The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-07-16
The Gamblers End.
From Rev. Mr.. Murray's Story in tho Gold
en- Rule.l

From Rev. Mr.. Murray's Story in tho Gold
| en- Rule.
Beyond the balsam thicket the gambler
made his stand. Carson, the detective,
was in full pursuit, and as he burst through
the balsams he found himself within twen-
| ty feet uf his antagonist. Both men stood
for an instant, each with a pistol in his
hand, each looking full at the other. Both
lwere experts. Each knew the other.
"You count" said the gambler, coolly.
I "Oue, two" said tue detective, "three
Fireg
One pistol alone sounded. The gam
bler's had failed to explode.
"You've won; you needn't deal again" F"
said the gambler. And then he dropped.
The red stain on his shirt-front showed
wherein was hit. )
"There's some lint and bandage," said
the detective, and he flung small pack
age into the gamblers lap. II hope you
won't die, Dick Raymond"
! "Oh. it was all fair, Carson" said the
other, ,carelessly. "I've held poor hand
from the start"
| He paused; for the detective had rush
ed on, and he was alone.
| Twenty rods further on the detective
caught up with the trapper, who was calm.
ly recharging his piece. On the edge .oi
the ledge above the half-breed lay dead
the lips drawn back from his teeth and his
lugly countenance distorted with hate and
rage. A rife, whose muzzle smoked, lay
at bis side; and the edge of the trapper's
left ear was bleeding
/ M'ye shot Dick Raymond by the bal
Isam thicket," said the detective. srn
tafraid he's hard it." -.
/ sIll 60 and see the boy" answered The
trapper. "Youll find Henry furder up
There's only two runnin. You and he
can bring 'em in"
| The old trapper saw, as he descended
the hill, the body reclining on the mossea
at the edge of the balsam thicket. The
earth gave back no sound as he advanced
and he reached the gambler, and was stan
ding almost at his very feet ere the young
man was aware of his presence; but az
the trapper passed between him and the
shining water he turned his gaze up to the
ltrapper..s face, and, after studying the
grave lines for q moment, said:
you've won The game, old man. )"
The trapper for moment made no re-
lply. He looked steadfastly into the
young mans coantenance, fixed his eyes
on the red stain on the left breast, and
then said: ---.-,
"Shall look at the hole, boy ?"
Thegambler smiled pleasantly and nod
ded his head, saying; "It's the natural
thing to do in these cases. ~ believe.
Lifting the hands, he unbuttoned the col
lar, and unscfewed the solitaire stud
from the white bosom. The trappel
knelt by the young mans side, and lay
ing back the linen from the chest, wiped
the blood stain uith a piece or lint from
the white skin, and carefully studied The
edges OF the wound, seeking to ascertain
the direction which the bullet had taker
as it penetrated the flesh. At last ht
! drew his face back, and lifted himself tc
his feet, not shade in the expression oi
his face revealing his thoughts.
ais it my last deal, old MANI ?" asked
the gambler carelessly.
81 have seed good many wounds.
answered the trapper, "and ] have noted
the direction of a good many bullets, and
Inever knowed a man live who was hi,
where ye be hit eff the lead had the slant
inward, as the piece had that has gone in
to ye." l'jT
For minute the young man made nc
reply. No change came TO his counter.
ance. He turned his eyes from the trap
| per's face and looked pleasantly off to-
ward the water. He even whistled a line
or two Of an old love ballad; then he
paused, and drawn, perhaps by the mag.
netism of the steady gaze which the eyes
ofthe trapper fixed upon him, he looked
again into the old mans face, and said:
"What is it, John Norton ?"
II be sorry for ye, boy" answered the
old man. 81 be sorry for ye, for life be
sweet to the young, and wish yer years
might be many on the arth
81 fancy there's good many who vii
be glad to hear I'm out Of it," was th,
careless response.
81 don't doubt ye have var faults, boy,
answered the trapper, "and l dare say "
have lived loosely, and did many, deeds
that was better undid, but the best use 0
life be to learn how to live, and I feel sar
tin ye d have got better as ye got older
and made the last half of yer life wip,
out the fust, SO that the figures for ant
again ye would have balanced in sh,
1jedgment."
"You aren't fool enough to believ,
| what the hypocritical church-members
talk, are you, John Nortonl You dom
believe there'a any judgment day, d.
your"
1, ~ don't know much about church
members" answered the trapper, "fo
live never ben in thelsettlements; least
wise, I've never studied the habits of th
lcreturs, and l dare say they differ, bein
lgood and bad, and I've seed some tina
was sartinly vsgabonds. No I don
know much about church members; bu
sartinly believe, yis, l know, there is
|. day when the Lord shall jedge the livin
and the dead and the honest trappe
shall stand on one side and the vagabon'
that pliers his skins and steals his trap
shall stand on the other. This is wha
the Book says, and it sartinly seems res
|, |sonabIe, for the deeds that he did on art
! be of two sorts, and the folks that d,
'em be of two kind, and atween the two
1.-THE Lord, ef He notes any thing, mus
, make dividin' ,line."
"And when do you think this jude
ment is, John Norton ?" asked the gam
bier, as if he was actually enjoying th
/ crude but honest ideas of his companion
The trapper hesitated moment before h
( spoke, then he said: .-.,,..-s.
/ 81 conceit that the Judgment be alway
t goin' on. It's court that never adjourn:
! and deserters and the knaves and the disc
lbedieEt in the regiment be always on tr
al. But l conceit that there comes da
to every man, good and bad, when til
r record of his deeds be looked over frol
the start, and the good and the bad cour
, ted up and in that day he gifts the fina
: ljedgment whether it be for or agin hin
/ And now boy continued the old ma
solemnly, with touch Of infinite tender