Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-03-28

STOP said the stranger III you shoot
me YOU oil simply prove yeurssif afraid Of
me. Take your seat at the table, ard
/ will mako my words good
/ There ~. something in the calm, stern
manner Of The stranger that sesmed 70 ren-
+ der the rsnbI powerles lie hssitated a
mensut AMI tl,en seij, buiyinelt;
4 never play With man whose face
cannot see
Never mind 'iy face sail the s,rinrer
IL .au are no seraid 81 Iosieg you shall see
L When AIN done with you.
Bot how do know tina, ,en have money
Tor snch sport persisted sturdsani. gu
look aecdy enough. M 1nc ieiios.
"fnesc," said tie stranger, ~ nave zen
thousand dollars there. u .ol csh VIA II
Won shall do co.
Nlth A. oath siurdvsrt plscei himself
a, the table and bsde bis challenger do like
wise. Ihose Of US rho had listened to this
singular dialogue, now gathered around the
table, expecting to see . scene Of more than
unusual interest. The stranger had not
raised his hat brim, and none Of u had
seen his face but We ell felt from hiI gen.
eral air and manner that Daniel S,urdiyaot
had 1t last met bis match. II did not take
long to snow US that the stranger vas IN
unusually good player. For an hour or
more the play ing went on in silence. The
siakss we're h,gh and the contest marked
with rare skili. Sturdivant exsr,ed him
self - he had never done bsfore, bu. in
spite Of oil his ef ,r,s he lost steadily. BY
the expiration Ut the time mentioned above
he had lost over two thousand dollars. !
noticed the fiu.h upon his cheek deepen.
aud a strange light came into his eies. At
last, with All exclamation of triumph, he
drew toward him the heap OF notes.
That was well done SAID the stranger,
"You are on expert in cheating Bot 90
on. can beat you whether , on play open
y or dishohestly,"
Slurdiyaut sad nothing, but dealt the
cards again. The hand was played. and
Sturdlvant was about to seq, the stskes
again, when the stranger laid down card
and checked him.
The gambler uttered sharp cry and sat
. worn and faded ace OF hearts," with u
dark stain across his face. Sturdivant's
face worked convulsively ss he gazsd at il,
and the spectators gathered more closely
around ID. two, wondering at the strange
scencr
"ln Gods name. who arr vout" ask cd
Sturdivant, With his eyes stll fixed on the
card.
look At me, said the stranger quietly.
As il powcrless to resist, Sturdivant rails
| ed his eyes TO the speaker
The stranger had raised his hat and at
looking ~ the trembling man with eyes
which fairly blazsd with fury. S,urdivant
uttered gsoan and sank back in bis chair
with his face Whita aud rigid. The stranger
with enc sweep gathered the money from
the table and thrustit into his bosom.
| "rhe ace Of hearts 10 an unlucky card for
you, Daniel Sturdivant," he said, coolly
You played It snce when you thou ht IT 10
your advantage. Now. God help you, fos
,hst play is returned"
As he spoke he raised pistol which w
had not seen, and before We could stop him
aimed il deliberately at the trembling man
aud fired. The gambler fell heavily upon
>tr"amsd over it, hiding the fatal card from
sight.
Gentlemen" said the stranger, rising tt
his feet as We slsod paralizsd With horror d
the dreadful scene, that man ruined my
wife and tried to murder NEE. have beer
hunting him ten years"
lie wslked slowly by US down the stair
way 10 the lower deck. just then rs tb,
lie 'mer touched at a landing. he spranl
ashore and va iseed IN the Clark woods
n vet learned the history OF the mystic
rious affair, for the dead gambler was b.,
tend hn-.Ian questioning and never sa~
the stranger ngain; but | shall not soor
iorget the Impression made upon me at thai
] ftme