Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-05

square, and furthermore deciaItu that
should any of their number be detected
cheating the stakes should oe loFieIleu'
and he De pun on shore. Alter TINS no
more was sad. and the numerous games
went on without Interruption.
For some time The young merchant
firmly declined all invitations TO "try bis
iuck." Bat after the supper table had
been cleared, ycldlng. as he aiteTWard
told me- to q natural love for the excite
ment Of play he consented to make one
I Ol party OF four who were ABOUT TO
sit G0Nn TO a game u cards for small
stakes, 'just to pass away the time"
The players took their seats; the cards
were dealt, and the game began.
For awhile my interest IN the fortune
/ OF the merchant induced me 10 remain at
( his side and watch the cOauces Of the
| game; bnt as the sums staked we're but
/ small, and the paroles seemed evenly
matched "a point OF skill, soon tired VI
sueh uninteresting employment and re-
tired to defiant part Oftne cabin 70 amuse
I myself with bOOk-ln the contents Of
which almost Immediately became alb
s0rbed. Tread o. Tor some time, probably
an nour and "a half; but While pauslng 10
! cut the leaves { the bOeE was = new one J
/ / became cOnsciOus that an unusual still
ness perVaded the room. There was no
/ longer to be heard tbe rattle Of dice, the
sharp click OF the ivory faro checks. or
| IGe subdued murmur Of the players.
! Raising my eyes TO see what could he the
| cause Of this unusual silence, l saw that
/ all tue "banks" had been deserted and the
/ players were standing nOtionless round
/ the table at which | had left Harris and
| his companions engaged at eucbre,
! Wondering what could induce men
| who were accustomed 10 risk the largest
stakes on the turn OF a card to take such
an interest IN 50 small game. / threw
/ down my book, and, approaching the
/ party, soon made my way close up to the
/ table.
I saw at once that great change had
! taken place since l had been y loOker-On.
! The takes were largely increased, aud
/ TWO Of the party, either unable or TOO
/ tmid 10 risk sucn large amounts, had
| Withdrawn from the table, Harris and
one Of the gamblers, however, still re-
| tanned their seals, and with eager faces
and shaking hands shuified and dealt the
cards. Fortune seemed To favor Harris,
for Just as | reached The spot he marked
the last spot in a cl0esly contested game,
while the professional, with fierce oath,
dashed down the cards and challenged
him 10 give him his revenge with dice, 10
which proposition, after moments hesl-
tatiOn, Harris assented.
The dice and cups were procured and
the excited gamesters again bet their
money, but no longer with tae same re-
suit. Harris good luck seemed TO have
deserted him, and bis antagonist won the
stakes. Harris seemed now wild with ex-
element. He doubled every time, until
at last no less than $4,000 lay upon the
table to be won or lost at a single throw OF
the dice. Again was the gambler sue
cesstui. Harris now sprang from his
chair and, calling on his antagonist to re-
main where he was, repaired to mis- state
room, and, returning in few minutes, he
dashed down upon the table bag OF gold
dust, saying at the same time to the gam
bier:
"YOu have already won from me$15, 900.
This bag OF gold represents double that
amount; dare you risk like sum, and let
the ownership OF the whole be decided by
a single oast?"
The gambler expressed his willingness
to do 80. There was large carving fork
lying near Harris, which the waiter had
neglected to remove when he had cleared
the table that evening. This Harris, with
careless movement OF his arm, drew
close to his side.
All drew near in eager expectation.
Harris seized the cup. and, shaking the
dice violently for a moment, dashed them
down before hun. l could scarcely re-
press Cry of eXultatiOn when l saw he
had thrown double fves, within two OF
the highest number that 1t is possible to
make. The professionals cast uneasy
glances upon each other, but Harris an
tagOnist only smiled and drew the ivO-
ry cubes toward him. just. however, as
he was placing them in the box they
slipped through his fingers and fell upon
the floor. He stopped aud recovered them
in an instant, but as he reached forth bis
hand to take the cup Harris seized the
fork, and, with a movement as quickas
that Of rattlesDake, stuck the sharp
prOngs through his wrist, pinning it to the
table. AT the same time be presented a
cooked pistol full at his head. There was
a yell from the wounded man and vOlley
OF imprecations burst from his associates.
A dozen weapons were pointed at the
breast OF Harris. He was equal to the Oc-
casiOn. Not a muscle of his face moved,
ana his voice was not raised the least
when he spoke.
Zone moment, gentlemen" said he.
you have just declared that should one
OF your number be detected IN foul play,
the stakes should be forfeited and be sum
hand / now hold imprisoned be not false,
then do with me as you will. II, however,
prove correct in my assertion, | demand
the fullfllment OF your threat
By this time they had all collected
around the table, and the gamblers saw
they were not 10 be tritied with. SO they
were forced to admit the truth OF what
Harris had said.
The gambler was held in his chair, the
fork Withdrawn, and the dice examined
and found 10 be loaded. The true pair
were concealed Ia bis sleeve. His tate
was sealed. The arms OF a dozen miners
stripped him Of his weapons. forced him
into boat, and rowed MIN TO the nearest
land, which happened to be the northern
point of Angel island, which was at that
time bleak and barren, without a singlein-
habitant. Upon the island, on that dark
and stormy night, deaf TO his piteous APP
peals, they forced him, and the steamer re-
sumed her course down the bay. The
gambler found his way TO the city in a
few days, and was soon after shot dead in
his boots in the old Veranda gambling sa-
loon, northeast corner OF Washington
and kearny streets. Harris was one OF
the victims OF the awful disaster which
befell the steamship Central America IN
1858.
AFTER MANY YEARS