, 1862-10-23
sTELACOoM WASHINGTON TERRITORY THURSDAY, OCTOBER

operation. The game was that known as bluff
/ Thorn and his opponent having glanced at the
cards, commenced the game, and in few min
utes three thousand dollars lay upon the table
to be decided by the cards held by the players
each Of whom seemed, from his bets, to be con.
hdent Of success, though their countehances be-
trayed not the least emotion. Thorn called. The
gambler had three Kings and an Ace, while be
bad three Aces and King. With his eyes fixed
steadily Upon his opponent he folded up The
money, and crammed it in bis pocket.
Fortune iavOFs you" said the gambler, stoi
cally, too well schooled to betray any emotion
or chagrin at the result "But hope to mee
you again, sir, for must have my revenge aftei
such heavy run Of luck ds this and now have
no doubt your friends will join Us in a social sii
down, for Il you are as good at cracking bottle
singing a song, or telling story, as holding q
hand at cards, those who are your friends arc
| fortunate"
al must confess" said Thorn, +" that am moi
Of q convivial or musical turn, though can Occa'
sionally tell good story. have little history
now, sir, upon my tongues end, that will be OI
uncommon interest to you"
II was now long past midnight. Absorbed in
the excitement Of the game, we bad scaTcely no;
tced the flight Of time, or that the adjoining
rooms were now nearly deserted by their occu'
pants, and that the other two players at the other
end Of the apartment in which we were had fin-
ished their own game and been spectators oi
that between Thorn and his opponent, and were
now apparently interested listeners.
About three years since, began Thorn,
young man in Kentucky, confidential agent Of
large business firm, was intrusted with a sum
Of money, and commissioned to transact some
business in New Orleans; it was his first visit to
the city: he started happily, leaving behind him
a wife and infant Unfortunately, upon one Of
the Mississippi boats, or Immediately upon his ar
rival in New Orleans, he fell in with 'profes-
siOnar man Of play, mean. By the man.
agement Of this professional the young man
was enticed to hell introduced to play, piled
with wine, stripped of his rnOney--in. short, to
use professional word, plucked.' The young
man was perfectly sobered by his loss; he re-
turned to his hotel stung with remorse and bali
crazy with excitement; he placed q pistol to bis
head and blew out bis brains, leaving furnished
name as an inheritance for his wife and innocent
child"
I" But what Is al this to me :" said the gam
bier, now pale as ashes, beneath the flashing eye
Of the speaker. "Is it q moral lesson you're
about to read here, or sermon you have to
preachl"
"What is II to youf" continued Thorn, hls
voice Quivering with exciteh1eht " Ali III tell
you what Il h to you. This meeting Of you and
me tonight, which, for three long years, I have
sought, is not mere chance. The amount Of
money he lost was Just the amount ] have this
night won from you-that very ring upon your
finger is his | am bis brother, and you are his
assassin" !"
Thorn pronounced these words in firm, clear
voice, and as he concluded, brought his hand
down with blow upon the table at which they
were sitting, which was instantly overturned as
he and his opponent started simultaneously to
their feG. They were scarcely six PAGES apart,
and both drew their weapons as they rose.
"Div, liar" shouted the gambler, discharg-
ing his weapon the moment he gained his feet.
The bullet ripped open Tborn's waistcoat, and his
watch flew in fragments from the pocket, dang
ling hy its chain at the same moment the pistol
he held exploded, and the gambler fell back a
corpse upon the carpet. This all passed 50 sud
denly, ere we could interfere, that we stood as
if paralyzrd for an instant. The servants and
police, alarmed by the noise, came rushing into
the apartment
Thorn quietly surrendered himself merely
turning 10 us and the other two who were in the
room, saying, as he did so, %Gentlemen, bear wit
ness fired in seEdefense, and that ! received
the villains fire here, and he pointed to his shat
tered watch, and turning, left the room with the
officers He was tried and acquitted, and It was
clearly proved that his adversary fired upon him
first The fact that the gambler being a notori-
Gus rascal, whom the community could well a.
ford to spare, might have bad some influence
with the jury.
have never met Thorn since, but the recollec-
ton Of that fearful scene is yet fresh and vivid
in my mind, though many years have passed
since it was enacted.