Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-05-12


Ifor tho cards.
! at the mention Of the word husband"
Ia peculiar smile rested on his lips. and the
eyes Of the woman dropped to the table,
az il to avoid the scrutiny of the
stranger-that he might not read in them
confession that she had no husband, al
though she was mother. But he read it
all.
Again the cards we're dealt. There was
perceptIble nervousness in the hand and
strange twinkle in the eyes of the miner
as he drew from the pocket Of his overcoa,
two purses. All eyes were turned toward,
Ihim
sI'll bet two hundred ounces on the
acct he exclaimed to the astonished gam
bier. dropping tina sacks of dust upon the
table. land will draw the cards myself"
Five hundred dollars is the limit" ex-
claimed the gambler.
There is no limit to your rascality,'
thundered the stranger. '.nar should there
be to your camel and he replaced the
/ purse in his pocket. y. " fAIf =
/ The gambler sprang to, his feet. with his
hand on his revolver; but ere he coull
draw il, blow from the horny fist of the
stalwart minor sent him recling to the
floor.
! In moment all was confusion. A
dozen gamblers rushed from the adjoining
tables TO the rescue of the fallen blackleg.
with postols and knives glittering in the
lamplight. The woman raised to her feet.
and stood SPECIFICS behind the table.
f"Stand baekr' shouted the slminer.
drawing from belt with his left hand
huge bowie knife, and swinging an eight
inch navy revolver in the other; "stand
back" be repeated. retreating against the
wall. as the gamblers attempted to close
in upon hims' or, by the mother Of God.
III strew the floor with your carcasses."
! i"Shoot shims down" cried one of the
gamblers. brandishing a pistol above his
head. and evincing little inclination to IN
dertake the job himself. ,..1-,,,-,
The first man that pulls trigger dies, 2
said an eldery man breaking through the
crowd. and planting himself beside the lion
hearted miner. "Ten to one is too great
odds for any man. lie is a stranger, but
by HI he shall have fair play"
fright! right" shouted the crowd, be-.
ginning TO understand the nature of the
broil; "give him a chance!' and dozen
more pistols suddenly found the light.
Let me at him yelled the gambler who
had been knocked down. attempting to
reach the offender thro' the throng
Hold" said the elder man., who had
6rst insisted upon fair play; III you really
want to fight, select some spot where there
are few spectators; if not Put up your
lyon are right. my friend. said the mi
ner, "but will meet yon scoundrel where
he viii. when BIO will bapd with what he
will"
| "Enough," said the gambler. rendered
| desperate in this way. 'follow me with a
friend will accommodate you in ten min
utes" .7rwwrz r~te. - 49,
Il am completely at your service" said
the stranger. "but | have no friend here. "
] he continued turning to the man beside
him, "unless lcsl, call you one. from the
friendly part you ha We already assumed in
this difficulty" - = 80
al will not desert you now" said the
the old man. extending to him his hand
"ior yopare brave man. a Kentuckian
knows how to appreciate courage" ~ -
| The miner smiled, and stepping toward
the table where the woman was sitting,
pale and trembling, said to her. in low
voice. l8I8l .1Iii I! Lli'IjlI I
"Fear nothing--if you are sent for, do
not fail to Gomez" then taking the arm OF
the Kentuckian, he followed the gambler,
who was just quitting the saloon, LAGOON
| panied by "a friend. = 4
/ My friend" said the miner, as soon as
he had reached the street, "the fight must
be in room alone. without seconds--with
what weapons / care not Let whatever
may transpire hereafter excite no inquiry,
and / will explain all to morrow"
4 The Kentuckian bowed. Both parties
passed down Washington street for some
distance. and halted before a two-story
brick building. The door was opened by
a Chinaman. and taking lighted candle,
the gambler led the way up flight o!
stairs, TO small back room. 1t had one
window and was furnished with cot bed.
stead, wash stand and two chairs. Pla.
cling the light upon one OF the latter. the
gambler strobe toward the stranger, who
had Just entered, and said:
4 "Here is the place and now is the time -
He. expected the miner TO manifest
symptoms OF terror at the ann ouncemers,
and ask to defer the meeting; but he was
in error, and the cool reply Of ."exactly,'
rendered him alarmisgly eoguizaut, Of the
fact. 80 -
| AS last effort to shake the resolution
of the beligerent mountaineer. and avoid
the encounter for which, be felt no inclina,
ton. the gambler said with affected calm.
ness. fH< E'r ffARDFafa Ape
IF we fight at all it mast be alone. and
in this room. armed with a revolver and
bowie-knife.'
IL am fortunately provided with both. y
was the resolute reply. .s .ss
"Thend--nyou, take the consequences, y
replied the gambler, determined to fire be.
fore the word, and finding courage in the
cowardly resolution. He found little con-
ISOLATION in the smile just perceived through
the beard of his antagonist. ,asuts-. t51s
4 The arrangements for the desperate en-.
counter were soon made. The principals
each armed with bowieknife AMI revol-