The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1876-03-01
VOL. 2.

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, hut they learned
that a 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
magnificent steamers playing between
New Orleans and Nicksburg, and had
publicly announced his determination
to shoot any man who encroached upon
his scene of operation. Of course this
left him undisputed possession of the
field, and he reaped a golden harvest
during the brief nine years he conduct
ed his operations there.
1t was my lot at that time to be COM
PEELED to make frequent trips between
New Orleans and Nicksbur5, and |
preferred the steamer of which Sturdi-
want had taken possession, inasmuch
as it was not only the most comforta-
bic, but also the swiftest, and time
was of the utmost Importance to me.
1t was known that at times carried
large sums of money, and | was al
ways apprehensive lest Sturdivant
should ask me to play. l had made
up my mind to refuse him, and if he
attempted to draw me into quarrel,
to shoot him without mercy, as | knew
the only chance of my life lay i'll get
ting the advantage of him. Strange
to say, he did not make any such
proposition to me, and gave him no
chance to do 50. One night we had
started out from Nicksburg, and were
heading merrily down the river, when
Sturlivant came TO the group which
had gathered around the stove. He
had been drinking, and was smoking
4 fine cigar as he approached. All
made way for him. "Well, gentle
men," he said in an unsteady tone,
"you seem to he terribly dull, who
wants to play for twenty dollars ante?"
There was no reply; all present seemed
to know the man, and 10 one volun>
teered to place himselfin his clutches.
"Umph!" he exclaimed with an expires.
sionO co tempt, "atraid to try yOurluck
with Daniel Sturdivant, eh? Or maybe
you want a little coaxing; some Of you
must play with me; 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 stranger TO me and
was dressed in plain home spun, and
his face was partially concealed by a
broad brimmcd sombrero which was
drawn over it. He was n small but
powerfully made man, and in the de-
cided expression of his well shaped
head | read an unusual firmness and
intensity of purpose.
care you Daniel Sturdivant, the
gambler" he asked in calm tone,
without rising. Sturlivant flushed
,larkly and gave the stranger dark
glance. "S,me persons call me so
behind my back" he said insOlently,
but no one would care to apply that
term to me before my face" "Nev>
ertheless;" said the stranger want an
answer-yes or no." "Well, then, |
am" said the gambler, angrily; "what
of it," Simply this" said the stran-
ger, 81 have heard it said that 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 a step or
two, and thrust his hand into his breast
as if to grasp a weapon.
stop" said the stranger; eff you
shoot me you will simply prove your
self Ufraid of me. Take your seat at
the table and l will make my words
good"
There was something in the calm,
stern manner of the stranger that
seemed to render the gambler power
less. He hesitated n moment, and
then said bullyingly, Il never play
with a man whose face l cannot see."
"Never mind my face" said the
stranger, "if you are not afraid of los
ing, you shall see it when l am done
with YOU"
But how do 1 know that you have