The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-05-12
Fine Job Work a Specially.

render the gambler powerless. He hes
itated a moment, and then said bullying
ly, 81 never play with "a man whose face
cannot see."
''Never mind my face, said the stran-
ger, ''if you amt afraid of losing, you
You shall see it when / am done with
you"
But how do l know that you have
money for such sport?" persisted Sturdi-
want; you look seedy enough. my fine
fellow
There, " said the stranger, 81 have
ten thousand dollars; 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 who had listened
tothis singular dialogue now gathered
around the table, expecting to see a game
of more than usual interest. The stran-
ger had not raised his at-brim, and
none of US had seen his face; but We all
ASAb AAOAA SNA4CAOA ludnBGE llistJ
Daniel Sturdivant had at last met his
match. 1t did not take long to show us
that the stranger was anURGsaally good
player, and for an hour or more the play
ing went on in silence. The stakes were
high and the contest was marked with
rare skill. Sturdivant exerted himself
~ ba boJ pavar dOpa bafr.o b,,{ n sx,;t,
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, strange light came into
his eyes, and at last, with an exclamation
of triumph, he drew toward him the
heap of notes. ''That was well DONE
said the stranger; ''you are an expert at
cheating, but go on; can beat you
whether you play openly or dishonesty"
Sturdiyant 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.
The gambler uttered sharp cry and
sat motionless, with his eyes fixed on the
card, a worn and faded ace of hearts,
with dark stain across the face. Stur-
divant's face worked coavulsively as he
gazed at it, and the spectators gathered
more closely around the two, wondering
at the strange scene.
'In Gods name who are youg' asked
Sturdivant, with his eyes still fixed on the
card.
'Look at HE, said the stranger, quiet
ly. And as if powerless to resist, Stur-
divant raised his eyes to the speaker
The stranger had raised his hat and sat
looking at the trembling man, with eyes
that fairly blazed with fury. Sturdivant
uttered a 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
his bosom.
1.-THE ace of hearts is an unlueky 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 a pistol which
we had not seen, and, before we could
stop him, aimed and fired. The gambler
fell heavily upon the table a corpse;
and the bright blood streamed overit,
hiding the fatal card from sight
Gentlemen, said the stranger, rising
to bis feet, as we stood paralyzed with
horror at the dreadful scene, "that man
ruined my wife and tried to murder me.
| have been hunting him ten years" He
walked slowly by us down the stairway
to the lower deck, and just then the
steamer touched at the landing; he
spraDg ashore and vanished in the dark
woods.
never learned the history of the mys-
terious affair, for the dead gambler was
beyond questioning, and never saw the
stranger again; but / shall not forget
the impression made upon me at the
time