National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-07
THE GAMBLERS END.
By Y. II. II. MURRAY,

Beyond the balsam thicket the gambler
made his stand Carson, the detective, was in full
pursuit, and a. he burst through the balsams he
found himself within twenty feet of his antagonist
Both men stood for an instant each looking full al
the other. Both were experts. Each one knew
the other
You count" said the gambler, coo1ly.
"Onc, two said the detective, three. Fire
One pistol alone sounded. The gamblers had
failed to explode!
You've won; you needn't deal again :" said the
gambler. And then he dropped The red stain on
his shirt front showed where he was hit
There's some lint and baudage," said the de-
tectiye. and he funga small package into the gam
biers lap. II hope you won't die, Dick Ray
mond"
ooh ii was all fair, Carson" said the other care
lessly: " I've held poor hand from the start"
He paused, for the detective had rushed on. and
he was alone.
Twenty yards further on the detective caugbt I'M
with the trapper, who was calmly recharging his
piece. On the edge Of the ledge above the half
breed lag dead, the lips drawn back from his
teeth, ana his ugly coUntenanee distorted with
hate and rage. 4 ri1e-the muzzIe Of which was
smokiHg-lay at his side and the edge Of the tran
per's left ear was bleeding
I've shot Dick Raymond by the balsam thicket" "
said the detective; I'm afraid he's hard hit"
IN go and see the boy" answered the trapper,
You'll find Harry fIrder up. There's onlv two
Tunnh'. You ana ne can bring EN- in."'
The old tEapper saw as he descended the hill tI,e
body reclining on the moses at the edge of the
balsaIn thicket The earth gave back no sound as
he advanced, and he reached the gambler and was
standing almost at his very feet ere the Young
man was aware ofhis presence; but as the trapper
passed between him and the shining water he
TURNED his gaze up to the trappers face, and arer
studying the grave lines for moment. said;
You've won the game, old man."
Inc trapper fora moment made no replv He
looked steadfastly into the young mans couute-
nance hNed MS eyes on the red stain On the left
breast, and then said
Shall look az the hole, boy?"
The gambler smiled pleasantly and nodded bis
head saying, Its the natural thing to do in these
cases. believe" Lifting the hands he uubut
toned the collar and unscrewed the solitaire stud
from tae white bosom. The trapper kneIt bv the
young mans side, and, laying back the linen from
the chest, wiped the blood-stain with niece of
lint from the white skin, and carefully studied the
edges OF the wound, seeking 70 ascertain the direc
ton which the bullet had taken as it penetrated
the mesh AT last he drew his face back and lifted
himself TO his feet, not shade in the expression
Of his face revealing the thought
SIS it my last deal, old man?s asked the qon,.
bier carelessly.
I nave seed good many wounds" answered
The traPper "and I've noted the direction of n
good many bullets and have never krowed o
man 20 live who was hit where We be hit eff Tba
lead had the slant inward as the piece had that
has gone into ye"
For a minute the young man made no ren1v
No change came over his countenance. He tprned
his eyes irom the trappers face and looked pleas
ant!y of toward the water. He even whistled q |
line or two from an old love ballad, then paused
and, drawn perhaps by the magnetism of the |
steady gaze which the eyes of the trapper fixed |
upon him. he looked again into the old mans face
and said:
" What is it. John Norton?7
be- sorry for ye, boy" answered the old man, |
" for life be sweet 70 the young. and wish that
yer years might be many on the earth"
81 fancy there's a good many who will ha clad
to hear I'm out Oft" was the careless response
u don't doubt We have yer faults bovn an
swcTed the trapper, "and dare say We have lived
loosely and did many deeds that were better nm
did; but the best use oflife be 10 learn how to 1.-Two
ana l feel sartin ye'd have got better as We .,ot
older, and made the last half of yer life wine ont
the fus SO that the figure for aid aein We womb
have balanced in the jedgmcnt"
" You aren't fool enough to believe what rhe
hypecriiical church members talk, are -ou. Iobn
Norton You don't believe there's any iudcrufnt
day, do you?"
Il don't know much about church members
answered the trapper, " for I've never been in the
settlements; leastwise, I've never studied the hab-
It's OF the creturs and dare sa: they differ bcin'
good and bad. and I've seed some That was saFtinly
Taga6onds. No, don't know much about church | {
members, but Sartinly believe, yis, know, there
'e daF ~hen the Lord shall jedge the living and