Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-01

life lay in getting the advantage Of
him. Strange to say, he did not
make any such proposition to me,
and | gave 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 stove.
He had been drinking, and was
smoking a fine cigar as he APP
preached. All made way for him.
"Well, gentlemen" he said, in
an unsteady tone, "you seem to be
terrible dull. Who wants to play
for 500 ante"
There was no reply. All present
seemed to know the man, and no
one cared to volunteer to place him.
self in his clutches.
"Umphl' he exclaimed, with an
expression of contempt, "afraid /" to
try Your luck against Dan Sturdi-
want, eh? Or maybe you want a
little coaxing. Some of you must
play with me. | can't stand such
treatment. Come, let's sec who it
will be-"
He glanced around the crowd as
if to select his victim. For the first
time l noticed the gaze of one of
the group fixed steadily upon him.
He was stranger to me, and was
dressed in a plain suit of homespun,
and his face was partially concealed
by a wide-brimmed sombrero which
was drawn over it. He was small,
but powerfully made man, and in
the decided expression of his we'll
shaped face | read an unusual firm
ness and intensity OF purpose.
"Are you Daniel Sturdiyant, the
gambler he asked in a calm tone,
without rising.
Sturdivant flushed darkly and
gave the stranger fierce glance.
Some persons call me so, behind
my back" he said, insolently; "but
no one would dare apply that term
to me before my face"
Nevertheless" said the stran-
ger, 81 want an answer-yes or no."
Well, then," said the gambler,
angrily, 81 am. What of it?"
"Simply this" replied the stran-
ger, 81 have heard it said that you
claim to be the best card-player in
the Southwest. | have come two
hundred miles to prove YOU a liar"
Sturdivant strobe forward step
or two and thrust his hand into
his breast as if to grasp weapon.
" Stop" said the stranger, ri
you shoot me, you will simplyprove
yourself afraid of me. Take your
seat at the table, and | will make
my word good.
There was something in the calm,
stern manner of the stranger that
seemed to render the gambler pow
erlesS. He hesitated for moment,
and then said, bullyingly:
" | never play with man whose
face | cannot see.'
" Never mind my face" said the
stranger. "If you are not afraid Of
losing, you shall see it when | am
done with you."
"But how do / know you have
money enough for such sport? ?"
persisted Sturdivaut. " You look
seedy enough, my fine fellow"
"rhere," said the stranger, pro
ducing a large pocket-book. 81
have $4,000 there; if you can win
it you shall do So"
With an oath Sturdivant placed
himself at the table and bade his
challenger do likewise. Those of
us who had listened to this singular
dialogue, now gathered around the
table expecting to see a scene of
more than usual interest. The
stranger had not yet raised his hat
brim and none Of us had seen his
face, but we all felt from his gene
raj air and manner that Daniel
Sturdiyant had at last met his
match. 1t did not take long to
show that the stranger was an un-
usually good player. For an hour
or more the playing went on in
silence. The stakes were high and
the contest marked with rare skill.
Sturdivant exerted himself as he
had never done before, but in spite
of his efforts he lost steadily. By
the expiration of the time indicated
above he had lost $4,000. noticed
the flush upon his face deepen and
a strange light came into his eyes.
At last, with an exclamation OF tri-
Amph, he drew toward him the
heap Of notes,
"That was we'll DONE" gaid the
Estranger. "Yoq are an expert at
cheating. But go on, ! can beat
yon whether you play openly or
dishonesty"
StnrdiVant said nothing, but
dealt the cards again. The hand
was played, and Sturdiyant was
Iabout TO seize the stakes when the
stranger laid down a card and
checked him. The gambler uttered
a sharp cry and sat motionless, with
his eyes fixed on the card, a worn
and faded ace of hearts with a darlr