The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-03-01

time Of which write he was one Of the most
notorious gamblers between st. Louis and
New Orleans He was man OF fine per,
sonai appearance. and OF great physical
rssS esp prsf s s suestu fss e ark
stories 81 deeds which he had committed while
under the iniltrrn " OF play and liquor. ana ~
was said by some that he had killed hall a
dozen men in his lifetime. No one darsd q
sp bring % upon eS h S TIC anger 81 such man
! There were few who knew him that really cared
% play agninst him, but they lenrnod t'.at re-
WIKI sth' II him. n. al and rarely derinsd an nvafion
About twenty ssrs. aso t, tine e q rs ss ~ ta
magnificent steamers plying between New Or
leans and vickabuf9. and had publicly an
nounced his determination to shoot any man
| who encroached upon his scone OF operation.
Of course. this left him In undisputed possess
sion oil the field. and he reapcd golden harvest
during the brief nine years he conducted his
III was my lot at that time % be compelled 70
make frequent trips bstween New Orleans and
sturdivant had taken possession, ir,asn,ich Us II
was not only the most comfortable, but also tho
west End tine wSs q the n ;,s importance crsrs
large sums ID money. aud was always appre.
hcnsvo lest Sturdvant should ask mo to p!ay,
att ate to draw me into q quarrel 10 shoot
him without mercy. AZ knew that the only
chaneeof ;ny life lay IN getting tho aivantage 81
proposition 70 ine. and gave hun no change 20
10 80. One night We had started out from Weeks
rg and yero naadnS % q ,n aow WITH
had gathered around the stove;, He had been
drinking. and was smoking fine. cigar ~ no
gentlemen" no said. IN an unsteady tone, "yon
seem to be terribly dol, who wants to r Play iSr
volunteered 10 place himself in bis clutches.
"Tmpbl" 10 exclaimed. with On expsession Of
"S a. o. t9 a y 'S e. yo aak whit wst Dfas a
eoaxing: / cant stand such treatment Come,
sts soc who 4 shall bG ~, LIE yianesd around r., n,
first timc noticed the gaze Of one of the group
fixed steadily upon him. He was stranger TO
mo. and was dressed In plain h9mcspun. and
brimmed ,splulroro. which was drawn down
ovor II. Ho Wns = SINAI put p2iwefi t mano
shal,ed head read mn unusual tlrmness ind in
Are you Daniel sturdyant. the eambler?"
want flushed darkly. and gave tho stranger q
dark g!anee Some persons. call me 80 behind
: NeyeriGeIess," said the stranger, quietly. -!
want an answer yes or no.. Well then,
ri Simply s th H. t replied the stranger haye
heard II said that you claim 70 BIG tho best card |
player IN the Southwest, ana ! have come two
sturdyant strobe forwara step Or two. and
thrust his hand into hls breast US II to grasp
Stop,' said tho stranger: Z i you shoot me
you viii simply prove yourself afraid Of me-
Take a your seat at the table and | will make my
There was something In the calm. stern man
ner OF the stranger that seemed to render the
gambler powerless. He hesitated u moment.
man whose face cannot see." 4i.
you arc not afraid d losing you shall sec q when
s aBu tho how do know that you have money for
sucl, sport2,r persisted ,Sturdivant; you look
seedy enough. my fine fellow"
There said the stranger. II have ten thou
sand dollars there: II you can win II you shalt
J With an oath sturdivant placed himself at the
Those of us who lad listened TO this singular
dialogue. now gathered around the table ,, ex-
est. The stranger had not raised bis hat brim,
and none q ,ts had seen his face: but we all
stirdivant had ii Last met liz match. II aid
not take long to show MS that the stranger was
IN nnnsu e, good PLAYER and Tor N Nh hour Or
skill. sturdivant cxcrtel himself, as he had
cs heavily anE pI by the expiration mo- e tho Time
mentioned above he had lost about two thousand
dollars. i noticed the flush upon his cheek
and II last With an exclamation Of triumph ho
drew towards him the heap Of notes. That was
we'll done. said tho stranger: you are an expert
YOU play openly or dishonesty"
Sturdvant said nothing, but dealt tho cards
lgnin The hand was played and Hturdivant
was about TO seize the stakes again, when the
strslnger laid down card and checked him.
The gambler uttered a sharp cry and sat mo- ,
tionless with his eyes fixed on the card. worn ,
and faded ace Of hearts, with dark stain across
tho face. Stlrdivants face worked convulsively I,
,s no gslzed Ut H. and the spectators gathered
more closely around the two. wondering at the
strange scene. .1.sf
IN Gods name. who are your asked Sturdi-
vapt with his eyes still fixed on the card.
Look ut me" said the stranger. quietly, and .
n " powcrless to resist Sturdvant raised his .
,yos, to the speaker. The stranger had raised
with eyes tina, fairly bIazod with fury. Sturd-
rant uttered groaD and sank back in his chair. r
with his face white and rigid The stranger with
me sweep gathered the money from the table
md thrust II into his bosom. :
The acc Of hearts IL an nnlucky card for you,
Daniel Surdvant. he said coolly You played 4
I once when you thought II to your advantage. /
Now. God help you for that play Is ended" /
Az he spoke he raised q pistol which we had 1
lot seen. and before we could stop him, aimed :
| deliberately ut the trembling man and fired. /
The gambler fell heavily upon the table corpse; !,
md the bright blood streamed over IT, hiding the {
atal card from sight,
" Gentlemen said the stranger. rising TO his
readful scene, THAT man ruined my wife t
nd tried to murder me. / have been hunting q
i'm ten years" He walked slowly by ns down
he stairway to the lower deck, 4nd Just then the q
teamer touched at the landing. he sprang Il
never learned tho history Of the mysterious :
friir. for the dead gambler was beyond uues- r
onng. and ] never saw tho stranger again u
ut shall not forget the impression made upon II
no nj the time II