West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-05-22
The Code

Tragic scenes frequently occur at the
gaming table. But perhaps the most tragic
that ever took plnCe AT a gaming table tran
spired at public house in Port au Prince
some years ago. Several parties were wait.
ing about the room for the game To com
mencc. Among the crowd of lotercrs was
Capt. st Every, "A noted gamcstcr. dead.
ly duelist and well known man of pluck.
Some one spoke up, "Wholl play p
II will play said the captain of tho
French frigate, which had Just arrived i'm
the harbor. and seizing dice box threw ia
win or lose the amount of a small sum of
money that then lay upon the table. lie
was ignorant of the stake to be played.
Monsieur COmmandant you have won. "
SAID Capt. st. Every, pushing toward him
several piles of gold.
Astonished at the sight of 80 much
wealth the captain drew baCk saving
Gentlemen, | should he wanting not only
in common honesty, but even in good man
ners, were to appropriate the sums the
winning of which 1 never expected i'm the
least degree, for | thought | was PLAYING
for the trifling stake laying on the table
j cannot, therefore, take the enormous sum
as my own by right"
''Sir, " said Capt. ST. Every, "you must
take II, for If you had lost you would have
been Obliged TO pay the same sum-"
You arc mistaken, sir, If you think so
do not conceive my honor endangered i'm
reference to paying debt of honor which
j never contracted, nor i'm refusing TO accent
OF 80 large sum which never expected
TO win. "
"Monsieur lc Commandant, shreked
Captain St. Every, raising his voice to the
highest pitch, "if you had lost you shOulci
have paid. /WOutd haze nade nan clO
so"
This was fire TO the gunpowder, intended
to provokea challenge, and il accomplished
it's purpose. "Sir," said Captain 81.
Every. 81 don't wish to take any advan-
tage OF you, which my acknowledged abil-
ity in the use of the sword and pistol gives
me. so offer you terms of equality" ."
Bring pistol here at once load il, and
the chance Of the dice shall determine
which shall blow each others brains out. :"
agreed, said the nothing daunlcd fri.
gate cOmmandant.
shock OF horror ran through the veins
OF the assembled crowd nj the barbarItv of
the blood curlding affair Some shrank
from the room, others more hardened in
sights OF horror, crowded near the gaming
table, perfectly cognizant Of The desperate
character Of St. Every, and inwardly laud-
ing the bravery of the unknown.
Each party examined the pistols. The
naval captain first threw the fatal dice.
He threw eleven.
"A good throw, " said st. Every, holding
for moment his own; The chances are
now in your favor, but listen, if it turns
out as IL appears 10 me it will, that fortune
iavors you and not me, wish neither
mercy nor pity, as | shOud think either a
coward who would spare The other.
'Sir, ] need not your impcrtmcnt re-
mOnstranccs tO back me neither now nor at
any time, replied the Commandant.
St. Every took the box and threw fC
teen.
The company were paralizcd with hor-
rOr.
Monsieur le Commandant arose. "Your
life belongs 10 me, sir" said ST. Every.
throwing down the dice on the table.
"Firc, fir,' said the Commandant. plac-
ing his hand bn his heart, can honest man
Is never afraid To-"
81. Every's ball scattered the brains and
blood Of the unlucky Commandant over
the clothes and persons Of the bystanders,
~ his llfeloss body fell 70 the saiOOa ROOr.
st. Every deserted 10 The English, aud
soon after fell mOrtally wounded at the bat
tie cf lr is as tlc English were carrying the
dny.