The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-26


moi to indulge in the wild intoSication,
te 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 cast He might as well have at
tempted opersuade the hardened wretch
Is who were sWindling his father to re-
turn 10 the path OF rectitude-of honest
dealing.
SELF The owner OF about five hundred dol
lars. His thousands had already passed
out ofhis hands.
a will win all back or lose the re-
mainder before rise" he muttered.-
ePoor George" he added, as he glanced
at his son, az ought not, for the boys
sake. 70 have given way to my hesetting
sin. But could not help myself
The next moment his mind was alb
sefbed ia the game. Fortune seemed to
be AGAINST him. IN a few moments he
had but one hundred dollars left. This
he boldly placed Oh the queen and Calm
II awaited the result. Thus waiting, he
leaned the elbow OF his left arm on the
armchair; and while & fresh pack OF
cards was being siu1iiet., hid his face IN
the open palm of his hand.
A number Of Spectators We're at the
|
ily a. IfarClie, and they took their losses
or their winnings with some degree of
equanimity.
\ few seconds Of silence followed the
placing OF the deck" in the faro box ;
and then, amid the silence, might be
heard the noise Of the cards as they We're
drawn tllerefrom and dropped on their
seperate piles.
4 Lost y said the dealer, in a low,
smooth, monotonous tone, and ere the
sound Of his voice had died away all the
bets on the table We're either paid or
swept to the other side of the banker
"The queen WINS. he added, in the
same Indifferent tone.
But before the announcement, .the
queen wins'' had been made, the boy
George observed that his fathers body
slightly quivered, as if With suppressed
emotion, and then remained passive as
before. Yes! Hardie had Won. For
tune had at length smiled upon him.
His ct was added to by the bankers ;
but he did not attempt to remove! Was
he about to try his luck a second time:
| Yes? He made no negative movement.
Again the cards We're dealt from the
| box and again Hardie's fortune was in
the ascendant! But, to the surprise OF
| DGDjNSIS ttliNI III lllS
winnings to remain on the fortunate
card.
For nine successive deals the queen
turned up favorable to the bettor. It
WAS extraordinary Arrange the pack
as the dealer might, an expert at the
game, the card, at each distribution, on
which Hardie had placed his last hun
dred dollars, would turn up in his favor
| The hundreds had rapidly increased to
thousands Of dollars. At length, SO eN-
eeedingly heavy had the bets become,
that the entire company in the saloon
gathered around the table, and wondered
at the temerity of the man who dared SO
much-for, as all knew, one adverse card
and the bank would again have in its
possession the enormous pile Of gold that
now, like a huge pyramid, glittered over
and completely obscured the queen.
"The mans either asleep, drunk or a
fool" whispered looker-on, just as the
winning card turned up for the eighth
time, che wouldn't risk so much"
g Father, father,0 whispered the boy,
rs he saw with nervous excitement the
wealth which was each minute increas-
ing on his parents side, at the same
time dreading with those around him
its sudden loss.
| stAlNt lol lllS lllllO, VIC NuCCll
turned up, and to the utter amazement
ofthespectators, On the side of the bettor.
For a moment the bankers and dealers
consulted together; and then the latter
said in calm, but not altogether steady
voice:
ssfFhe bank will receive no more bets
tonight. 1t is closed !"
The announcement that the bank had
been broken seemed torelease the tongues
Of the spectators, who instantly set up a
cheer at the unWonted event.
.Father, father" cried the lad, sthe
bank is broken. All this is yours!-
Gomez
There was 10 movement.
A stradger took hold of the arm which
Hardie had placed on the table, aud with
an oath declared that he believed the
man wasstupidly drunk and didn'tknoW
what he was about. As he attempted
to remove the and he suddenly starteo
back, but before he could open his lips
to express his establishment, Hardie's
/ head fell heavily forward and struck tht
I table.
i slight examination told the tale
The Moor gambler was dead!
| G,fseu1lpnt inquiry proved that he hat