The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-10-06
The G01nbIer's Fate.
BY A REFORMED GAMBLER.

| paid visit to St. Louis. 1t was in the
fall of 1888, and | took up my quarters in
old City hotel, at that time one of the
finest public houses in the city. 1t was
crowded with guests from all parts of the
! Union. Amongst these was tall, well
proportloned young man, about twenty
five years of age. He was elegantly dress
ed, and wore a fine pair of whiskers, cut
in military style, of the same color as his
hair, jet black, which gave him quite a
martial appearance He was atfable in
his manners and easy in conversation. and
did not hesitate in the least to say that he
was a professional sportsman.
Thompson, for that was his name, and
took several strolls together. One of
these was to view the ground where Pet
tus and Biddle fought the bloody and fatal
duel, at the distance Of five feet, in which
both their lives were sacrificed. This took
place on Bloody Island, opposite to the
city. Another ramble, and the last, was
in the vicinity of the high mound, then
above, but now included i'll the city limits
1t was near twilight and as we stood
gazing from the summit of the beautiful
mound, upon the golden rays of the sun as
it sunk below the western horizon, Thomp-
son addressed me lis follows:
''This is fertile city for our business y
Supposing that he had reference to card
playing. answered in the affirmative.
Il have picked a man every night,
said he, 'and have made plenty. | am
not selfish, as you shall soon see. | have
chosen to give YOU an interest in game
to be played this evenins-say one-third
| will give you for your share one thous-
and dollars"
! was out of funds, and the good news
called forth my heartfelt thanks | i'm
mediately asked where the game was to
come of, and what part he had assigned
for me to play.
1T Will come Oft in twenty minutes :
perhaps less said he, ''near the base OF
this mound, hv the side of the river"
! Then pointing down the road to coup
lie Of men, some half 4 mile distant, he cX-
claimed: "Yonder they come The tall
man is the pigeoll-the other my partner.
~ have no time to spare. Take these.
he continued, - and take your stand one
hundred yards down the road y and pre-
senting me 1T the same time with a large
horsemans pistol, which he kept conceal
ell hcncath his cloak, and black silk cap.
"Conccal Yourself, and, after they pass
YOU, cover your face and fall close in the
rear | will demand their money or their
lives, and presenting my pistol at the
breast of the large man, shoot him down
without giving him a choice. Should |
miss. YOU must blow his brains out You
| take p
'Certainlv," | replied, knowing that
upon the slightest hesitation upon my part
to act. the contents of his pistol would
brin. my earthly career to speedy close
''Wcl, why don't YOU move ," he de-
manded As ! still stood undecided. think
ING in what manner might escape
"Becausc thought probably it would
be better for YOU to secrete yourself along
the road, and leave me to demand his mo-
ncy or his life" | answered.
You demand bis money YOU" he
angrily rcjoined. "a pretty demand You
would make, Begone TO your post ~
| flew at the top of my speed. Ny de-
sign. in changing position, was conceived
in a moment. | thought that | might
escape before the terrible deed waS con-
Summated. | reached the turn of the
road, pistol in hand. In a few moment.
| lived my whole life over. For the first
, time since my initiation as a gambler. did
realize the responsibilities to which | has
bound myself in my oath of allegiance.
But | resolved to meet the advancing par
ty. and warn the intended victim. though
| should perish. carried my purpos,
into execution. Turning the curve which
hid me from view on the apex of til,
mound, some two hundred yards in adj
vance of the spot where had been direct
ed to stand, met the two men, arm il
/ arm. The tall gentleman was hummin:
in the ear of his companion the swec
notes of that lovely ballad, "Ihe Las
Rose of Summer" On my approach, h,
: lowered his voice and turned partly around
| graspcd him by the arm, and badc hin
return, and then ran for my life. He die
return - but neither Thompson no
his companion ever made their appearance
at the City hotel. gave the gentleman
! who thus escaped from the hand of TIN
assassin, a brief explanation of the caus
!, Of my singular conduct, and received hi
n thanks as the preServer of his life.
Two years passed, and was making
tour through Mississippi. Stopping a
Port Gibson, few miles back of Crane
Gulf. understood that friend Of mine
one Skinner, was confined in the Jail ther
for killing the clerk of the court. Gale,
to see him, when, to my great surprise,
found also my old acquaintance, Bill
d Thompson, in irons He had been guilt,
/, of theft, and now awaited his trial. H
5 did not seem to wish me to recognize him
IS and | was happy to find him thus inclined
1t | took my leave OF my friend Skinner, an
e returned to the Gulf. The next day | re
e ceived the following note
4 4 Dear Sir After you left the priso
l. yesterday, Bill Thompson took up the Bi
Il BILE, and, placing hand upon it, raised hi
= orns to heayen. and took q SOLEMN 0at]