The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-08-21
{ NO. l..

ton they expressed, quietly put up
his revolver. Had lie hesitatcd an
instant longer, half the cleaning bar
rels would have been emptied, there
would have been one bully less, and
my story would end here.
"Tbat's sensible" said miner
"We're here to play quiet game-a
square game. You pays your mon;
ey, if you win it's agood thing too
for the bank, I reckon. 1t seems
you've got spite agin some oncs'''
glancing at Harper. eff you Lave,
why don't you fight II ont like a
man. You might as well, stranger,
for tell you we're here for quiet
little game, and, with an oath that
added emphasis to meaning speech,
'swe're goin' to have it,"
'I'll make a proposition said
Harper. Gle seems to be spelling
for fight. He boasts about his
knowledge. If the gentlemen really
graduated at Vicksburg, he ought to
know something about brag. For
my part / believe he lies. Vicks-
burg must have changed its style
greatly if its graduates make the
pass he makes. / know something
Of brag too. I'll play him for the
shot. Either he is too mean tollye
or I am. Let the game decide. In
stead Of putting up a few hundreds
in checks, let us play for the first
shot,. zn
The crowd murmured. One man
from San Jose, Big Sam, laughed up
roariously at the proposition. The
Pike county man turned like a bear
with a load of shotin his cheek, then
blurted out, "I'm agreeable" 80 s.
! Without another word Harper
made d motion to a dealer, who took.
his place, and ;nmediately left the
4 place. sifcntly followed by the crowd
! co his room in the Graham house,,
The crowd was not led by curiosity.
II any man among the witnesses of
4 the incidents ihaye related had been
asked what prompted their action
the answer would have been, cor the
purpose of fair play.
When they arrived at the Graliatn
: house, liquor and cigars were. propyilliI;
dedi for the crowd, twenty red checks Ks
: were placed on the table and the OPP
9 ponents began the game. The
}, crowd looked from the rosy counters
: in the faces Of the, men who sat op-
( posite to each other. &,
!. The events that ensued made one
e Of the most remarkable chapters Of
3 California life, and the game was re-,
ferred to afterwards as one of the
], most extraordinary contests wit
! messed in 40.
+ The Pike county boaster was com
u pletely sobered by the circumstances
y lin Which he, found himself involved
9 He played with discrimination, and
! for, time displayed considerable
$ firmness, but the extraordinary cool
g ness and finesse of his antagonist ap,
y palled him. In the we'll ordered as
e saults and retreats the skill exhibi.
n ted by the rival players would have
d made the fortune of a general. ID
ls The first deal was made at half
II past eleven. The game went on ya
: lrying fortune for half an hour. no no
word was spoken by the principali'
- or lockers on. A human life was ia
y stake, and little as, the value ota'
n. life was rated at that time, tlle,cir
l. cumstances surrounding the case in
II vested it with a degree of interes
= rarely manifested. A mortal; insul
y had been given, and the custom DC
re manded that it be wiped out at til
ty earliest moment. That was snffl
" cient. The table at which the play
:. ers sat was near the door Of th
l. room. The last deal, The deal thu
II. was to decide the fate Of one of:th
ne players, was made, and just as Hal
r. Der, whose asay" it was, was reyol
i. wing the. matter in his mind, a new
= conner strobe and stood behind hii
;, silently. a %
he The Pike county man, who ha
ais grewn pale since he sat down at v
e table, held his hand low, and glal
III icing at it furtiyely, bending over
J bestowed on Harper a stare tn
o" seemed to search his very soul
mt. Those who observed that silent pr
Ind longed, GREATNESS stare never forg
the lit. It revealed TO them what til
had suspected from the first; I'll
the Pike county man was a NOR
ace coward, shrunk the fate be had
nth yited. As the new conner stood
The his back, Harper, who had paid
md attention to the opening and closl
: : of the door, without SO much as I
- wing finger or eyelid, said:
be- e On nv last check.,' q