Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-07-29

.Sturdivant strobe forward a step or
two, and thrust his hand into his breast,
as if to grasp weapon.
"Stop!" said the stranger. If you
shoot me, you will simply prove your
self afraid of me. Take your seat at
the table, and will soon make my words
good"
There was something in the calm, stern
manner of the stranger that seemed to
render the gambler powerless. He hest
tated a moment, and then said, bullying
ly, "Inever play with man whose face
/ cannot see."
"Never mind my face," said the stran.
ger; Z" if you are not afraid Of losing, you
Shall see it when have done with YOU
But how do know that you have
money for such sport?" persisted Sturdl-
want. You look seedy enough, my fine
fellow"
"TherelI' said the stranger, producing
roll of bank, notes; 6" have ten thou.
sand dollars there. If you can win it
you shall do So"
With an oath, Sturdivant placed him.
self at the table, and bade his challenger
to do likewise.
Those of US who had listened to this
singular dialogue now gathered around
the table, expecting to behold scene of
more than usual interest The stranger
had not raised his hat-brinl, and none of
us had seen his face, but we all felt, from
his general air and manner, that Daniel
Sturdivant had at last met his match.
1t did not take long to show us that
the stranger was an unusually good play
er. For an hour or more the playing
went OF in silence The stakes were
high, and the contest marked with rare
skill. Sturdivant exerted himself as he
had never done before; but in spite OF
FALL his efforts, he lost steadily. By Che
expiration of the time indicated above,
he had lost over two thousand dollars.
noticed the flush upon his face deepen,
and strange light come into his eyes.
At last, with an exclamation of tri-
umph, he drew towards him thezheapo Of
notes. - -
"That was we'll done," said the stran-
ger. "You are an expert in cheating
But 60 on; can beat you whether you
play openly or dishonesty"
Sturdivant said nothing, but dealt the
cards again. The hand was played, and
Sturdivant was about to seize the stakes
again, when the stranger laid down card
and checked him.
The gambler uttered a sharp cry and
sat motionless, with his eyes fixed or the
card, worn and faded ace of Icarts
with dark stain across the face, Stur,
divant's features worked convulsively a;
he gazed at it; and the spectators gath
cred more closely around the two, won
dering at the strange scene.
SIN Gods name, who are you?" asked
Sturdivant, with his eyes still fixed on
the card.
"Look at me" said the stranger. quiet
ly.e
As if powerless to resist, Sturdivant
raised this eyes to the speaker.
The stranger raised his hat and sat
looking at the trembling man, with eyes
which blazed with fury. Sturdivant ut
tered groan and sank back in his chair,
with his face white and rigid. The-stran'
ger with one sweep gathered up the mon
ey from the table, and thrust it in his
| bosom.
0The ace of hearts is an unlucky card
for you, Daniel Sturdivant," he said,
coolly: "you played it once when you
thought it to your advantage. Now,
heaven help you, for that play is return.
ed"
As he spoke, he raised pistol which
we had not seen, and before we could
stop him, aimed deliberately at the trem-
bling man, sand fired. The gambler fell
heavily upon the table, q corpse-and
the bright blood streamed over it, hiding
the fatal card from sight.
"Gentleman," said the stranger, rising
to his feet as we stood paralyzed with
horror at the dreadful scene, "that man
ruined my wife, and tried to murder ME.
have been hunting him for ten years. "
He walked slowly by us down the
stairway to the lower deck. just as the
steamer touched at the landing, he sprang
ashore and vanished in the dark woods.
never learned the history of the mys-
terious affair, for the dead gambler was
beyond all human questioning; and i
never saw the stranger again; but shall
never forget the impressionit it made upon
me at the time.