Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-09-05
WINSTON, N. c., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1873.

of which | write, he had attached
himself to one of the magnificent
steamers plying between New Or
leans and Vieksburg, and had pub
licly announced his determination
to shoot any man who attempted to
encroach upon the scene of his OPP
erations. Of course this left him
in undispnted possession of the field,
and lie reaped golden harvest
from it during the briet year that
he conducted his Operations there.
1t was my lot at that time to be
compelled to make frequent trips
between New Orleans and Vicks-
burg, being heavily engaged In
cotton speculations. l preferred
the steamer of which Sturdivant
had taken possession, inas,nuch as
it was not only the most comfort
able, but also the swiftest, and time
was of importance to me. 1t was
known that [ carried large sums Of
money with me, and / was always
apprehensive lest Sturdivant should
asl; me to play. l had fully made
up my mind TO refuse him, and if
he attempted to draw ire into d
quarrel to shoot him without mer-
cy, as l knew that the only chance
for my life lay in getting the adj
vantage of him. Strange to say,
he did not make any such PROPOSE
ton to me, and l give him no
chance to do so,
One night we had started out
from Vicksburg, and were heading
merrily down the river, when Stur~
divant CAME up to the group which
had gathered around the stoye. He
had been drinking, and was smoking
fine cigar as he approached. All
made way tor hitil.
"Well, gentlemeu," he said, IN
an unsteady tone, ''you seem to be
terrible dull. Who wants to play
for $40 ante 2"
There was no reply. All pres
ent seemed to know the man, and
no one cared to volunteer to place
himself in his clutches.
"Umph !" he exclaimed, with an
expression of contempt, 'tafraid to
try your luck against Dan Sturdi-
want, ell 2 Or maybe you want g
little coaxins. Some of You must
play with me. / can't stand sucE
t,o+,,o,>t C,,no 1ot'c con tyho II
will be-"
lie glanced around the crowd al
if to select his victim. For the
first time | noticed the gaze of on'
the group fixed steadily upon him.
t He was stranger to me, and wa
dressed In plain suit of homespun
and his face was partially concealed
by wide-brimmed sombrero whlcl
was drawn over it. He wasa sinall
! but powerful made rtian, and i'll tn
!. the decided expression of his wei
shaped face | read an unusual firm
ness and intensity of purpose:
care you Daniel Sturdivant th
gambler % he asked in a calm tone
without rising.
Sturdivant flushed darby an
+ gave the stranger fierce glance.
"Some persons call me SO, be
q hind my back" he said insoientl
"but no one would dare apply tha
term before my facc."
S "Nevertheless,h said the strang
h er, 81 want an answer--yes or no.
a "Well, them" said the gamble
: angrily, 81 am. What of it z"
: "Simply this;'' replied the etrar
ger, 81 have heard 1t said that 50
n claim to be the best card-player
Il the Southwest. l have come tW
n hundred miles to prove yot liar
=, Sturdivant strobe forward ste
,s or two and thrust his hand into Il
% breast, as if to grasp weapon.
ID "Stop," stranger, eff you sho
" me; you will simply provo you
IN self afraid OF ME. Take your sc
r at the table, and l will make n
ds word GOOD"
is There was sotiiething In the cal
at stern manner of the stranger, til
in seemed to render the gambler po
be eriess. He hesitated tor a MONIES
m and then said bullyingly:
NV L never play with man WHO
lrs face / cannot see.'
ell Never mind my face;' said
lie stranger. IF you are not afraid
r. losing you shall see it when |
til. done with you.'
,al But how do / know you liz
,as money enough for such spor
persisted Sturdivant. You le
IDS seedy enough, my fine fellow
~ There said the stranger, p
or, duciug a large pocket book, L Ii
"a $4,000 there if you can WIN
,"0 you shall do so.'
ic With an oath SSurdivaut pla
7aN himself at the table and bade
ohe challenger do !ikewise- Those
an us who had listened to this sin
ere lar dialogue, now gathered aro