The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-05-01

I known for certain. but many believe that
she paid for the murder. Since then she
has been nightly visitor here, losing al
most constantly. The last Of her hus-
bands property is sold, and when that Is
gone-well. she has "A choice, 10 be sure
the suicides grave, or-the pave"
At the next table Californian of swart
features and sinister aspect. not lessened
by the strips of court-plaster that diagon-
/ ally cross his face from eye 10 jawbone,
deals monte for the benefit Of the moths
who Ilutter around the golden piles in
momentary expectation OF raising them
first into their own pockets; but, alas
though riches have wings, they do not fly
in that direction.
The low cries "Cavallo EN- Ia puerta"
''soto mozo." (''Ihe Queen in the gate ~
1.-The knavc winner.') at intervals an
nounce in set phrase the progress of the
game. The golden stakes are transferred
from hand To hand. their sharp metallic
clink contrasting with the soft, rapid
shuttle of the cards. But then the betting
almost ceased. when "A man pushed him
self forward and seated himself IN front OF
the benches. while a servant deposited an
iron box before his master. When the lid
was thrown back gitterng mass OF opzas
appeared. causing even the imperturbable
dealer 10 start with wonder. and glance
of joy 10 lit across his ace-two things
that had not occurred before within the
memory of man.
The stranger played heavily. for the
bank had no limit. and in less than IA hour
the banker slowly uttered. "Gentlemen,
this bank Is closed - The stranger or
dered his servant 10 gather up the gold.
and then scattering handful OF ounces
among the crowd, vanished amidst the
confusion, by this vancouver escaping "A
probable blow from a cuchillo in the alley
without
THAT man is an enigma" muttered
Don Jaime, with a long-drawn breath.
This is the third time that | have wit
messed the same thing each time he broke
the bank. and then vanished, just how. no
body could tell. though have heard that
the best cuchillo in Mexico has been hunt
ing for him this past month. No one
knows who he is, where he came from,
nor where he lives. Some even say that
he is the-devil - And here the super
stitious Spaniard devoutly crossed him
self. :. But let him be what he may.
wish he would impart his secret TO me"
Around the adjoining table the faro play
ers were gathered, where a smooth, oily,
cat-like southerner dealt, huge bowie
with ten-inch blade sticking in the table
before him. Shutting the cards he placed
them in the silver box. then while waiting
for the players 10 make their game he said,
tapping the silver hilt of his bowie:
Gentlemen. YOU see this | play on
the square. and warn you all that the
first man | catch trying to confuse the
stakes will have his hand pinned To the
table
Asno remarks followed this blunt stat
ment. one would infer that such trick
"a confusing the stakes" by suddenly
shifting from a losing card the money
staked thereon was not entirely unknown.
We watched the deal nearly out. when.
improbable as il may seem. a seedy look
ing greaser : suddenly shifted his stake,
his quick eve detecting the losing card ere
il was fairly uncovered.
Thud went the knife. swift a the light
ning's flash. true to the eyeas Kit Carson's
long . Harkins.' and the greaser's hand
was pinned to the table, Instantly all
was confusion around the table. each man
instinctively shrinking back rs the glitter
ing blade flashed before his eyes, while. |
with a single. sharp yell of pain the
greaser bent low over the gold-laden
table.
His pain must have been intense. for the
broad blade had penetrated through the
back of his hand. severing one or more of
the bones. and fastening the palm upon
the trifiing stake he had wished so much |
TO cover. And vet as | stood at the end
of the table. | distinctly saw the rascal
slip his left hand beneath his body and
clutch handful of the golden ounces from |
the pile of his next neighbors. then drop |
them hastily and unperceived down his |
wide boot leg. The sharp jingle of the |
coins he deadened by another shrek, and |
. long-winded volley of all the curses in |
his vocabulary, which would have put to |
the blush the Oldest bull-whacker OF |
prairie freighting days.
The dealer ''politely cursed the greaser
for few moments, then withdrew his |
bowie, wiping it upon the mans blanket, |
then calmly resuming the interrupted |
game. The greaser swapping up his hand,
stole silently away. no doubt thinking his /
wound paid for by his adroit clutch.
had been watching a young man. a
casual acquaintance, whom knew was
junior partner in New Orleans firm. He /
was playing heavily and kept calling for
liquor. which the obsequious walters |
promptly, supplied. would have spoken
to him. but Don Jaime restrained me.
pointing to the cooked revolver lying be-
fore the man. And did not care to risk
a shot-certainly an insult-by making an
effort TO draw c young man away from
the table.
Every deal seemed TO 90 dead against
young Cleveland. and then, when but one
more turn remained i'm the box, he flung
large pocket-book upon the table, mutter-
ing hoarsely:
ITS neckor nothing-if that loses, then
I'll"
lie did not finish the sentence. but leaned
watching the turn with bated
breath, pale as a corpse, and then the tray
fell upon the losing side,
Scarcely was the result perceptible than
the room rang with "A pistol-shot, and
Cleveland sank forward. his head resting
upon the pocket book. his brains and blood
Al..st I'LL