The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-02-03

you claim TO be the best card player In
the Southwest, and | have come two hun
dred miles to prove you a liar"
"Sturdivant strobe forward q step or
two, and thrust his hand into his breast
IA If to grasp a weapon.
stop" said the stranger; "H you
shoot me you will simply prove yourself
afraid Of me, Take your seat at the Ia
bic and | will make my words good"
There was something in the calm, stern
manner Of the stranger that seemed 10
render the gambler powerless. lie hest
tatcd n moment, and then said bully
ingly, 81 never play with a man whose
face | cannot Sec
Never mind my face said the stran-
ger; " If you are not afraid of losing you
shall see it when ! am done with you"
" But how do ! know that you have
money for such sport - persisted Stur-
diyantj "you look seedy enough, my fine
fellow"
"There," said the stranger, 81 have
ten thousand dollars there; If you can
win il you shall do so,p
With an oath Sturdivant placed him
self at the table and babe his challenger
10 do likewise. Those Of Us who had lis
tened 10 this singular dialogue, now
gathered around the table, expecting 10
see a scene of more than usual interest,
The stranger lad not raised his hat brim,
| and none of us had seen his face but
veal felt from his general air and man
ncr that Daniel Sturdiyant had at last
met his match, 1t did not take long TO
show u that the stranger wasan 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. Sturdiyant ex-
crtcd himself rs 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. | noticed the
flush upon his cheek decpcned, a strange
light come into his eyes, and at Iast 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
dishOncstly,"
Sturdiyant said nothing, but dealt the
carlo again. The hand was played and
Sturdiyant was about to seize the stakes
again, when the stranger laid down n
card and checked him.
The gambler uttered n sharp cry and
sat mOtiOnless with his eyes fixed ON the
card, Il worn and faded nee Of hearts,
with "A dark stain across the face. Stur-
diyants face worked convulsively as he
pazed at it, and the spectators gathered
more closely around the two, wondering
ut the strange scene.
" In Gods name, who are yOu?' asked
SLurdiyant, with his eyes still fixed on
the card.
"Look at me-" said the stranger,
quietly, and AS if powerlcsS to resist,
Sturdiyant raised his eyes to the speaker.
The stranger had raised his hat and sat
looking at the trembling man with eyes
that fairly bIazed with fury. Sturdivant
uttered 4 groan and sank back in his
chair, with his face white and rigid. The
stranger with one sweep gathered the
money from the table and thrust it into
bosom.
"Thc ace Of hearts is an mlucky card
for you, Daniel Sturdivant,' he said
coolly. You played it once when you
thought it to your advantage. Now,
God help you for that play is ended"
As he spoke he raised n pistol which
we had not seen, aud before we could
stop him, aimed it deliberately at the
trembling man and fired. The gambler
fell heavily upon the table a corpse; and
the bright blood strcamcd over it, hiding
the fatal card from sight.
"Gentlcmen," said the stranger, rising
to his feet as we stood paralyzcd with
at the dreadful scene, that man
my wife and tried to murder me.
| have been hunting him ten years"
lie walked slowly by us down the stair
way % the lower deck, and just then the
touched at a landing, he sprang
shore and vanished in the dark woods.
| never learned the history Of the
mysterious affair, for the dead gambler
beyond questioning, and never saw
he stranger again; but ! shall not forget
he impression made upon me at that
inc.