Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-05-06

thousand better said Sparks putting up
the money.
'Jingo! you mean bettin.' exclaimed
Jim Brown of Arkansas, wal, I'm still in
I guess I'll go ye five thousand better =
I call you,' said his opponent, laying
down the required amount of money in
large bills.
What ave you got ? asked the green
one, with smile.
What you can't beat returned the 9th
er laying four aces on the table, pretty
hand, amt it ?
Yes, it is; an, Jingov I've got jist
the same hand exactly said Brown,
showing four aces also.
'Thunderati onp exclaimed Sparks,
what does this mean? eight aces in ono
pack of cards-who ever heard tell of the
like?
I tell you what it means, said Brown,
coolly; it means that you got your aces
out of your pocket. saw you when you
got 'emv
what do you say?' asked Sparks.
Isay that you got them four aces out
o your coat pocket returned the other
taking the money from the table and put
ting it in his pockets.
And 1 say that you are liar ! ex-
claimed the gambler, drawing his knife,
'and if you don't hand that money over in
five seconds, I'll try this Arkansas tooth
pick on you.
Joe Sparks returned the other, his
small black eyes flashing as he drew his
knife, that's game two can play at, but
hold awhile. l have few words to say
to you. Yes, 1 have short story to tell
you and want your attention.
Ten years ago. Brown continued,
keeping his eyes fixed upon the face of
Sparks, there lived about thirty miles
west of St. Louis, one David Stanley, a
farmer, who had daughter as good and
as beautiful as an angel-you know how
beautiful she was, sir.-but of her beauty
will not further speak Well, this
young girl had suitors by the score. All
the young men for miles around, dreamed,
thought, and talked Of her, and as she was
not firt she was more annoyed than 9TH
erwise by the attentions of SO many. But
it is only with two of these young mon
whom we have to deal, and I'll speak Of
them at once
While Brown was speaking, his late op-
ponent stood motionless, his knife grasp
ed tightly in his right hand, and his gaze
fixed on the face of the supposed green
one.
'Onc of her suitors, the narrator con-
tinued, was Charles Elton, the son of a
neighboring farmer, and she loved him.
and him alone, as only such true and noble
women can love. and when he asked her
to become his wife, she laid her head on
his breast and told him she would.
The other young man alluded to was
Henry Bardwell Of St. Louis. He had
prosecuted this young girl with his atten-
tons for many months, notwithstanding
she had rejected his offer of marriage,
and told him that she could never care
for him more than friend. Well, when
he heard that she was soon to be married
to young Elton, he grew madly jealous.
and swore that she should never be the
wife of any other than himself
what have got to do with all this ?
asked Sparks, growing pale, as Brown
made short pause.
L will tell you in a moment; you must
hear me through was the reply, 'the sto-
ry will soon be ended. The night on
which Charles Elton was to make Lizzie
Stanley his wife arrived, and with light
and happy heart he mounted his horse and
rode to her fathers house, to find his in
tended wife corpse. Yes, she had been
murdered by the hand of Henry Bardwell,
while going to spring not fifty yards
from the house. Her father saw the deed
done from the window of bis room, where
he was confined by sickness.
The murderer fed as soon as the bloody
work was accomplished, and since thai
hour have never ceased to hunt for him
You start when you hear me use the pro
noun I, and well you may, for an
Charles Elton, and now green Jim Brown,
Of Arkansas, as you supposed me to be,
and you'-he bent his head forward and
Kissed the words through his tecth-,you
are Henry Bardwell, the murderer of Liz
zie Stanley"
His late opponent remained motionles'
and speechless, and Elton, as he will be
called hereafter, continued
Perhaps you doubt my word, but | vii
soon dispell your doubts. Look at nj
now, and see if you don't know me? ? As
he said this he pulled the false whiskerl
from his face, and disclosed a handsom,
countenance.
! At this Bardwell stepped back, but in
stantly recovering himself. he clutchet