The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-01-17


how double and quits"
Four hundred dollars were the
stakes! This time / would not lose.-
My antagonist was nervous; but there
was baleful light in his eyes did not
like. did not fear him. Why should
2 He had challenged me, not him
and he alone had insisted OH making
bets.
l no longer reserved myself. made
no shots depending on lucky results;
but the master, as knew myself to be,
of the Mexican, yet won the game by
the merest chance. He went out at
ninety-eight. l was seventy-six--
twenty four against two. The game
was desperate: but had command of
myself, and ran out !
"Caramba ~ ground between his
teeth my opponent. "Senor, this is
luck. / must win! l will try you
once again, and will double the stakes!,
"yery well" 1 said, "but upon this
condition will l play with you'-by
this time large crowd of Mexicans had
gathered around the table-that win or
lose, we close the game. I am tired of
1t, and rather than play you longer,
would much prefer returning you my
winnings" m Bs q.d
81 do not wish the senior to play long
er than he desires," was the reply. II
accept his terms"
The closing game was splendidly
gone through with by the Mexican. /
doubt If he had ever played better be-
fore, and felt, as the game progressed,
it would be miracle should win. 1
did, however. By a brilliant series of
shots, which ran me up over forty on
the string, additional to those 1 had
previously counted, remained, amid
the plaudits of the spectators, master of
the situation.
'sCaramba !" agained growled my op-
ponent, as he showed his white teeth.
"Will the senior double?"
NO uHoncIcu NitilOub nesllH-
tion, "you played this game fully un-
derstanding my terms. You ought to
be satisfied"
81 am" he responded, with sinister
glance.at Jack Bright-a glance that
made the lad turn pale-and drawing
check for eight hundred dollars on a
banker in the city, sent one OF the pro-
prietor's servants to have 1t certified by
the cashier. s.ttt.,
In half an hour the check was in my
possession; and together my friend and
l went to the financial house on which
it was drawn, to have it cashed.
"You are angry with me, Jack,"I
said, "and yet you ought to rejoice"
~ have reason, Mr.. Rogers" re-
piled the lad, sand some day you will
know why. The first thing | desire
when you get your money is a revol-
swell, that's odd, Jack? Why, you
never cared for such thing before %
"No, Mr.. Rogers. Let me advise you
to buy one at the same time. We shall
both need it before we leave the coun-
try" hAA
''It shall be as you say" l respond
ed. si.t..s
Accordingly when We got the eight
dollars we purchased pair of
Colts pistols; and afterward l noticed
that Jack never sti. red foot without
his. lie now bore fixed purpose in
his fine face, and he did not blush so
often as was his wont before had made
my debut at the billiard table.
Once or twice the olive-comple exioned
invited me to play with him,
,ut steadily refused to take a cue a.
gain in my hand.
1t seemed to me, however, that he
cared more for the society OF Jack than
he did for mine; but that young gentle
nan did not hesitate to express his dis
ike for him.
The time at length arrived for us to
leave the city of the MoDtezumas.
We engaged seats in the dRigencia
md on the second day of our journey,
ust at nightfall, were attacked by ban
litti. f sra5.s
The bandits did not exceed us in
j e
One of them, with slonched hat
lrawn we'll over his face, pressed pis-
oil at the head of Jack Bright, and COM
handed the lad to surrender himself
The plucky little fellow answered the
by drawing his revolver and
ending bullet through the heart of
lis assailant, who, without groan ev-
Ii, fell dead. ..t
The fight lasted but few minutes
We did not give the robbers time to
AIRY of their dead, as is their custom.
On examining the bodies of the slain
three in uumber) we had no difficulty
4 identifying the fellow whom Jack
ad Killed. 1t was the olive-complex-
onsd gentleman, who, at the cafe Au-
umn, insisted on my winning eight
dollars of his money
On arriving at Vera Cruz, we went
n board steamer that was about to
cave for new york.
Jack had hardly put his foot on the
eek when he enquired for the stew
rdesss A few words passed between
hem in private (what it was 1 could
OF hear) and then both disappeared.
When next l saw my old travelling
beautiful girl, with rosy
heeks and mischievons, LAUGHING euas.