The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-06-28

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Here he fixed his eyes on me again with that
horrid glare, and his fingers worked nervously
together, as if longing to be at my throat.
Yes, l should have killed my child. 'Tis
rare sport to kill-to--"
But about lord Palmerston? ?" Interrupt
ted
His face resumed the old expression, and a
gloomy shade seemed to pass over it.
"Ah! said he, moody, 'that was dreadful
disappointment, wasn't it 2"
"You have not told me yet" / said. "Did
| his lordship treat you i'll
HE lost he lost / had backed him with
half my fortune, and he lost But, bark you p
and he clutched me by the arm as he said it,
''he was drugged-I know he was drugged the
night before I"
Then lord Palmerston was horse y | ex-
claimed
''Of course he was told you so at first
You don't pay attention-you're not interested.
Indeed, am, deeply" | replied, eagerly.
Pray go on"
We must be in now before five minutes were
past-this l was assured OF. Five minutes
long enough to die!
''That is ALL" replied he, with suspicious
stare. ''He lost, and l lost. That's the end of
| it."
'But what has this to do with the ace of
clubs? ?"
1.-THE ace of clubs" said he, fercely. whats
that to you?"
''You promised to tell me, you know and
should like to hear it, replied, in concilia~
ting tone. ''You have not told me half yet
Do tell me about the ace of clubs"
Il was desperate you see" said the maniac.
Ioe Dal bod
l had always avoided play till then, but some
how | fell into it when l saw the men at the
club playing night after night, winning and los
ing-winning and losing often saw as much
gold change hands on single card as would have
covered all my losses on the turf; and then l
could not resist it,"
so you played, tooY
$50 played, too For whole week won
incessantiy Aha the red gold and the rust
ling notes that took home every night for that
week l won more, three times more, than
had lost by the race And then came the turn
of luck"
''You lost ?"
.'All that gained, in one night! But was
not satisfied: | went on again the next day, and
lost, and lost, till everything had on earth was
gone-ay ! all | had on earth was not enough
to pay it! But know how it was. That old
man played with was the fend. ] knew he
was q fend. | saw it in his eyes"
He paused. His excitement terrified me-
The whistle of the guard rang shrilly through
the air, and the pace of the train slaekened.-
He listened-he knew that we were coming in
---he turned suddenly towards me.
''But what about the ace of clubs ?" urged,
hurriedly. "Did the old man turn it up?"
"Will you betray me, If tell you -
''Never," said, earnestly.
Listen, then. hid it in my sleeve; for
was desperate. l staked thousands on the
chance Of my cutting it, They all stood round,
betting how it would turn up; the old man
curse him smiled, and let me do it And
when cut the ace of clubs, he stood up and
called me Theft"
A bright fash of light streamed in at the win
dows-the train stopped. Thank God we
were arrived The madman shrunk back at
the sight of the lamps and the crowd of faces
beyond ! leaned over the door, and with fin
gers that refused to do their work, felt esrgerly
for the handle
''What is the matter what is this?" he said,
timidly.
"Help!" shrieked, springing out upon the
platform among the tide Of passengers. Help
this man is mad ~
There were two men standing By the door
through which we bad to pass, who seemed anx-
iously to scrutenize each face as went by. They
both turned as | spoke, and one came to me.
''Where is he, sir?" said he respectfully
'We're waiting for him. It's been telegraphed
along the line that he's murdered some one down
at H, and he's awful dangerous"
He had ventured out by this time, and was
standing irresoutely beside the carriage door,
as if not knowing where to turn.
AS for me, could only point to him, the
power of speech was gone and just as they had
captured him, fell senseless to the ground.