Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-31
STORIES or THE PRESENT DAY
A Gambler Neasiy Tricked Out OF $500
by an Italian.

IRON me Aet1 York san.
II was in New Orleans last winter"
said Chicago gambler the other day,
land one night I INDUCED in little game
IN an establishment on st. Charles street.
just as / entered the place an Italian ran
against me with a great deal more force
than necessary, but passed on without an
apology before could utter the hot words
on my lips.
II might have quickly forgotten the
circumstance had not met the man again
at faro table. 1t seemed as if we we're
pltted against each other. won and he
lost, and presently he lost his temper also,
ana charged me with standing in with
the dealer as 'capper.' Well, he hadn't
got the words fairly out before let fly at
MIN, land he tumbled over. Affairs of that
KIND are quickly settled in such places. A
couple of men seized him and ran him
out; but that wasn't the worst of it. In
the course of half an hour distinguished
looking stranger, also an Italian, beck
oned me to a corner, and as we sat down,
he said:
"'You struck my friend few moments
ago.
"'Well'
"'He wants satisfaction
"'Let him come for ftp
bub us HAS Sent he CudlleuK6S
you to fight duelP
"'Poohp
'If you refuse to he will stab you
whenever and wherever he can find OPP
portunity. If be shoots you down on the
street the law Will clear him. | will call
at your hotel at 10 O'clock In the morning
to arrange matters. You can then name
your second and weapons
she left me with that. and admit that
the matter seemed serious. | didn't pro-
pose to sneak out of town, and | had no
stomach Tor duel. just how to come
out of the affair in decent shape was what
puzzled me. Iwentover to the st. Charles
and went to bed, and although l tried to
dismiss the matter from my mind / did
not get two hours sleep all night.
when morning came braced up and
tried to look cool and placid, but it was a
hard job. At about O'Clock man who
gave his name as Hupples, and his home
as Cincinnati, sought me out in the read
ing room, and without any skirmishing
around began:
Say, Colonel, I've come to offer my
services in that affair of yours. | want to
take that quarrel off your hands,
But you can't fight a duel in my
place.
"'But can. Fact is, Pm to fight him
| on my own account this afternoon. He
challenged me two days ago on account
OF a quarrel
"'How does that help meY 1 asked.
"'See herep he replied, as he bent
closer, Pm going to kill him-that is, If
you say so. did intend TO select pistols
as weapons. and only wing him, but il you
are agreed I'll wipe him OUT
"'Howp
"sPll fight him, armed with bowie
knives, in dark room. He'll probably
scratch me, but I'll kill him. What do
you say?
81 thought was pretty hsrd-hearted,
but his proposition staggered me for a
moment. He talked of killing that man
as coOlly as you would of buying a ham.
No man in Chicago calls me a coward,
but I'D got all broken UP over the duel,
and was ready to snatch at any straw Of
relief.
1.-THE fellow read my thoughts and con-
tinued:
"'You must be my second, although the
affair will be kept very secret, and no one
Will know of your participation, even if
both of us are killed.
"Well, to be brief, l agreed, and prom
ised to meet him at O'clock. He had
just gone when my distinguished friend of
the previous evening dropped in.
''Sl learn, SIR he said, that my friend
of yours, and will call again this even
ing.'
"'It is with a man named Hupples?
"'Exactly.'
"sI have engaged to act as his second
Good am best man for my friend
in that affair. l hope TO see you promptly
on hand
well, was there, but had no stom-
ach for the business. l think it was the
| fear OF being knitted or shot on the street
by that Internal Italian that kept me up.
| met Hupples, and we proceeded to a
building on upper Canal street, near Lib
9rty. We passed up two flights of stairs
and to a rear room, where we found the
Italians. Both were very gentle and
| courteous. The door of a room still
| further back was opened, and 1 saw
that the single window had been dark
ened.
"'Now. gents said Hupples, as he be-
gan to dsrobe, the programme is too
plain for any laundering. We two are to
| be locked in that dark room, each armed
with bowie, for the space of thirty min
utes. Then the seconds are to open the
door. If either one OF US Is alive you are 90
pass down stairs and send a boy for doc
| tor. III both are dead, you are to go your
way and leave our bodies TO be discov-
ered.'
tExactly-we are quite agreed said
the Italians in chorus.
.'rhe knives lay on the table, and wick
ed-looklng things they were.
ssBOth men were soon ready to be locked
in, and as the Italian disappeared and the
door was partly closed, Hupples whisper
cd to me:
"'Its for your sake, you know. If
don't kill him he'll certainly kill you.
Perhaps you'd hand me enough TO ship
my body home in case OF death, or 10 pay
hospital tees IL j am slashed.'
81 counted him out $500 in bills, and he
put them in his pants pocket. Both men
had collars, coats, vests, and boots on,
and these articles were carried into the
room with them and placed In corners.
"'GoOd-by, old fellow; have no fearsp'
he whispered Hupples TO me as left
him.
"Next moment the door was locked on
them, and the Italians second whispered
20 me TO observe the time, and that we
would 20 down stairs and walk about for
the half hour. We walked 10 the river
and back, and the half hour was up. AT
| the head of the second flight OF stairs the
Italian seemed faint, and as he sat
down he handed me the key and wbis.
,ssYou 20 up and look in. shall be
over this in a moment. Go and bring me
the news.
~ felt that mad TO 90, and | went. !
tell you, IL required a great effort on my
part TO open that door. / actually felt
! done up. ] hesitated for moment and
than throW the door omen. What did /