with the fortunate debut l had made,
! but strictly enjoined patience and caution. 1t
would have been easy, as l was in possession OF
the password, to have surprised the contederacy
| in the act of gaming that very evening; but
this would have only accomplished s part of the
! object aimed at. Several Of the fraternity
| Sanford amongst the nUmbeT-were suspected
! of uttering forged notes, and it was essential to
watch narrowly for legal evidence, and restore,
If possible, the property and securities of which
Mr. Merton had been pIllaged.
Nothing Of special importance occurred Tor
| seven or eight days. Gaming went on as usual
every evening, and Mr. Merton became, Of
course, more and more involved even his sisters
Jewels, which he had surrepttiously obtained
TO such depth Of degradation will this vice
plunge men otherwise honOrable-had been
staked and lost, and he was, by the advice OF
Sanford, to conclude heavy mortgage on his
estate, in order not only to clear off his enorm-
Gus debts of honor" but to acquire fresh
means Of winning back that igHlS tatan'
of all gamblers-his tremendous losses A
, new preliminary dodge was, observed
now brought into action. Mr.. Merton esteemed
himself knowing hand at ecarte. 1t was pro