St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-05-05

-. ---.zzz.sz.....<- -. NCl4tj |
inc notes were, produced, thereYw was stil .
heavy sum deficient. ~z@ssszIr~gg'
:: '.Ah,, by-sbs,by.., e1claimed sandford, !
a. + entered waters csp aend you the /
su : for al fis'ar III or ,wo-fora consideration"
he added. in a whisper. Ij'1t will soon 10
returned" :*'3:,',. :*:.:,',.' II ;:>.-,>::;;%~.
'.No. thank you,' answered coidly -
II never part with my money until have !.
lost it," /.
A malignant, ,scowl passed over the scoun-
drel's features: But kc< made ia no Fieply.-
Ultimately it was decided that one Of The .
fraternity should be dispatched in search ]
Of the required amount He was gone i
about half ian hour; and returned with 70
bundle Of notes They were, as IT 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
ASSAAA VIC tHdL uAu ScsSASU own
ruin, that I grew dizzy with excitement,
and drained tumbler cater tums2er Of va
ter to allayl the fevered jthsebbing of,myx
vein:. The gamblers we're fortunately too
much absorbed to heed my agitation:-
| Merton lost ontinuously-without pause
or intermisxion. The stakes we're doub-I
| led-trebled-qnadrupled. His brain was
on FIRE; and lie pl1yed, or rather lost, Will, .
! the recklessnese Of q nadman. ,,z-,.,, =: :
"Hark:.. What's that q suddenly. ex.'
claimed sandford,. from whose Satanic fea-,
| lures the mask he had 50 long worn before
Merton had been gradually slipping. asDidI
you not hear noise below 5" "r72a,--ltGi !
Ny ear had caught the sound; and Il;
could better interpret it than he. ,i..79er,,--
1t ceased. .s............:.,. !
Touch the sigma! .belE,' Adolphe," !" add .
ed Sanford. -. .' .
Not only the play, but the very breath.
ing Of the villains, was suspended as they
listened for the reply. vti;ft i.a~ -4:.ze;S
1t came. The answering tinkle sounded;
once twice e-thrice:.,s - !.
can right!''' shouted Sandford.. ''Pro-
ceed! The farce is nearly played out. ~ .
| had instructed the officers that two Of,
| them IN plain;elothss should present them
selves at the front door, obtain admission
- sSvm. i ana Immediately seize and fag zen
doorkeeper. I had also acquainted them.
with the proper answer to the signal ring )
three. distinct pulls at the bell-handle COM,
| n,unicating with the first floor. Their COM
rades were all to silently ascend the stairs;
and wait the landing till summoned by
me to enter and seize the gamesters. T.. The
back entrance to the house was also secures
Iy, but pneb: rusively, watched.
One Only fear disturbed me; it was lest:
the scoundrels should take alarm, in suf1i-
clent time to extingaish-the lights, destroy
| the forged papers, and possibly escape by
some private passage which might, entirely
unknown to me, exist. II
| Rousing myself. as soon as the play va:
resumed, from the trance Of memory by
which had been in some sort absorbed
and first ascertaining that the handles Q:
my pistols were within easy reaeh-for
knew was playing desperate game Will
desperate men-1 rose, stepped carelessl,
to the door, partially opened it, and ben
forward, as if: listening, for repetition o
the sound Which had so alarmed the com
pany To my great t.<l delight, the landing
and stairs were filled with police officers.
silent and stern RS death. l drew back
and walked towards the table at which Mr.
Merton was seated. >. .
The last s ake-an enormous one-wa
being play ed for. Merton lost. He sprunf
upon his feet, death-pale, despairing, over
whelmed, and a ho&rse e1eeration SURGE
through his clenchea teeth .r..f.,.i v..} !
Sanford and his associates coolly rake,
the plunier together, their features lighte,
up with fendish glee. go
'::Villain!-traitor! r!-miscreant! shrek
ed Mr.. Merton, as if smitten with i sud
, don frenzy, and, darting At Sandford's
throat; "you, devil that you are, have I'M
done, destroyed, me!"a =: s, ,'5'l,,...s..-
mo doubt of it," calmly replied Sand
: ford, shaking of his victim $ grasp ), ..an,
l think it has been very artistically and ef
fectually done, toe. Shiveling, my fine fell
low, will scarcely help you much."Do ]
80 Mr.: Merton glared upon the .tamtinf
villaia in speeohlesss asgoay and rage. ess5
::''Not quite so fast, Carbon, il you please,
! exclaimed, At the. same time taking up +.
bundle Of forged notes. ut does not spy
pear to ME that Mr.. Merton has played
against equal stakes" 'isa591
.'Dog!" roared s.ndford, '"do yoh hold
your life 80 cheap 81 and he rushedtowards
me .s il to seits the forged netes. G!,7es
Il III. ! was as quick IS he, and the leveled
tube tube Of e pistol sharply. arrested his eager
onslaught. The entire gang gathered near
US, flaming With. excitement. Nj: Meftoui
looked bewilderingly from eene te shSth.r,l
apparently scarcely conscious'of sHhat1asI
passing around him sssttti9a. .sis4
! of"Wrench,the papers from him q. scre6m-I
i ed Sanford, recovering his energy. ssSai.eI