Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1874-12-24

SOB Va = "So4saI P414scss
This idea would receive confrma-
ton when one beheld the stout Afri,
can who stood near the youth. Tn,
African was plainly the servant o
the young man, and when it came Il
hand-to-hand conflict the latter coult
not have had . better protector. fol
the slave was giant. Looking a
his magnificent proportions and un-
usually intelligent face. could mol
but hope that he would not stand
tamely BY and see his master plucked
for 1 knew it was impossible for him
to be so quick on the trigger as the
veteran gambler, and it seemed q
pity for him to be slain.
Master looked on the strange scene
withfuriosity and interest; slave with
face that told nothing of his inward
thoughts and emotions.
Roadsmith bided his time. He
,auntered around the room, walking
with digni6ed step.
Finally he paused before the youth
and entered into conversation with
him. i drew near and listened.
The young man was reserved and
timid at first, but the bland and
genial manners of the gambler soon
put him at his ease.
Roadsmith informed him his name
was Blackburn and that he was a
native of Savannah. The young man
stated his name was Owens and that
he was the son ola planterin Georgia.
So the ex-merchant and the plan
ter's son soon became good friends
and were mutually interested in each
other.
After time, Roadsmith invited
his victim TO play game of poker.
The young man declared that he was
ignorant of the mysteries of that game,
but expressed his willingness to play
a few games of euchre.
So they seated themselves at a ta-
BILE, and commenced to play. AT the
suggestion of the ex-merchant, small
stakes were put up. The gambler
Won with ease, though | saw he did
not intend to do so. Then young
Owens won several games, and after
each defeat, the gentleman from Sa-
vannah insisted on increasing the
stakes.
Moloch. the African, stood like a
statue behind his masters chair, his
face as stoical as that of an Indian.
The players fortunes fuctuated.
Then Roadsmith began TO rake in his
opponents pile, and the by-standers
looked at each other significantly.
Roadsmith's face was bland |;
Owens calm and firm.
watched the gambler closely. At
length he slipped ten-spot into his
sleeve, and took "bower" from his
boot, TO make its place good, there
by winning the stakes.
The African left his masters chair,
and disappeared. Five minutes later,
he quietly made his appearance be-
hind that of Roadsmith.
The gambler tired Of his child's
play. Finding Owens as good play.
er as himself, if not his superior, he
began cheating furiously. In spite
of this, he barely held his own, and
before long, money began to move
slowly but surely, towards his op
ponent.
Every one was astonished. How
could Owens win against all this
cheating? / looked again at the
young man, and his pale, calm, but
efTeminste face seemed to possess new
power.
I watched his play, and made the
astonishing discovery that he was
cheating as brayely as Roadsmith.
and with far more dettness / could
hardly suppress shout. Dan Road.
smith had caught Tartarl But
when | remembered that the gambler
would not hesitate to shoot his op-
ponent dead, gave the mysterious
youth up as lost. / thought of warn
ing him, but something seemed to tell
me to wait and see the end.
The blackleg lost steadily. He
ried every trick known to the pro-
esssional gambler, but still Owens
Won steadily The self-styled mer-
chant grew red in the face, but the
planter s son was cool as ever.
"Hang it ALL" said be rufian, at
last, "who the devil are you, anyway =?
You play like veteran. Either you
are the Evil One himself, or else YOU
are cheating"
IL never cheat when playing with
gentlemen" replied the young gam
bier, calmly.
Some of the men winked at each
other-they saw double meaning
in the words.
The game progressed. Roadsmith
grew desperate. lmn'ense stakes
were put up, and either the game
broke" the gambler, or set him on
his feet again-that was certain.
Owens and Roadsmith each won
one trick" and the gambler looked
apprehensively at the cards in his
hand. He held the king and ten
spot Of stumps, with one worthless
card. This latter, with the "ten.
spots" be thrust into his sleeve,
drawing the "ace" and "left bower
from his boot
81 reckon them'll take the rest, y
he said, throwing the cards on the
table.
"Not exactly" replied Owens,
calmly, laying down his cards.
There unturned. were both bowers