The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-06-10
The Code.

Tragic scenes frequently occur ut the
gaming table. But perhaps the most tragic
that ever took place at gaming table tran
splrcd at public house in Port All Prince
some years ago. Several parties were wait
Ing about the room for the game to com.
mence. Among The crowd of loitcrcrs was
Capt. st. Every, a noted gamcster. dead
~ duelist and well known man of pluck.
Some one spoke up, "Who'll play?'
III will play" said tho captain of tho
French frigatc, which had just arrived in
the harbor, and sciZing dicc-box threw tc
win or lose the amount of Il small sum OF
money that then lay upon the table. lie
was Ignorant OF the stake to he played.
Monsieur Commandant you have won, v
SAID Capt. St. Every, pushing toward him
several piles Of gold.
Astonishcd ut the sight of so much
wealth the captain drew back saving
"Gentlcmcn, l should be wanting not only
In common honesty, but even in good man,
ners, were to appropriate the sums tn,
winning OF which never expected in the
least degree, for l thought | was playing
for the tritlng stake laying on the table.
i cannot, therefore, take the enormous sum
as my own by right"
'Sir," said Capt. 81. Every, "you must
take it, for If you had lost you would have
been obliged to pay the same sum-"
you arc mistaken, sir, If you think 80.
do not conceive my honor endangered in
reference to paying debt of honor whicl,
never contracted, nor in refusing to accent
Of so large y sum which never expected
TO win."
''Monsicur le Commandant, shrickcd
Captain st. Every, raising his voice to the
highest pitch, ''lf you had lost you shouhi
have pnl1. IWoHi0 hurc 9,udc you i0
So"
This was fire to the gunpowdcr intended
to provoke IL challenge, and it accomplished
its purpose. ''Sir," said Captain ST..
Every, 81 don't wish to take any adyan-
tage Of you, which my acknowledg gcd abi-
lty in the use Of the sword and pistol gives
me, 30 offer you terms of equality"
''Bring pistol here at once, load It, and
which shall blow each others brains out. "
"Agrccd," said the nothing dauntcd fri
gate commandant.
a shock OF horror ran through the VEINS
OF the assembled crowd at the barbarlty of
the blood curlding affair. Some shranl
from the room, others more hardened in
sights OF horror, crowded near the gaming
table, perfectly cognizant of the desperate
character Of st. Every, und inwar,lly laud-
ing the bravery Of the unknown.
Each party examined the pistols. The
naval captain first threw the fatal dice.
lie threw eleven.
"a good throw" said ST. Every, holding
for moment his own; "Thc chances arc
now In your favor but listen, if it turns
out as IL appears to me it will, thu. fortune
favors you and not nc, wis neither
mercy nor pity, rs | should thin. either q
coward who would spare the other"
''Sir, l need not your impcrtimcnt re-
monstranccs TO back inc neither now nor at
any time" replied the Conmandant.
ST. Every took the box and threw III:
teen.
The company were paralzcd with hor-
rOr.
Q Monsieur lc Commandant arose. "Your
hfc belongs TO me, sir" said ST. Every,
throwing down the dice on the table.
"tirc, sir," said the Commandant, plac-
ing his hand bn his heart, "an honest man
IL never afraid To-"
st: Evcry's ball scattered the bruins and
blood OF the unlucky Commandant over
the clothes and persons of the bystantIcrs,
us his lfeless body fell to the saloon Roor.
ST. Every deserted to the English, and
soon after fell mortally wounded at the bat
Tie Of lrcis as the English were carrying the