Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-01-25
MOKELUMNE bid, CALAVERAs COUNTY,. CAL.

(which l found even at that early hour
filed with the mad children of chance.
Faro, roulette, dice, all were ready
in different parts of the elegant rooms,
while still further up, the CHATTER of
glasses and plates told that the usual
enticements aad indictments of the
gambling houses were to be found.
For little while we wandered about
the rooms looking at the men, old and
youog, who were engaged in the vain
search for "luck," and then Lelandin a
low, quivering voice, said:
"Colonel, this night declares my
fate. To-day, I obtained, without her
knowledge, all her jewelry-the gifts
of myself and of dear friends in other
and better days. I have got an ad-
vance on it, and am going to try to
break that bank. God help me if l
get broke instead; and God help my
poor Emily ?"
l would have demonstrated with him
and led him away if could, but sin
gle glance at the fire in his dark eyes
told me how useless any attempt would
be, in his then mood, to prevent his
playing.
So, with an aching heart, I went
with him to the green table, and saw
him lay down his stakes. He seemed
to-play with his eyes closed, for though
he won three successive times on one
card, doubling every time, he never
changed his bet, or took up his stakes
until, on the fourth deal, he lost not
only his original bet, but all his gains
beside
With a bitter oath he drew more
money from his pocket and staked it.
Again he won recklessly, and again
lost And so chance, or the wild play
of the gamblers, toyed with him for an
hour. Then his last money was laid
down, and lost. With a terrible oath,
while great drops of sweat burst out on
his high, white forehead, he cried that
he was beggar.
Seeing that he was fearfully excited,
I laid my hand upon his arm and whis-
pered
"Come, Mr.. Leland. Come. She
is waiting for you ~
"She will never see me again." he
shouted wildly. 81 dined with her, but
l shall sup with the fends in -"
"Come, coue, Leland; don't make
fuss here p cried the proprietor of
the house, angrily. "Be quiet and go
home p
Go home !'' cried the wretched
man wildly, his eyes glazing fercely on
the gambler. 81 have no home. You
hold the deed of my house and all in
it.'
"All but one thingr" Kissed the
gambler, in low whisper, as he bent
his head forward to Leland's ear.
"Leave her there and you shall have
another thousand to win with, for luck
must change"
"Leave her-leave Emily, my EN-
lily for you ?" gasped the wretched
man.
"Yes!" whispered the gambler,
while his eye cleaned with lustful
desire.
"James Seldom, you have won every
thing I possessed from me, but her"
said Leland hoarsely.
eyes, and she cannot live with you,
on nothing. l can deck her out like
queen"
"Did you hear what that scounirel
said p gasped Leland, as be turned to
Inc.
I nodded my head to signify that I
had heard the horrible offer. 1 was
too indignant to speak.
"Then behold my answer - he cried.
81 have only one card left. James
Seldom, l play that card now!'
And even as he spoke, be drew
bright bladed dagger from inside of his
vest, and before hand could be raised
or word spoken to warn or to save, he
had driven it to its hilt through the
heart of the gambler.
Then, as the latter sunk with a hol-
low groan to the floor, he plunged the
reeking weapon to his own heart, and
with murmur-her name only-he
sunk beside his victim. His hot blood
gushed out on my hands as l sought to
raise him.
"Poor, poor victim !'' I groaned as |
staggered, weak and choking with emo
ton against the wall close by.
"He was mad-mad as March hare.
I said to-day that he was out of his
mind !' said an old man, white-h haired
man, whom 1 was afterward told held
high official position in the city.
"And such men as he who lies there
made him mad !" l said, pointing to
the dead gambler. "He deserved his
fate"
4 don't agree with you, stranger"
said the old man. sit was drink which
did it | Think
And the gentleman coolly tossed off
lumber nearly full of raw brandy
after saying this, and then asked an
other gambler why they didn't put the
dead bodies out of sight and go on with
the game.
Sickened at heart, chilled in spirit, l
left for my hotel, knowing that all too
soon would the terrible news reach the
young wife whom 1 had seen but once.
My night'was passed without sleep,
and in the morning ! thought long and
anxiously whether | ought togo and tell
the widow lady of what l had seen and
heard or not. At last decided to go,
and if 1 could do no more, to offer
mans svmnathv and honorable service