Maryland free press. [volume] (Hagerstown [Md.]) 1862-18??, 1866-08-02

queen wins, "had been made, the boy OBJ
served that his fathers body slightly quiv-
cred as if with suppressed emotion, and
then remain passive as before. Yes. Har-
die had won. His bet had been added to
by the bankers; but he did not attempt to
remove it, Was he about to try his luck
the second time? Yes. He made no mega
tive movement. ''9 e --,l.'.-ltf
/ Again the cards were dealt from the box
and again Hardie's fortune was in the as
eendant! But, to the surprise of; bankers
and spectators. he permitted his winnings
to remain on the fortunate card. ~ If'e
For nine successive deals the. queen
turned up favorable to the better / Ar
range the pack as the dealer might an ex-
pert at the game. the card at each distri-
button, on which Hardie had placed his
last hundred dollars. would turn up in his
favor. The hundreds increased to thous-
ands of dollars. At legth so exceedingly
heavy han the bets become that the entire
company in the saloon gathered around the
table and WONDERED ut the temerity of the
man who would dare SO much for as all
knew, one adverse card and the bank
would again have lin its possession the
enormous pile of gold that now, like huge
pyramid, glittered over and completely OBJ
scured the queen. ''''.'a'.
4 t'Fhe mans ehh her asleep drunk or a
fool. whispered a locker on, just as the
winning card turned up for the eighth time,
''or he wouldn't risk SO much"
Father, 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.
n Again and for the last time, the queen
turned up. aud to the utter amazement of
the spectators on the side of the better.
For moment the bankers and dealers
cen 'ulted together, and then the latter
Sal in calm, but not altogether steady
voi;e. d tf.s i' az 4. .u,J'
t'The bank will receive no more bets to
night. It is closedn' s.. .,'.,
Tle announcement that the bank had
b on broken seemed to release the tongues
OF the spectators, who instantly set up
cLeer at the unwonted event.
Father, father" cried the lad, ''the
bark is broken. All this is yours. Come
There was no movement. ...,,
A stranger took hold of the hand Har-
dieilaa placed on the table, and. with an
oath declared that he believed the man was
stupidity drunk and didn't know what he
was about. AS he attempted to remove
the band he started suddenly back. but be-.
fore he could open his lips to express his
astonishment, Hardie'sa head fell heavily;
forward and struck the table Z on
Il slight examination told the tale. The
poor gambler was dead,
Subsequent inquiry proved that he had
died of disease of the herat, brought-about
by undue excitement. ,2ude .ClvGH
. he bankers. not forgetting their inter-
-ests, set up a claim for The money they had.
lost, but this was over-ruled. 1T was Civ,
en- to the boy, who, without unnecessary,
delay, returned with il to the Estates. -.
What became ofihim afterwards l never
learned '" roo --., III
The body of tile Dead Gambler lies a
little ways out of Sacramento. No tomb
stone marks the spot where the infatuated
man sleeps his last sleep.