The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-09-10
A DUAL LIFE.
Erom De1,rer. Col. Nc,rs.

A Southern Gambler aS CLASS Leauer.
From Dcnrer Co.., Nc'rs.
IA great many men lead two lives"
said an old sporting man last night, 'but
sooner or later somebody drops to their
racket and exposes them. 1t is more
natural for the average man to give
man away than it is for woman to talk
scandalously about her dearest female
friend. A woman may say great deal
against another when she is angry, but it
doesn't hurt much. A man is venomous.
When be starts out to ipjure man he
generally does it; and when he is also
actuated by spirit of revenge he man.
ages to mutilate his victim before he
gives it burial.
"What started to tell you before |
commenced moralizing was story con.
cerning Gus Sayers. Gus was one OF
the best fellows I ever knew, famous
sport who would bet his last dollar on
the turn of card or any other chance,
but he was square, and if man played
him dirt there was going to be q row right
there and then. He it was that killed
Harry Rivers in New Orleans for trying
to deal brace on him and making kick
when discovered.
THAT WAS IN 1858.
"Queer fellow was Gus. No one ever
heard him swear, use obscene language
or saw him cross the threshold of fash.
ionable vice. The only vice he had be-
sides gambling was that he would get
full once in awhile and do something he.
shouldn't have done. There was always
an air of mystery about him, which none
of the boys could fathom. He made his
headquarters in New Orleans, but made
frequent trips or the river to St. Louis,
and during the summer months he would
disappear altogether in fact, from June
1st to October 1st Gus was dead to the
gang. When he turned up, of course we
would ask him where he had been.
frustrating was the invariable answer.
"That went on for years till finally the
gang ceased 10 wonder at it, though we
couldn't help thinking that there was
something about him we would like to
know. A little incident occurred when
I was with him one day which increased
my perplexity. | was standing near the
post Office on Royal street when saw
man coming up the street whom I recog-
nized as big gun in the church from
Ohio, who was just then shaking up the
sinners in New Orleans. What should
Gus do but excuse himself to me and 60
meet him. They shook hands and held
quite confab. / was dying to know,
but knew that unless Gus choose to tell
me there wasn't any use Of asking any
thing aboutit.
HE DIDN'T CHOOSE TO TELL.
T "Three days afterward the papers an.
notnced that Bishop-had received a
gift of $1,000 from an unknown friend
to aid in AS good work. I didn't say
anything br. I thought great deal.
Gus had made big winning the night
before.
"One time there came along spry
looking chap from Kentucky, who
thought he could swing the world around
mis- head if he got good tail.hold. He
tackled faro and played with varying
success, never getting ahead and never
winning much. Finally he jumped Gus
for a game of draw. If there was any
thing Gus did know, it was to play short
cards. The result was that Gus beat
him out of $4,000 in two nights. The
fellow insinuated afterward that Gus
cheated, but he was out for his pains.
Everybody knew better. They knew
that Gus wouldn't cheat man out of
million if he could"
"The chap got another raise and staid
around New Orleans, but didn't tackle
Gus for another game. When it came
time for Gus to make his disappearance
he went as usual. He was missed, of
course, and the gang had their talk about
him, as they always had. The Ken-
tuckian caught on.
"'That fellow amt as square as he pre-
tends to be- he said, "and Pm going to
find out who be is and what he does"
"The next October Gus made his ap-
pear ance. All that fall and winter he
played in hard luck, and was often broke.
But fellow like him mover wanted for
stake. In the spring his luck began to
pick up, and be left on his summer jaunt,
after he had paid up his debts, with quite
A SUM OF MONEY IN HIS POCKET.
"About month aflerward we were
startled by a sensation in the papers.
Gus Sayers had committed suicide in
Hockensport, Ohio. The full details Of
the tragedy had been written up for the
Cincinnati papers and the New Orleans
papers had copied it.
"The story told the whole history of
Gus life. The mystery was solved.
The Kentuckian had got in hi. work.
Gus Sayers wasn't Gus Sayers at all, but
Charles Norton, rich and respectable
citizen of Hockensport member of tue
church, q Sunday School teacher and
the most popular man in the town.
"The story which took about two col.
umns of the Picayuae, stated that the
community was painfully shocked by
the self destruction of Mr.. Charles Nor
ton. 1t stated that there was a revival
in progress at that place, and that n
fervent prayer had just been offered up
by Mr.. Norton, when stranger arose in
his seat and asked to be allowed to say
a few words Permission was granted
him.
"'That man. he said, lis not Mr.. Nor
ton. He is notorious gambler and
blackleg, and his name is Gus Sayers.
He cheated me once out of $4,000, and
be dare not deny it. He is wolf in
sleeps clothing, and l can prove every
word say
"He then went on and told every thing
he knew about poor Gus, who, as
GAME A MAN AS EvEE LIVED,
sat there with his head bowed down, not
saying word. The paper stated that