The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-06-06

all made way for him.
SWELL. gentlemen" he said, In an nm
steady tone, ssyou seem to be terribli
ldull;fwho wants to play for twenty dol
lars ante ?" There was no reply,And M
one volunteered. to place himself in hi.
clutches. "Umph!'' he exclaimed, will
an expression Of contempt, "afraid tt
| try your luck with Daniel Sturdivant, eh
Or may be you want little coaxing;
can't stand such treatment. Come, let,
see who 1t shall be-"
He glanced around the crowd as il II
select his victim, and for the frst time
noticed the gaze Of one of the grouI
fixed steadily upon him He was stran
ger to me, and was dressed in plair
homespun, and his face was partly con
cealed by q 5road-brimmed sombrero
which was drawn over it. He was a small
but powerfully made man, and in the de
cided expression of his well shaped head
! read an unusual drmness and intensity
of purpose.
fare you Daniel Sturdivant, the gam
bier 2" be asked in calm tone, withou
rising.
Sturdivant flushed darkly. and gav'
the stranger a dark glance. "Some per
sons call me so behind my back" he sale
insolently, "bnt no one would dare to ap
ply that term before my face
Nevertheless" said the stranger qui
city, Il want an answer-yes or no."
"Well, then, ] am" said the gambler
angrily; "what OF it p
''Simply this," replied the stranger, q
have heard it said that you claim to b.
tine best card player in the southwest, ,ant
I have come two hundred miles to prove
you liar"
Sturdivant strobe forward a step OF
two, and thrust bis hand into his breas,
as II to draw weapon
Stop" said the stranger; ''if yor
shoot me you will simply prove poursell
afraid of me. Take your seat at the ia
hle, and will make my word good"
There was something in the calm .sterr
manner of the stranger that seemed te
render the gambler powerless He hes
itated moment, and then said bullying
":
II never play with man whose face
cannot see.
"Never mind my face" said the stran
ger, "if you amt afraid of losing; you
shall see it when / am done with you:''
"But how do | know that you llayt
money for such sport9'' persisted Stur
diyant; you look seedy enough, my fine
fellow"
There" said the stranger, II have
ten thousand dollars there; if you car
win it, you shall do so."
With an oath Sturdivant placed him
self at the table, and babe his challenges
dc likewise. Those of US who had lis
tened to this singular dialogue now gath
cred around the table. expecting to see |.
game OF more than usual interest. Til,
stranger had not raised his hat-brim. .snt
none of us had seen his face but we al
felt from his general air aud manner tina
Daniel Sturdivant had at last met biz
match. 1t did not take long to show u
that the stranger was an unusually goot
player, and for an hour or more th,
playing went on in silence. The stake
were high, and the contest was marked
with rare skill Sturdivant exerted him
self as be had never done before, but il
spite Of all his efforts he lost heavily ant
by the expiration of the time mentiones
above he had lost about two THOUSAND
dollars. Inoticed the flush upon hi
face deepened, q strange light came int,
bis eyes, and at last,with an exclamation
of triumph, he drew toward him the heal
of notes. s
"That was well done," said the stran
ger; ''you are an expert at cheating, bu
60 on; ! can beat you whether you pla
openly or dishonesty"
/ Sturdivant said nothing, but dealt th,
cards again the hand was played ant
Sturdivant was about to seize the stake
again, when the stranger laid down
card and checked him.
The gambler uttered sharp cry an,
sat motionless, with his eyes fixed on th
card, worn and faded ace of hearts
with dark stain across the face. Sturdi
wants face worked convulsively as b
gazed at it, and the spectators gathers
more closely around the two, swonderin
at the strange scena. ----.-ss-...---
"In Gods name, who are you p aske
Sturdiyant, with his eyes-still fixed o
the card.
"Look st me-" said the stranger qui
(etly. And, as II powerless to resis'
Sturdivsnt raised his eyes to the speake
The stranger haG raised his hat aud ST
looking at the trembling man, with eye
that fairly blazed with fury. Sturdivar
uttered groan and sank back in b
chair, with his face white and rigid. Tt
stranger With one sweep gathered tt
money from the table and thrust It INF
his bosom.
"The ace of hearts is an unlucky ca,
for you," Daniel Sturdivant," he sal
coolly. "You played 1t once when "
thought 1t to your advantage. No,
God help you: for that play is ended.
As he spoke be raised q pistol whis
we had not seen, and before we cou
stop him aimed and fred. The gambl
fell heavily upon the table. a corpse ar
the bright blood streamed over it, hidir
{ the fatal card from sight.
4 "Gentlemen," said the stranger, risir
to his feet, as we stood paralyzed wi
D horror at the dreadful scene. "that mi
8 ruined my wife and tried to murder m
t l have been hunting him ten years."
!, He walked slowly by Us down Z
9 stairway to the lower deck, and just th
8 the steamer touched at the landing;
|sprang ashore and vanished in the da
: woods.
a / never learned the history of
'- mysterious affair, for the dead gamb)
t was beyond questioning,aud | never 81
q the stranger again but shall not fore
o the impression made upon me at
Il time.