The Mesilla Valley independent. [volume] (Mesilla, N.M.) 1877-1879, 1878-07-13

for moment, and then said, buIlyingsy:
4 never play with man whose face I
cannot seer
'Seyer mind ny faee. -'said the stranger.
IF yoa are not afraid Of losing you shah see
i Rhea am done With you
BGi how do know you have money
enough for such sporti' persisted Sturdivsnt.
. You look seedy enough, my 6ne Fellow
There SAID the stranger, producing
large pocket book. II have $4,000 there;
# you can win it yon shall doss.n
With an oath, Sturdiyant placed himself
at the table and bado his challenger do hike
wise. Those Of US who had listened to this
Singular dialogue, now gathered around the
table, expecting to see scene Of more than
usual interest. The stranger had not vet
raised his hat-brim, and none Of Us had seen
his face, but we all felt from his general ar
aud manner. that Daniel Ssurlivant had II
last met his match. II did not take long to
show thatthe stranger was an unusually
good player. For an hOnr or more the play
ihg went on IN silence The stakes were
high, and the contest marked with rare skin.
SturdiEant exerted himself as he had nsver
done before, bat in spite of his Efforts, he LOST
steaaiig- By the expiration Of the time in
dieatel above, he had lost two thcnsand dol
lars. l noticed the flush upon bis face dean
en-, and strange light came into his eyes.
At last, with an exclamation II triumph,
he drew toward him the heap Of uOtss.
!" That was well doueS sad che stranger.
You arc an expert at eheating. But 90 on,
can HAT yoa, whether yOu pIay openly or
dishonesty"
Sturdivant said nothing but dealt the cards
again Tie hand was played, and St1rdn-
want Was about to seize The stakes when the
stranger laid down card and checked him.
The gambler uttered q sharp cry and sat
moticnisss, with his eyes fixed on card, :
worn and fadSd ace of hearts with q dsrk-
red stain across the face Stunlivant,s face
worked couvulsively as he gazed as II and
the spectators gathered more closely around
the two, wondering at the strange scene.
In Gods name, who arc your rasped
sturdivant, his eyes still fxed on the card.
Look at me, said the stranger quietly.
AZ If powerless to resist, Sturdivant raised
bis eyes TO the speaker. The stranger had
raised his bat and sat looking at the trem.
bling man with eyes that fairly blaxsd with
fury. ssurdivant uttered grOan, and sank
back In his chair, with his face white and
rigid, The stranger with one sweep gather.
ed up the money from the table and thrust
it into his breast.
That ace Of hearts Is an anlncky card
for you, Daniel Sturdwant," be said coldly..
You pisyee il eace when you thought It to
your advantage. Now, God help you. for
the play IS retarnedr'
As he spoke. he raised pistnl, which re
| had not seen, and, befure We could stcp him
aimed it deliberately at the trembling man
and fred. The gambler fell heavily upou
the table, q corpse, and the bright blood
STRAINED over il, hiding the fatal card from
sight.
T.. Hataefffeni TaIu the stranger, risang TO
his feet, as We stood psyalyzed with horror
at the dreadful scene, that man ruined nv
wife and tried to murder me. / have been
hnntiag for him ten years
I HsWaiHef slowly by5sIs down the stairway
to the lower deck. Just then the steamer
touched at = landing and he sprang ashore
AID vanished in the DARK woods.
never learned the history OF the mys-
terions affair, for the dead gambler was be-
yond human questioning, and never saw
the stranger again; bat shall not sooa for
| get the impression il made upon me 1t the
time.--KGN>as Cay Twas.