The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-06-14
NOT A GHOST STORY.
BY JUDGE CLARK.

the world calls vicious. lie drank with
out being a sot, gambled without being a
black-eg, and if not saint, was not a
proRigate.
He had recently come into possession
of handsome fortune, and was spending
his first winter, and good deal of mon
ey, in New Orleans. Among others
whose acquaintance he formed, was Il
young Frenchman, few years his senior,
named Antoine Giraud, between whom
and himself a similarity of taste soon
caused an especial intimacy to spring up.
Young Giraud was perfectly acquainted
with the city and its ways, and was moth
ing 10th to place his knowledge at his
friends disposal. When the theater and
opera grew tircsome, as they did at last
and masked balls and wine suppers began
to lose their zest, fresh excitement was
sought and found in those temples where
the tickle goddess nightly distributes her
Bullets and rewards" without troubling
herself whether or not, they are received
"with equal thanks"
Giraud played persstently against his
friend Marley thought it was because
they were friends. There was another
reason perhaps. However, if money was
the Frenchman's object, he was signally
disappointed, for he was uniformly unsuc-
cessful Though evidently chagrined at
his losses he seemed to bear them with
equinimity, returning each night to the
encounter, led by the blind hope that has
lured so many to destruction, that luck,
at last, must change.
One night their play ran unusually
high. Marley was flushed with wine,
while the expression of his companion 5
face betokened a still deeper excitement.
With nervousy trembling hand, the
latter deposited on the table a sum larger
than any he had yet riskod. 1t was
promptly covered by his adversary
"This,time [ have won !" cried Giraud,
eagerly, throwing down his cards.
Z" Not so fast" exclaimed the other
your hand is almost invincble, but this
bta it"
1t was true; the Frenchman had lost
again.
Ruinedw he muttercd to himself be-
tween his clenched teeth; and after glar
ing moment fercely at the window, he
rose hastily from the table
Come, George" he said with forced
laugh g it is time to 90 now = and tax
ing his friends arm the two left the place
together
1t was past midnight and the streets
were almost deserted, when a drowsy
watchman pacing his accustomed round
came suddenly on a scene that startled
him into life, and caused him to sigma
for assistance, which happily proved tC
be at hand.
a man was STOPPING over the PROSTATE
form of another. At the sound Of ap
preaching footsteps he raised himself
.recoiling quickly as if by fight. But the
summoned help was already on the spot
and the fugitive was Intercepted In his
hand he held bloody dagger and at his
feet lay the inanimate body Of the victim
still warm and bleeding.
On finding himself in the hands of the
officers, the prisoners self possession en-
tirely forsook him. His answers were Sc
incoherent as to be wholly unintelligible
Nothing could be gained by questioning
him in his present condition, and he was
at once taken to the nearest station house
and locked up.
The body was conveyed to the Morgue
where on the following day, it was ideuti
fed as that of George Marley.
At the inquest, Giraud testified to hay
ing accompanied his friend as far as theil
way lay in common, and that they haC
then separated for the purpose of goina
to their respective lodgings. The fact,
sworn to by the policeman were those al
ready stated. If the crime had been
committed with view to robbery, the
perpetrator had been interrupted before
accomplishing his object, for the murder
ed mans watch and pocket-book were
found on his person unmolested, and
nothing identified as his was discovered
in the prisoners possession.
Eugene Aubrey, the person accused Of
the atrocious deed, was young artisan
of hitherto unblemished character, and
! Al. l. i ! n