Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-04-07
is ONeal, and Bully Armstrong, from

from his body. His most marked pc
culiarity, however, was his eyes. They
were small. gray, sunken, with dew
il-may care look about them, but which
on a sudden. would fash out like two
burning frc-coals. with an expression
so sardonic, that the beholder. unless
fortified with unflinching nerves, would
instinctively recoil before their serpent
like gaze.
His hair was yellow. coarse. and in
nocent Of comb or brush. His nose and
chin were prominent. his whole frame
little else than bone and sinew. The
deep scars across his face told of dead
~ hand to hand encounters with dcs-
peradoes like himself.
Now fixing his gaze upon O'Neal,
he articulated;
Fight. or play?'
Play. answered O'Neal.
Roulette, or cards?'
Cards
Bluff. Eucre. Rougeetnoir. or Poker !:
Anything you please
Let it be Poker then-and make
quick work
Very well-lay another fifty BY this.
They played, and the bully won.
Double !? said he.
Yes and hundred better
Again the bully won.
I'll make it five hundred he said
again.
And L said O'Neal. will make it
double
This time. O'Neal won.
You use marked cards. thund
the bully.
You are a iiar?' returned O'Neal.
A bowie flashed in the lamp-light,
and would have done its deadly work
had not Hosford struck it from the
hand of the bully, who fortunately. had
taken his position At the table. next to
him
With an imprecation Of bafilel rage,
the bully turned upon the Young man.
but instantly found himself pinned 10
the wall. held in the iron grasp OF
o's--~I;
In vain he writhel and struggled.
he was Is boy in that vice-llke cm
brace
lIosford and Charles. from that mo-
mcnt, had no doubt Of the truth as re-
lated by the old trapper, when he af-
tirmed, that he had seen O'Neal hold a
young grizzly to tn c ground by main
strength.
The bully saw, at once. that he had
met with more than his match, and
wisely concluded TO parlev.
What do you mean 10 do:' he hiss
ed. like an enraged python.
4 mean you shall play another round
stakes, two thousand eacn side
But if | do. I'm ruined, should
lose, Tll-I'll blow my brains out. if
| lose; and my blood be upon your
head"
Too late. the bully h ad discovered
that professionally, as well as physi-
cally. he was the inferior of his antago-
mist.
Then answered ONeal, l shall be
the means of ridding the country of q
scoundrel and coward, for which So
ciety will thank me.
care not which way the game turns j;
if win, shall play again, if | lose.
this will be my last night at the gam
ing table.
will yon blow your brains out.'
f. Lay down your gold, sir,-no more
parleying.'
At it they went-both played with
recklessness bordering upon despcra-
tion.
With yell Of triumph, the bully
swept the table and hurried from the
room.
A murmur of surprise ran through
the hall. All noticed how wildly o.
Neal had been playing; all felt that
he had given his opponent the game
some made bold to say SO. But much
greater was the surprise at O'N,als
next move.
He deliberately took large goblet,
and proceeded to fill it with rum and
a mixture of several other kinds Of
spirituous liquors. Then stepping rp-
on the table, he thus Ire sse the as
sembled company Of drunkaris and
gamblers:
Gentlemen, you seem to wonder
greatly on account Of my careless play
ing. You think l as good as threw
away my money. In this you are not
far from right-that was my intention.
lam called bold, reckless gam
bier, drunkard. and black-leg, the pest
of society: all Of which may be true
but whatever l have been, all tina.
now am, whatsoever dark sins have