Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-09-01

parent not to indulge IN the wild lntoxlca-.
tion--to save his money, and if he would
not engage in legitimate business, either re-
turn to the mines or to his home IN the far
off East He might as well have attempted
| to persuade the hardened wretches who were
iswindlng his father to return to the path Of
r.ctitude-of honest dealing.
On the third night Hardie found himself
the owner of about FIVE hundred dollars. His
thousands had already passed out of his
hands.
I II will win all back or lose the remainder
before Irise, he muttere,l. Poor George"
he added, as he glanced at his son; i ought
not, for the boys sake, TO have given way
to my besetting sin. But, I could not help
myself"
The next moment his mind was absorbed
in the game. Fortune seemed to be against
: him In few minutes he had but one hum
bred dollars left This he boldly placed on
the queen and calmly awaited the result
Thus waiting, he leaned the elbow Of his left
arm on the edge of the table, his body rest
ing on the armchair; and while fresh pack
of cards was being shnffied, hid his face in
the open palm of his hand.
| A number Of spectators We're at the table,
but none had adventured so heavily as Har-
die, and they took their losses or their win
nings with some degree Of equanimity.
4 few seconds of silence followed the plac-
ing of the deck" in the faro box; and then,
amid the silence, might be heard the noise Of
the cards as they were drawn .therefrom and
t1rn,,pni On thar sey,,,.1tn niles =
Lost p said the dealer, in a low, smooth,
monotonous tone, and ere the sound of his
voice had died away nearly all the bets on the
table were either paid OF swept to the other
side of the banker. The queen WINS he
added, in the same Indifferent tone.
But before the announcement 1.-THE queen
wins" had been made, the boy George OBJ
served that his fathers body slightly CULVER
ed, as if with suppressed emotion, and then
remained passive as before. Yes. Hardie
had won Fortune had at length smiled up
on him His bet was added to by the bank
er; but he did not attempt to remove it -
Was he about to Try his luck second time
Yes He made no negative movement.
Again the cards were dealt from the box
and again Hardie's fortune was III the as
cen,lant. But, to the surprise Of bankers
and spectators, he permitted his winnings to
remain on the fortunate card.
For nine successive deals the queen turns
ed up fayorably to the bettor. It was ex-
traordinary! Arrange the pack as the dealer
might, an expert at the game, the card, at
each distribution, on which Hardie had
| placed his last hundred dollars, would turn
in his favor! The hundreds had rapidly in
creased to thousands of dollars At length,
50 exceedingly heavy had the bets become,
that the entire company in the saloon gath
cred around the table, and wondered at the
temerity of the man who dared SO mucE--for,
as all knew, one adverse card and the bank
would again have i'll its possession the enor-
NOUS pile of gold that now, like a huge pyr-
amid, glittered over and completely obscured
the queen.
1.-The mans either asleep, drunk, or a
fool, whispered a lookcr-on, just as the win
, ming card turned up for the eighth time, 'or
he wouldn't risk SO much"
'sFatler, father whispered the boy, as
, he saw with nervous excitement the wealth
which was each minute increasing on his
parents side, at the same time dreading with
/ those around him its sudden loss.
, Again and for the last time the queen
t turned up, and to the utter amazement Of the
, spectators on the side Of the bettor.
}, For moment the bankers and dealers
, consulted together; and then the latter said
| in calm, but not altogether steady voice.
1.-The bank will receive no more bets to-
night. It's closedr'
. The announcement that the bank had beer
broken seemed to release the tongues of the
) spectators, who instantly set up cheer a
t the unwonted event.
Father father.r cried the lad, "the banl
5 is broke All this is yours Gomez
} There was no movement.
A stranger took hold of the arm which
Hardie had placed on the table, and with al
L oath declared that he believed the man wa
stupidity drunk, and didn't know what he wa
; about. AS he attempted to remove the hand
. he suddenly started back; but before he coult
l open his lips to express his establishment
: Hardie's head fell heavily forward and strucl
2 the table
, A slight examination told the sad tale
The poor gambler was dead J.
Y Subsequent inquiry proved that he ha'
died Of disease Of the heart, brought abou
S by undue excitement. H
+ The bankers, not forgetting their interests
/ set up claim for the money they had lost
5 but this was ovclruled It was given to tn
$ boy, who, without unnecessary delay, re
: turned with it to the Estates" What be
came of him afterward never learned.
4 The body Of the Dead Gambler lies lttl
: ways out Of Sacramento No tombston
c marks the spot where the infatuated ma
: sleeps his last sleep.
A THEATRICAL INCIDENT An amusin