The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1876-02-03

ger; " if you are not afraid of losing YOU
shall see 1t when am done with you .
But how do / know that you have
money for such sport - persisted stifr-
fellow"
"There," said the stranger. "I have
ten thousand dollars there; if YOU can
win it you shall do So.
With an oath Sturdivant placed him
self at the table and babe his challenger
to do likewise. Those of us who had lis
tened to this singular dialogue, now
gathered around the table, expecting to
see scene Of more than usual interest.
The stranger rad not raised his hat brim,
and none of US had seen his face but
we all felt from his general air and man
ner that Daniel StnfdiVant had at last
met his match. It did not take long to
show us that the stranger was an unusually
good player, and for an hour or more
the playing went on in silence. The
| stakes were high and the contest was
marked with rare skill. Sturdivant ex-
erted himself as he had never before,
but in spite of all his efforts he lost
heavily, and by the expiration Of the
time mentioned above he had lost about
| two thousand dollars. I noticed the
| flush upon his cheek deepened, a strange
light come into his eyes, and at last with
an exclamation of Triumph he drew to-
wards him the heap of notes. That
was well done" said the stranger; you
are an expert at cheating, but 90 on,
can beat you whether you play openly or
dishonesty"
Sturdivant said nothing, but dealt the
cards again. The hand was played and
Sturdivant was about to seize the stakes
again, when the stranger laid down a
card and checked him.
i The gambler uttered a sharp cry and
sat motionless with his eyes fixed on the
card, worn and faded ace of hearts,
with dark stain across the face. Stur.
divant's face worked convulsively as he
gazed at it, aud the spectators gathered
more closely around the two, wondering
at the strange scene.
" In Gods name. who are you ?'' asked
Sturdivant, with his eyes still fixed or
the card.
"Look at me-" said the stranger
quietly, and IS If pOwerless to resist
Sturdivant raised his eyes to the speaker
The stranger had raised his hat and sal
looking at the trembling man with eye
that fairly blazed with fury. Sturdivan
uttered a grOan and sank back in hi
chair, with his face white and rigid. Thu
stranger with one sweep gathered thu
money from the table and thrust it int
his bosom.
"The ace of hearts is an unlucky care
for you, Daniel Sturdivant," he salt
cOolly. =" You played it once when yol
thought it to your advantage. Now
God help you; for that play is ended.
As he spoke he raised a pistol which
we had not seen, and before we coult
stop him, aimed it deliberately at tn
( trembling man and fired. The gamble
f fell heavily upon the table corpse; ant
r the bright blood streamed over it, hidin
, the fatal card from sight.
! Gentlemen" said the stranger, risin
/ to his feet as we stood paralyzed witt
horror at the dreadful scene, " that ma
? ruined my wife and tried to murder me
, l have been hunting him ten years.
3 He walked slowly by as down the stair
way to the lower deck, and just then tn
f steamer touched at landing, he spran
ashore and vanished in the dark woods.
, l never learned the history of tn
mysterious affair, for the dead gamble
; was beyond questioning, and never say
, the stranger again; but shall not forge
5 the impression made upon me at tina
. |