Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-08-24
THEDUEL ON THE Dixie.

L Ou To C0rCdlH u Ucllc'c A1s
THE DUEL ON THE DIXIE.
1t was fair day on the river Ohio
The grand saloons on the steamer Kishico-
ouillac were crowded with passengers
The ladies in the after portions lounged
upon luxurious divans, slipping cooling
beverages, or sleeping over recent lltera-
ture, and in and out among them played
a darkeyed child, who now and then cry
ed petuiantly for papa. The latter sat in
the dim, close, forward cabin, at one of
the many card tables. lie was pale and
agitated, for he was losing heavily. Lit
tie by little fortune had beckoned him on,
and now that she was receding, he gam
bled recklessly; but the cool, clever gen
tleman, with the curling hair, sitting op-
posite, swept off the eagles without a
smile. The loser was wild; at each mis-
fortune he doubled his stakes, the winner
always closing the game, though careless
Iv: and it was not hard to read in the for
mer's darkening face that he counted his
losses seriously. 1t was game of poker,
and there were participants, but these two
divided all attention. Five cards were
dealt to each, and the players wagered
upon the relative value of the sequences.
If the troubled man held four tens, the
other was certain to hold four knaves
twice he held kings, the other called four
aces.
81 do not own dime in the world,
cried the pale man at last; twill you take
two hundred dollars against my watch {?
The person with the flowing hair bow
ed politely.
"Go the watch on my hand, ," cried the
pale gentleman, sanguinely desperate.
81 raise you two hundred dollars,,' the
person answered gravely. "fou have
handsome emerald upon your finger
will YOU stake it for that amOuntT
The pale man threw it down with
curse.
81 show four queens" he said.
"The ring and the watch are mine, re
piled the other calmly, 81 show foui
kings"
The pale man sprang from his chai
with howl.
81 call God to witness that | have beel
swindled," he Kissed. 81 am disgraced
ruined. The money l have lost was no
mine. That man has made me thiet
and he wears upon his finger my poo
wife's wedding ring"
In another instant he had scattered hi
own brains upon the bystanders.
The survivor wiped his coat complacent
", and lit a fresh cigar. The steamer wa
stopping at some station, and amid tn
haste and confusion he stepped pleasant.
ashore. The lines had been cast adrift
the wheels spun round again, and tn
boat moved, when small, piercing scream
arose from the throng. 1t was the dark
eyed child, and he had found his papa.
"Come here, my little man" said al
old negro steward, lifting the boy aloft
and wi ping his eyes, "does yer see ger
Pman yonder on the quay, mos 'specta
bic gen'rman agwine in the hack. Da
man has got yer pas golden jewels an
watch"
The boy marked fercely through hi
tears the shapely limbs and the long brigh
ripglets, and on the strangers white han
the glitter of the dead mans gem. A gus
of grief drowned out the scene, and tn
steamer drifted away.
Twenty years followed, and each yea
witnessed upon the western waters il
hosts of dupes and blacklegs. But anon
! the latter class there was one singularl
eccentric and successful. He never lost.
There were no impossibilities in the gam
which he played. He was a necromal
Ger at cards; with some there were chance
he made chances certainly. He plul
dered the poor and the rich, yet cast the
nurses back again with scorn in his dar
ewes; and he was invariably searching ft
gentleman tourist with flowing hair, W
on whose track he seemed to be foreve
vet whom he never found. At times b
/ would leap from the gaming tables as
steamer passed, exclaiming that he saw tt
object of his search, and offer the Cal
tain his fortune to turn and Overtake hin
He remarked him on RATS and landing
and in reeeding villages, and among tt
thousand faces of busy citizens. Yet, wit
those gIimpses the figures passed aws
and the years passed by, and the traye
ing public thought the man crazy-thoug
not upon the subject of cards.
They met one day-the pursuer an
pursued-after all those twenty years.
was a fair afternoon on the Mississippi al
upon the Kishicoquillac. They sat in IL
forward cabin at one end of the many t
bles. and the floor at the feet of the pu
suer was dark with ancient blood-stains.
81 beg your pardon" he said quietl
bending his eyes upon his opponent "w
YOU change places with meFo
The flowing hair of the other was We
arey, but he was calm, and only for m
! ment he faltered.
elf you insist" he answered pleasant
SIT will give no advantage.
Tbey were wonderfully matched, b
the Young man won. They wagered
trayagantly and waited deliberately, b
the Young man always won.
i, "fwill play you for my watch" said
. elderly man-and the young man won
81 have nothing more" smiled the p'
sued, cold as an icicle.
~ see very handsome ring on yo
= fincer-an emerald-will You hazard it
The old man laid it down after 10
pause.
eIt is my last ornament" he muttere
u show four queens"