Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-04-13
stoically, too well trained to botray an,
emotion or chagvin at the result.
$50 it seems" said the other.

Dut nope 10 meet you ogatn, sir; Tor
must have my revenge after such q heavy
run Of luck as this" said Thorn's opponent;
"and have no doubt your friends will join
us in socul sci down, for if YOU arc as
good at cracking bottle, singing II sonc,
or telling story, rs holding hand at
cards, these who arc your frionds arc for
tunato."
VI must Confess" said Thorn, "that
am not vi q conviviaI musical turn, though
| can occasionally tell u good story. l
have little history, now, sir, upon my
tongues cnd, that will be Of uncom mon in.
tcrcst to you"
"To me! Pray tell it," said tho
gamcs'cr with loud laugh. "It will be
a good windup for the evenings enters
tainmcnt.
1t was now long past midnight. Alb
sorbed in the excitement of the game, We
had scarcely noticed the fight of time, or
that The adjoining rooms were now nearly
deserted by their occupants and that the two
other players ut the other end of tho upart-
ment in which we were, had finished their
own game loIg since. and had been specta-
tors of that between Thorn and his OBJ.
ncnt and wcre now apparently interested
! listeners.
"About three years sincc," began Thoro
ga young man in Kentucky, tho confidcn-
tial agent of large business firm, was en- !.
trusted with sum of money aud commis-
stoned to transact some business in New
Orleans. 1t was his first visit to thlt city
lie started happy, leaving wife and lovely
iutaut behind him Unfortunately, upon
one of the Mississippi boats, or immcdi-
atcly upon his arrival at New Orleans, he
fell in with Il professional man--a man of
play, mcan--you understand =
The gambler nodded, and Thorn COR
tinucd:
"By the management Of this profcs-
sionnl,' the The young man was en-
t:ccd to hell induced to play, piled
with wipc and was stripped of his money.
In short to use II professional word,
'pluckcd' -"
"IIa! ho! the old story" said the gam~
bier, "thc 'atc Of pigeons"
"But have not flashed, That which
Interests you most is yet to come
"lnIccd Go on."
cine young man was perfectly sobcrcd
| 10y his loss. lie returned to his hotel:
stupg with rcmorse aud half crazy win
,cxcitemont, he placed pistol to his head
and blew out his brains, leaving il tarnishcd
name as an Inheritance for his wife aud in
nocent child"
but what is all this to me?'' said the
gambler, now pale as ashes beneath the
lashiny eyes OF the speaker "Is it a
moral lesson you're about to read here, or IA
sermon you have to preach?"
"What is it to you!" continued Thorn,
his voice quivcring with excitement "Ah!
LII tell you what it is to you This meet
ing OF you and me to night which for three
years have sought, is not mere chance
The hand Of he.veo is in it. Twas three
years ago this very night, av, this very
hour" snih, he, gnucng at his watch,
"thnt the young man | spoke Of rushed
madly into eternity, not by his own hand
but his opponent ut the card table is lie
that should be accountable for thar deed Of
blood-thc amount OF money ho lost was
Just the amonnt | have won this night
from yon-tA"t Ocry ring upon yonr ,tia-
ger as his! AN Ills BROTHER; YOU ARE
Ills ASsASsrN!'
Thorn pronounced these words in firm
clear, ringing voice, aud, as he concluded
brought his hand down with blow upon
was Instantly overturned. and he and his
opponent started simultaneously to their
feet. They we're scarcely six PAGES apart
after springng from their chars, and both
drew their weapons as they rose.
"Die! liar shouted the gambler, dis
charging his we,pon the moment he g,ined
his feet. The bullet ripped open Thorn's
woistcoat and his watch flew in fragments
from the pocket, dangling by its chain. Al
the same moment his arm, Which was slowly
rising, became as that of statue. The
pistol he he'd exploded, md the gambler
foil back corpse upon the carpet. This
all passed SO suddenly, ere we could inter
fcrc, that we stood as if parayzcd for an
instant, while the servants alarmed by the
noise, and tho police came rushing into the
apartment.
ThoIo quietly surrendered himself, merely
turning to us and the other two who were
10 the ronnI, saying, as he did so, Cen
tlcmcn, bear witness fired in sclf-defensc,
and that received that villains fire here;
and he pointed to his shattered watch with
smile, and turning left the room with the
officers.
lIo was tried and acquitted, os it was
clearly proved that his adversary fired upon
him first. The fact Of the gambler being
II notorious rascal: whom the community
could well afford to spare, might have had
some Influence with the jury.
have never met Thorn since, but the
recollection Of that fearful scene is vet fresh
and vivid in ms mind though many years
have pissed since it was enacted.
|
| ContcDtmcpt is n nearl Of great prcc and