The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-10-27

y
/, aint there Britisher here to see
that the stranger has fair play?"
With that an old gentleman about
sixty years of age jumped into the
ring, and after him his servant, o
big Englishman, and laid about
them solid. And the captain, like
miserable coward, fired at the old
man and shot him down; then |
broke loose and ciinched him, and
we rolled over together; and a party
of Southerners came up and they
soon settled the fracas, all except
me and the captain. l had him
down and his revolver away, and
was giving his head a bouncing on
the floor. "Now it's your turn"
says one of the Southerners; "kill
the Yankee"
I. But I'm a Yankee myself, and so
I says: "I'll only take the bloody
elephants ivory" and gave him a
wipe across the mouth that sent his
teeth rattling down his throat, and
took myself off of him. He was
a regular bad character, and a pro-
fessional gambler, I heard afterward.
Ham and his gang left the boat that
night at Memphis. Ned was all
right in an hour or two, and the old
gentleman wasn't much hurt. He
was an Englishman of wealth and
rank, and was travelling with his
family, consisting of his wife and
daughter. The next day we were
sitting in the cabin when We heard
the cry of somebody overheard.
We rushed up on deck, and they
stopped the paddles as soon as they
could, but before they did I saw
Ned Locke, with something white
in his arms, go right under the floats.
He came up again, astern, and we
could see the water around red with
blood. Then the boat picked him
up and brought him aboard. The
white headed old man was on deck,
and they said it Was his daughter
Ned had saved; she was not hurt,
but Ned, poor fellow, had got his
last wound. Everything was done
for him that could be done, but it
was of no nsc.
An hour or Two after lie was
wounded, the old gentleman came
down, and says he: GLOW do you
feel?"
"Oh," says Ned, putting a bold
face on it, GIVE reformed. l used
to be a sporting character, but l
know better now.'
"Poor boy" says the old man, "ifr
anything can be done for you. let
me know"
~" says Ned, Il thank you;
you va "a good friend yesterday,and
came in like the left bower to save
me from a euchre. I've helped to
pay you back to day, but for my
self, nobody can help me, and for a
few things 1 want done I look to my
partner here. However, sir, as they
tell me you're an English man, per-
haps Southampton might come in
your way before a great while%'
"Yes," said the old man, 81 live
there"
"Then:" says he, 1'm going to
ask you to take my watch and jew
elry and my picture and a small
package of money to my sister, who
lives there"
I will be very glad to execute
your commission" said the old man.
"What is your namey
"My name is William Locke De-
Gle, and my fathers name is Henry
Decle. Caroline Decie is my sister.
They live at Myrtle Villa
The old man turned and left the
cabin. Ned and l both wondered
at this strange action, but he soon
returned and asked if he and Ned
might be alone for a few minutes.
1 went out, and l guess it was half
an hour terore | was called. Then
they told me the strange gentleman
was Henry Decie, Eed's father, and
that the girl he had saved was his
own sister. Ned had run away from
home when he was about fifteen,
and had never seen either since.
"Well."- says Ned, to me that
night, Il die happy. l have seen
my father and my sister. Blake,
that sister has been to HE like the
ace of heerts in forty five, always a
trump. l haven't seen her, but she's
always written to me, though my
father never did. I hope there's o
chance for me yet, though not on
this board. You know I've never
cheated any one but a regular. But
before ! 60 I must give you some adj
vice. Always take Temperance for
your right bower; you don't have
it you can't go alone. If you get
high and turn up Jack, you'll be
sure to 60 on all fours, but you'd
best not, for it may be your oppo-
nents game you are playing, after
all. Don't go it too much on good
clothes. For my part, I'm better
suitel when out of suit. Don't
get honors, if you can help it, but if
your honors cut you, fall back on
your small trumps and lead 'em out;