Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-07-20
NO. 40.
WAS she 4 BRICK

VAD OhE n 0RACA - a
1t was one of the handsomest packets
on the river, and among the passengers
bound for Vicksburg were Georgian and
his wife, who have relatives in Mississippi
pi 4#<s8a #n|@ - s4tIlf'eH
He was large-sized, handsome look.
ing man, and she was pleasant looking
little woman, with blue eyes and short
chestnut curls. One would have said that
she would have screamed at tilt Of the
boat y 5ss.
He sat smoking with other gentlemen
after she had retired to her state room, and
the cabin was entirely clear of ladies, when
some one proposed game of cards. In
ten minutes after half dozen men were
shuffling cards over the cabin tables, and the
Georgian was matched against stranger
to all on board He was quiet, courteous,
well-dressed man, and had been taken for
a traveller in search of health. He was
lucky in his cards, but he did not propose
playing for stakes. 1t was the nettled
Georgian who proposed it. He seailed
himself a champion hand at poker, and
when he found that he had met his equal
he determined to test the strangers iinan
cial metal E8s T@@b 81 ~
They had fifty dollars on the table when
the captain looked into the cabin. He
caught the Georgian's eye and gave him
to understand that his opponent was =
river black-leg, but the other gentlemen
had dropped their cards and crowded,
around. money was up, and the infoi ma
ton had come too late. Besides the Geor-
gian was doing we'll enough, and he fiat.s
tered himself that he could teach the eour-
tor Lon &
1t was a very quiet group around the
for fifteen minutes the gentlemen spoke
in whisper, and some Of them were re.
minded of old times on the Mississippi,
when gamblers had the full run of every
boat.
The Georgian had luck with him from
the start. and while he looked smiling and
excited and uneasy His money was
raked across the table until the Georgian
had $500 dollars in greenbaeks before
him. The stakes had been light up to
this time, both men seeming to fear each
others skill. The Georgian proposed TO
increase them, and the gambler agreed
In ten minutes the latter had his $500
back. Luck had turned The Georgian
lost $40, then $50, then 800, then $lO0.
The gamblers face wore quiet smile.
as the Georgian became nervous. His
hands trembed Us he held up the cards.
and his face was wet with moisture.
Come. gentlemen!' said one of the
group, ''let's have general hand for
amusement and then turn in',
The Georgian looked up with fixed
glance, and replied: &
II have lost $500; he must give me a
fair show = r...-s--
The play went on, the heap OF grcen-
backs at the gamblers right hand grew
larger. Once in while the Georgian
won. but he lost $40 for every one gained.
He finally laid down his cards, pulled q
roll of bills from his breast pocket, and
counted out $500. This was his pile. In
less than ten minutes every dollar of il
had been added to the gamblers heap. gp
"Gentlemen, will you smoke. asked the
gambler, as he turned round and drew his
cigar case. KS
They knew his true character in spite OF
his disguise, and they refused saeh
IL am sorry for my friend, he contin-
ued. biting at the end of cigar. ..but you
will agree that the play was fair"
The Georgian had passed out on the
promenade deck. The gambler turned to
his stack of bills and was counting them.
when there was sharp exclamation. the
sounds of a brief struggle, and the little
woman with blue eyes and chestnut curls
entered, shawl thrown ovor her shout
ders, and she had a revolver in her hand.
No one had seen her leave her stateroom
and cross the cabin. No one knew that
her husband had the revolver in his hand
as she softly came upon him. go back p
he whispered. IL am coming in moment"
With swift motions he seized the weap-
on. wrenched it from his grasp, and as
she came down the cabin to the table at
which the gambler sat, and around which
half a dozen men still fingered, her blue
eyes were full of fire.
The gambler looked up.
The hammer OF the revolver came up
with double click.
white arm stretched out, and the muz-
zle OF the revolver looked straight into the
gamblers face.
lie turned pale; the men fell back
For half minute the deep silence was
broken only by the faint splash Of the pad
dle-w heels.
"Go!" she said
He looked into her flaming eyes as il
he could bluff her
"Go!"
He rose and reached for the money.
leave it!' she whispered, making a
threatening motion with the revolver
He retreated back.
She followed.
Foot by foot he backed across the cabin.
the muzzle Of the revolver always on
liue with his face. He backed through
the door on the promenade deck, and the
railing was there.
Jump she whispered.
The boat was running along within
three hundred feet of the Shore. Over the
rail to the water was a terrible leap.
You can save the money he said
Jump she repeated.
~ will notw
The arm came up little, and the light
from the cabin showed him cold strange,
determined look ON her face. He turned
about, shivered. and was over the rail.
leaping far out and unable to suppress
cry OF alarm as he felt himself going down.
The boat swept along, her arm fell, and.
re-entering the cabin. she set down, leaned
hav hno AZ t~lxl "a -