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

L ho OAAoto Ntftlio oWAAliJ OI vi NL5ALVu
mortgage money was to be paid on the morrow
and on that day, too, 1 announced that the fab
ulous thousands received by me, were to bl
handed over. Mr. Merton, elated by his re
peated triumphs at ecarte, and prompted by th,
cOnspiratOIs, hoped 10 redeem his losses by stak
ing on that game his ready money against these
liabilities. This was at first demurred to witt
much apparent earnestness by the winners, bu
Mr.. Merton, warmly seconded by Sanford, in
slsting upon the concession, as he deemed it, il
was finally agreed that ecarte should be the
game by which he might hope to regain his for
fortune and peace Of mind he had so rsshly
squandered; the last time should he be success.
tUl-and was he not sure Of success 2-he as
sured Sanford, that he would never handle cards
or dice. He should have heard the mockiag
merriment with which the gang heard Sanford
repeat this resolution to amend his Ways-When
he recovered back his wealth
The day so eagerly longed for by Merton and
the cOnlederates-by the spoilers and their
prey-arriVed, and 1 awaited with fsverish anI-
iety the coming on of night Only the chief
conspirstors, eight IN number, were to be pres
ent, and no strangers but myselt-a privilege
owed to the moonshine legacy l had Just re-
ceived-was to be admitted TO the crOwning tri-
umph of successful fraud. One only hint l had
ventured to give Mr.. Merton, and that under a
violable secrecy. This was it" Be sure, on
commencing play tomorrow night that the
bonds and obligations you have signed, the jew
els you have lost with a sum in notes or gold
to make up an equal amount to that on which
you make the risk, is actually deposited on the
table," He promised to insist on the condition.
1t involved much more than | dreamed of then.
My arrangements were at length thoroughly
complete; and 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 a sum equal to that which he
had brought with him-tor confident of win
ming, he was determined to recover his losses to
the last farthing; and although his bonds, bills,
obligations, his sisters jewels and genuine
notes were produced, there was still heavy
sum deficient.
"Ah, by the by exclaimed Sanford, as I en-
tered, "Waters can lend you th0sum for an hour
OF twO-lor a consideration be added IN a
whisper, sit viii soon be returned"
"NO, thank you" l answered coldly, Il never
part with money till | have lost It."
A malignant smile passed over the scOundreI' s
features, but he made no reply. Ultimately IL
was decided that one of the fraternity should
be dispatched in search Of the required sum-
He was gone about half an hour, and returned
with bundle of notes. They were, as hoped
and expected foTgeries on foreign banks Mr.
Merton locked at and counted them, and the
play commenced. As it went on, so vividly did
the scene recall the evening that had sealed my
own ruiz, that 1 grew dizzy with excitement,
and drained tumbler after tumbler of water to
sIlay the ferved throbbing Of my veins The
gamblers were fortunately too much absorbed to
heed my agitation Merton lost continuously
without pause or intermission. The stakes
were doubled-trebled-qu His brain
was on FIRE; and he played or rather lost, with
the recklessness of a mSdman
"Hark what's thatm suddenly exclaimed
Sanford, from whose satanic features the mask
he had so long worn before Merton had been
gradually slipping. "Did you hear noise be-
lowl"
My ear had caught the sound, and could bet
ter interpret than he. 1t ceased.
Touch the signal bell, Adolphe," added San
ford
Not only the play, but the very breathing Of
the villains was suspended, as they listened for
the reply. II came. The answering tinkIe
sounded, nce-tWice-thrice
'All rightn shouted Sanford. Proceed the
farce is nearly played out"
had instructed the officers that two Of them,
in plain clothes, should present themselves at
the door, obtain admission by means of the
password I had given, and Immediately Seize
and gag the doOrkeeper. had also acquainted
them with the proper answer to the signal bell
three pulls at the bell handle communicating
with the first floor. Their comrades were then
to be admitted, and they were all silently to as
cend the stairs and wait on the landing till sum-
moned by me to enter and seize the gamesters.
The back entrance to the house was also secure
ly but unobtrusively watched. Oae only fear
disturbed me. Twas lest the scoUndrels should
take the alarm in time to exingush the lights,
destroy the forged papers, and possibly escape
by some private passage unknown to me.
ROusing myself as soon as the play was re-
sumed, from the trance of memory by which I
had been in some sort absorbed, and first esceT-
tanning that my pistols were within easy reach,
for knew l was playing desperate game, /
rose, stepped careessly to the door, partially
opened it, and bent forward as if listening TO a
repetition of the sound which had so alarmed
the company. To my great delight, the stairs
and lauding were filled with police officers, ST
lent and stern as death. drew back aud walked
toward the table at which Mr.. Merton was seat
ed The last stake, an enormous one, was being
played for. Merton lost. lie sprang upon his
feet, death-pale, despairing, overwhelmed, and a
hoarse execrstion surged from his clenched
teeth. Sandford and his associates coOiy raked
the plunder together, their features lightened up
with fendish gleo.
in-traitor-miscreant shrieked bIer-
ton, as if smitten with a sudden frenzy, and
darsing at Sanford's throat; ''yOu, devil that
you are, you have undOne and destroyed me :.
'No doubt of it," camly replied Sanford,
shaking Off his victims grasp, 'and think il
has been very artisticslly and effectively done
too. Sniveling, my fine fellow, will scarcely
help you any"
Mr.. Merton glared upon the taunting villair
in speechless agony and rage.
''Not quite SO fast, Carbon, if you please"
exclaimed, at the same time taking up bundle
of forged notes. at does not appear to me thai
Mr. Merton has played against equal stakes, fol
unquestionably this paper is not genuine"
aDog ~ roared Sanford, edo you value you
life SO cheap :" and he rushed toward me as if K
sezs the forged notes
was as quick as he, and tho leveled tube o
a pistol sharply arrested his eager onslaught
The entire party gathered near Us, flaming will
excitement. Sanford looked bewilderedly from
one to another, apparently scarcely conscious Oi
what was passing around him.
wretch, the papers will have" screamed
Sanford, recovering himself 90 Seize him-stat
him-strangle him."
{" Look to yousolf, scoundrol,' replied, witt
equal vehemence "Your time has come OF
ficers, enter and do your duty"
In an instant the room was filed with people
and surprised, psnie-stricken, paralyzed by th'
suddenness of the catastrophe, the gang weT'
all secured without the slightest resistance
tbouch most of them were armed, and marched
off in custody. Threo-Sanford, or Carbon
(but he had half dozen aliases,) one OF them
were transported for life; the rest were sen
fenced to various terms of Imprisonment. Ny
task was effectually accomplished.
My superiors were pleased to express verl
warm coinmendaton of the manner in which
had acquitted myself; and the first step in th
promotion, which ultimately led to my presen
position in another branch Of the public service
was soon afterward conferred upon me. Mr
Merton had his bonds, obligations, jewels ant
money, restored to him, and was taught wisdom
by terrible experience never again to enter
gaming house.