The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-06-15

: swered, drawing, with parting suck
the death rattle from his own.
The additional juleps shaken, takeI
! and paid for, the two friends saunter
ed separately into the cabin.
+ "What say you to game OF euchr(
just to pass away the time?" su2
gested Gordon Blake to youthful
looking stranger, whom he had cha',e
ed to fall in conversation with.
The proposal was assentcd to /; but
two more players were needed. II
! Happened that Jubal Hardy and other
GentLema3s were passing at the moment,
who, on Gordop's invitation, pottery
consented to assist in making up the
party. -..-,, ..-f
.'Enchra's dull sport, said Gordon
Blake, ut the end of the first rubber
Suppose We we make it 'pok4r 2"
is'I never gamble Ju5al graEe!y
answered. 5''
"No more do T." returned the 9TH
er, "but gentleman's g,ne, you
know-a dollar ante s;ty %
"oh!taat'a different, Well, I sec
no objection. i''i" i..0-.'..
The young stranger, Whatever scru-
| pies lie felt, was lotd to express Them,
and the fourth gentleman was fir too
well bred to have any. "a -.
The game proceeded, aud, the
flushed check of the youth soon be-
tokened the first kindIing of that bale
full passion, through whose scorching
flames the soul of itan never yet pass
ed unscathed. 'ii'' '''' -.
nAYine was called for, and the play
ers grew excitedLthe young stranger
in reality, the others in apreafance.
Again tile cards were, .shuffied and
dealt. 70 As the young man took up
those allotted to him, a triumphant
look flashed athwart his countenance.
Success, it was plain, he felt was with
in his grasp. The betting, Of course,
was not limited to the dollar each was
required to stake in advance. AS
long as any player offered to risk a
sum greater than had yet been hazard
ed, the others were bound to cover it
with an equal or larger amount, or
forfeit what they had already ventur-
ed. The contestlwas sharp and eager.
All alike seemed confident of victory.
The young mans purse was first eX-
hausted. With well.feigned reckless
ness the other three kept up the bat
tie. Thousands were then upon the
table There was double incentive
now. Retreat, on the part of any, in
volved not onlY the sacrifice of what
he had already jeoparded, but the adaa
.donment of all hope Of winning a
prize so tempting.
The youth, fora moment, hesitated.
His eye-glared wildly? With trembling
hand he drew forth a sealed, packet,
tore it open, and flung the contents
on the table =" = #
"TNeYe. are five thousand dollars !"
he exclaimed, in Il husky yoice; "1
Ueit,a'e it all f'' d!
Two of the gamblers drew back.
For an instant Gordon Blake pretend
ed to wayer; then producing the sum
required, he Slowly put it down be
tween himself and his antagonist. .,-
"Show your cards." he said quietly,
addressing the latter. ' 1'. .9i,
"Bravo!" cried Jubal Hardy F.; "Htat
hand is invincible !''
''But one combination can beat it,
remarked the other confederate.
a4And that I happen to hold, was
Gordon's cooIly spoken response, turn
ing over his, cards and taking up the
money. fsG b. ,.gs s.Y'sg.
The victims ftce grew livid. nIs..
"Ruined -c.isgracedF he gasped;
then sprang TO his feet, andhurried
from the cabin. Several ofthe spectH-
tors followed, but not in time to
arrest the headlong leap that carried
him over the yessei'si side in front OF
the wheel, where he quickly PASSED
from sight beneath the revolving pad 4
dles.l A general rush was mada aft
and, soon. in the vessels wake, q CASH
ed and disf5 CURED facel darose amid
the reddened rolm, had almost dis
again, when aaheavyi plunge
was heard, and man WAS seen strug-
Cling in the water. 1t WAS Gordon
Blake, holding with a secure grasp the
lifeless body Of his regent dupe. 1.-The
boat was brought to, and suchjassist-
ance rendered =tliat both were speedily
dI1iwn on board. l--.-, ee7g s.G.. aisg
The passenger list gave the young
man's name, and. destination. The
former startled Got9on Blake, and
with reason still, coincidence Of names
is not uncommon, and this might be
more. p. .mi zs. ei!
A few hours brought in sight the
town registered as the topping place
of the unfortunate youth, where it was
decided to convey the body on shore, |
in the hope that some friend would be |
found to take it i'll charge.
As the boat neared the land |
ing, q venerable, white-haired man,
leaning on staff, was seen looking
as if waiting Tor some one.
At last the shore was reached /
Planks were run out The old man
lrew nearer, impatient, apparently,
It the tardiness of the expected COIN
n, Four men carrying litter at
ength appeared. As they stepped
rom the pIanks, and the sold mans
eyes fell on the outstretched form they
pore, with IA frightened look he stag
,ered forward and drew aside the GOV
;ring from the dead youths flce.
''Merciful God! my-poor 'beyl" she |
piteously; then reeling
he would have fallen but
or the prompt assistance of Gordon
Blake, who reached the shore at a
and caught him in his arms. g
Alta glance lie had recognized the
ather whose roof he. had. deserted
vhen yet boy; and the unhappy
,outh, whose tragic end lay So heavi- !
y to his account, he rightly conjectur-
Il uns The hrni her En Lad last seen