The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-08-15
Gbe Gintes, Nem BLOOMFIELD, 11a.


that amount; dare you risk a like sum
and let the ownership be decided by a
single castY" The gambler at once ex-
pressed his willingness to do so, but de-
clared he had not so much money in his
possession. The deficiency, was, how
ever made up by others Of the fra
ternity, and they prepared to resume the
game. There was large carving fork
lying near H., which the waiter had ne
elected to move when he cleared the table
that evening. This H., with a careless
and apparently (as he took his seat) ac-
cidental movement of his arm, drew close
to his side.
All now drew near in eager expecta-
ton. Harris seized the cup, and shaking
the dice violently for a moment, dashed
them down before him. could scarcely
repress a cry of exultation when [ saw he
had thrown double fves, within one of
the highest number it is possible to make.
The professionals cast uneasy glances
upon each other, but HIS antagonist only
smiled scornfully, and drew the ivory
cubes toward him. Just, however, as he
was placing them in the box, they slipped
through his fingers and fell upon the
floor he stopped and recovered them in
instant, but as he reached forth his hand
to take the cup, H., whose face had a
fixed, determined look, and whose eyes
had never for moment been off of him,
suddenly seized the fork, and with a
movement quick as that of the deadly
rattlesnake, stuck the sharp prongs through
his wrist, literally pinning it to the table,
at the same time he presented a cooked
pistol full at his head. There was a yell
from the wounded man, and a volley of
imprecations burst from his associates; a
dozen of weapons were pointed at the
breast of II. He, however, was equal to
the occasion. Not muscle of his face
moved and his voice was not raised the
least when he spoke.
One moment, gentlemen" said he.
" You yourselves have declared that
should one of your number be detected
in foul play, the stakes should be for
| feited"
If the dice under the hand | now hold
imprisoned be not false, then do with me
as you will If, however, l prove correct
in my assertion, | demand the fulflment
of your threat"
BY this time every male passenger had
collected around the table, and the gam
blers saw by their stern looks and drawn
weapons that were not to be trifed with
So they we're forced reluctantly to admit
the truth of what II. had said
The gambler was held secured in his
chair; the fork withdrawn, the dice ex-
amned, and found to be loaded-the true
pair were concealed in his sleeve. His
fate was sealed in spite of his desperate
resistance. Strong arms stripped him Of
his weapons, forced him into boat and
rowed him to the nearest land low sand
bank entirely surrounded by the river
and whose rapidly rising waters promised
soon to submergeit it. Upon this island deal
to his piteous appeals, they forced him
and the steamer resumed her course down
the rapid river.
But long after we had lost sight of fhin
in the darkness, there name to us, out Of
the black night, wild eyes, that sounded
in our ears, high above the dash of oul
ponderous wheels and the rush of the
mighty river. Screams for mercy, fear
full imprecations, and chilling blasphemie'
such as might have been uttered by lost
soul when it hears the dread sentence
depart from me ye accursed into outel
darkness, where there shall be weeping
and wailing and gnashing Of teeth"
ii. hid his face in his hands and wep
like child. Strong men turned pale
and the very gamblers looked at eacf
other with whitened cheeks and trembling
lips
OF his fate there could be no doubt
The strongest swimmer could not for on,
moment stem the fearful torrent, and t,
remain upon the bank was but to caoos
lingering and more fearful death.
There was no more playing on boarC
that boat on that trip, and at the frs
landing most of the passengers left her
fleeing from it as from place accursed.
Among those who left was Harris.
Years had passed when we met again
but he trembled when he spoke Of tina
. fearful night on the Ohio, and said h
had not touched card since then,-Sun
day Bulletin.
! A