Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-07-06

Orleans. He was man Of fine personal ap.
pearauce, and of great physical strength, and
was also noted for his personal courage; and,
as gambler, he was most expert and success
ful. There were dark stories Of deeds which
he had committed while under the influence of
play and liquor, and it was said by some that
he had killed half dozen men in his lifetime.
No one dared to speak of these stories openly,
for no one cared to bring upon himself the
anger of such man. There were few who
knew him that really cared to play against
him, but they learned that refusal to do so
might involve them in quarrel with him,
and rarely declined an invitation. About
twenty years ago, the time of which write,
he had attached himself to one Of the splen.
did steamers plying between New Orleans and
Vicksburg, and had publicly announced his
determination to shoot any man who en-
croached upon his scene of operations. OF
course, this left him in undisputed possession
of the field, and he reaped golden harvest
during the brief nine years he conducted his
operations there.
It was my lot at the time to be compelled
to make frequent trips between New Orleans
and Vicksburg, and preferred the steamer
Of which Sturdivant had taken possession.
inasmuch as it was not only the most COM
Portable, but, also, the swiftest, and time was
Of the utmost importance to me. 1t was
known that at times I carried large sums of
money, and / was always apprehensive lest
Sturdivant should ask me to play. / made
up my mind to refuse him, and if he attempt
ed to draw me into quarrel, 70 shoot him
without mercy, as I knew that the only chance
of my life lay in getting the advantage of
him. Strange to say, he did not make any
such proposition to me, and gave him no
chance to do so. One night We had started
out from vicksburg, and were heading down
the river, when Sturdivant came to the group
which was gathered around the stous. He
had been drinking, and was smoking fine
cigar as he approached. All made way for
him. "Well, gentlemen" he said, in an un.
steady tone, syou seem to be terribly dull;
who wants to play for twenty dollars antep
There was no reply; and no one volunteered
to place himself In bis clutches. "Umphl''
he exclaimed, withan expression Of contempt,
"afraid to try your luck with Daniel Sturdi-
want, eh :? Or may be you want q little coax
ing; can't stand such treatment. Come,
let's see who it shall be-" He glanced around
the crowd as if to select his victim, and, for
the first time, / noticed the gaze Of one Of the
group fixed steadily upon him. He was q
stranger to me, and was dressed in plain
homespun, and his face was partly concealed
by broad-brimmed sombrero, which was
drawn overit He was small but power
fully made man, and in the decided express
sion of his we'll shaped head read an unu.
sual 6rmness and intensity Of purpose.
"Are you Daniel Sturdivant, the gam
blerY he asked, in calm tone, without ri.
sing. . z3 g sJii3ii
Sturdivant flushed darkly, and gave the
stranger dark glance. "Some persons call
me so behind my back he said, insolently,
"but no one would dare to apply that term
before my face"
Nevertheless" said the stranger, quietly,
~ want an answer-yes or nc" as6i 1875
"Well, then, I am" said the gambler, an
grily "'what of it?"
"Simply this" replied the stranger, II have
heard it said that you claim to be the best
card player in, the southwest, and have come
two hundred miles to prove you a liar" ~ss3
Sturdivant strode forward step or two,
and thrust his hand into his breast as if to
draw weapon.
"Stop," said the stranger; eff you shoot
me you will simply prove yourself afraid of
me. Take your seat at the table, and ! will
make my word good"
There was something in the calm, stern
manner Of the stranger that seemed to render
the gambler powerlesa. He hesitated mo-;
ment, and then said, bullyingly-"I never
play with man whose face ! cannot see."
"Never mind my face, said the stranger;
"if you amt afraid of losing, you shall zee it
when I am done with you"
"But how do / know that you have money
for such sport" persisted Sturdivant; "you
Hook seedy enough, my fine fellow"
"There, said Ae-atranger, II have ten
thousand dollars there; "if you can WIN IT,
you shall do so" s,
With an oath, Eturdivant placed himself at
the table and bade his challenger to do like
wise. Those of Us who had listened to this
singular dialogue now gathered around the
table, expecting to see game Of more than
usual interest. The stranger had not raised
his hatbrim, and none Of US had seen his
face; but we all felt, from his general air and
manner, that Daniel Sturdivant had at last
met bis 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.
Sturdivsnt exerted himself as he had never
done 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, noticed the flush upon
his face deepened, a strange light came into
his eyes, and at last, with an exclamation of
triumph, be drew toward him the heap of
notes. "That was well done" said the stran-
ger; lyon are an expert at cheating, but 60
on; I can beat you, whether you play openly
or dishonesty" @ g ..&a .7t,s
Sturdivant said nothing, but dealt the cards
again. The hand was played, and Sturdi-
want was about to seize the stakes again,
when the stranger laid down card and
checked him. z''.'sf ~ s,'
The gambler uttered sharp cry and sat
motionless, with his eyes fixed on the card, q
worn and faded ace Of hearts, with a dark
stain across the face. Sturdivant's face work.
ed convulsively, as he gazed at it, and the
spectators gathered more closely around the
two, wondering at the strange scene.
"In Gods name, who are youf" asked Stur-
divant, with his eyes still fixed on the card.
"Look at me" said the stranger, quietly.
And as if powerless to resist, Sturdivant rails
ed his eyes to the speaker. The stranger had
raised bis hat, and sat looking AZ the trem-
bling man, with eyes that fairly blazed with
fury. Sturdivant uttered groan and sank
back in bis chair with bis face white and