The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-07-11

"Are you Danial Sturdivans. the
gamblerr' he asked, in a calm tone.
without rising.
Sturdivant flushed darkly, and
gave the stranger a fierce glance.
Some persons call me that be
hInd my back he said insolently:
but no one would dare to apply
that term to me before my face
Nevertheless" replied the stran-
ger quietly, Il want an answer-yes
or no."
"Wel, then" said the gambler,
angrily. Il am. What of it?'
Simply this" replied the ssran-
ger. 81 have heard it said that YOU
claim to be the best card player in
the Southwest. have come two
hundred miles to prove you a liar"
Sturdivant strobe forward a step
or two, and thrust his hand in his
breast as if to grasp q weapon.
''StOp," said the stranger ''If
you shoot me you will simply prove
yourself afraid OF me. Take your
seat at the table, and l will make
my words good"
There was something in the calm
stern manner Of the stranger that
seemed to. render the gambler pow
erless. He hesitated for a moment,
and then said bullying
81 never play with a man whose
face l cannot see"
''NeYer mind my face" said the
stranger. "If you are not afraid of
losing, you shall see it when am
done with you" Il
"But how do I know that you
have money enough for such sportY'
persisted Sturdivant. you look
seedy enough, my fine fellow"
"There," said the stranger, pro
ducing large pocket book. Il have
ten thousand dollars there. If you
can win it do So"
With an oath, Sturdivant placed
himself at the table and bade his
challenger do likewise. Those Of
us who had listened to this singular
dialogue, now gathered around the
table, expecting to witness a scene |
Of more than usual interest. The
stranger had not yet raised his hat
brim, and none of us had seen his
fnce, but we all felt from his general |
air and manner that Daniel Sturdi- |
want had at last met his match, 1t |
did not take long to show that the |
stranger was an unusually good |
player. For an hour or more the !
playing went on in silence. The |
stakes were high and the contest |
marked with rare skill Sturdiyant |
exerted himself as he had never be
fore, but in spite of his efforts he |
lost steadily. By the expiration of |
the time indicated above he had lost |
over two thousand dollars. mott
ced the flush upon his face deepen, |
and a strange light come into his |
eyes. At last with an exclamation |
oftriumph, he drew towards the heap !
of notes.
"That was well DONE" said the |
stranger. "You are an expert at
But 60 on. 1 can beat |
you whether you play openly or dis
honestly"
Sturdiyant said nothing, but dealt
the cards again. The hand was
played, and Sturdivant was about to /
seize the stakes agaln, when the
stranger LAID down a card and check /
ed him. g. The gambler uttered a |
sharp cry and sat motionless, with |
his eyes fixed on the card, a worn /
and faded ace of hearts with a dark /
red stain across the face. Sturdi- |
wants face worked convulsIvely as |
he gazed at it, and the spectators
gathered more closely around the |
two, wondering at the strange |
scene.
ain Gods name, who are yOuY'
gasped Sturdivant, with his eyes fix
ed upon the card. -Esa
Look at me" said the stranger
quietly.
As if powerless TO resist, Sturdi- /
want raised his eyes to the stranger. /
He had raised his hat and sat look /
ing at the trembling gambler with !
eyes that fairly blazed with fury, /
Sturdivant uttered a groan, and |
sank back in his chair with his face |
white and rigid. The stranger with |
one sweep gathered up the money |
from the table and thrust it into his /
bosom.
"That ace Of hearts is an unlucky |
card for you, Daniel Sturdivant, !
he said coolly. "You played it once |
when You thought it to your advan
tage. Now, God help you, for that /
day is returned"
AS he spoke, he raised a pistol,
which we had not seen, and before
we could stop him, aimed it dehber-
ately at the trembling man and fired.
The gambler fell heavily on the ia
bic, a corpse, and the black blood
streamed over it hiding the fatal
card from sight
"Gentlemen," said the stranger,
rising to his feet, as we stood para
lized with horror at the dreadful
scene, "that man ruined my wife,
and tried to murder me. I have
been hunting him for the last ten
years"
He walked slowly by US, down the
stairway on to the lower deck. Just
then the steamer touched at a land
ing and he sprang ashore and van
ished in the dark woods.
Inever learnch the history of the
affair, for the dead gam 1
bier was beyond human question,
and l never saw the stranger again;
but I shall no. soon forget the i'm
preston made upon me at that I
Tine.
Press Dead Heads.