Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-07-27
WHERE DEATH TOOK A HAND,
A Gambling Tragedy.


table transpired at public house in Port
au-Prince some years ago. Several par
ties were waiting about the room for the
game to commence. Among the crowd
of loiterers was a Captain st. Every, a
noted gamester, deadly duelist and well
known man of pluck
Some one spoke up, Who'll play p
: will play, said the Captain ofa French
frigate which had just arrived in the har-
Dor, and Selling a dice box, to win or lose
the amount of a small sum of money that
then lay upon the table. He was ignorant
of the stake to be played.
Monsieur Commandant. you have
won,' said the Captain st. Every, push
ing toward him several piles of gold.
Astounded at the sight of so much
wealth the Captain drew back saying I:
Gentlemen, l should be wanting not
only in common honesty but even in
good manners were | to appropriate the
sums the winning of which | never ex-
pected in the least degree, for thought
| vas playing for the triding stake lying
on the table. l cannot, therefore, take
the enormous sum as my own by right. >
Sir said Captain St. Every, you
must take it, for it you would have lost
you would have been obliged to pay the
same sum
You are mistaken, sir, if you think So
| do not conceive my honor endangered
in reference to paying debt Of honor
which l never contracted, nor in refusing
20 accept of so large sum which never
expected to VIM
Monsieur le Commandant.' shrieked
Captain st. Every, raising his voice to
the highest pitch, if you had lost you
should have paid. l would have made
you do so.'
This WAS fire to the gunpowder, intend
ed to provoke challenge, and it accomp-
lshed its purpose.
Sir said Captain St. Every, l don t
wish to take any advantage of you, which
my acknowledged ability in the use OF
the sword and pistol gives me, so | offer
you terms of equality
Bring pistol here at once, load it, and
the chance Of the dice shall determine
which shall blow each others brains OUT
Agreed, said the nothing daunted
frigate commandant.
A shock of horror ran through the
veins OF the assembled crowd at the bar
barity of the blood curdling affair. Some
shrank from the room; others more
hardened in sights of horror, crowded
near the gaming table, perfectly eogni.
zsnt of the desperate character of ST.
Every ard inwaidly lauding the bravery
OF the unknown.
Each party examined his pistols. The
naval captain frat threw the fatal dice.
lie threw eleven.
A good throw, said st. Every, hold
ing for moment his own the chances
are now in your favor but listen. Ii it
turns out as it appears to me it will, that
fortune favors you and not me, | wish
neither mercy nor pity, as | should think
either coward who would spare the
other
Sir, | need your impertinent remon.
strances to back me neither now nor at
any time, replied the commandsnt.
st. Every took the box and threw If
teen.
The company were paralyzed with hor
ror
NJ le Commandant, arose. Your life
belongs to me, sir, said st. Kvery throw
ing down the dice on the table.
Fire, SIR said tho commandant,
placing his hand on his heart, an honest
man is never afraid to-
st. Every's ball scattered the brains
and blood of he unluoky commandsnt
over the clothes and persons of the by
ISLANDERS, as his lifeless body fell to the
sai0n floor.
st. Every deserted to the English, and
soon after fell mortally wounded at the
battle of Irois as the English we're car
rying the day. Cincinnati Commercial.