The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-12-21

out we never tnlnk OF tnat down mere.
Steamboats, always have raced, and
reckon they always will. feel my
self just this way about it-that If /
owned one of these boats, and she
couldn't carry steam enough to beat
the other without bursting-why, then
let her burst, and be d--d to her"
"But the passengers"
81 should say they'd better be at
home, that trip" | went forward and
found large number greatly Interested
in the performances of one of the negro
hands, who was dancing in grotesque
fashion to the drumming of a banjo
Then went below, past the gilded
and mirrored mahogany bar-counters,
when half-a-dozen men in their shirt
sleeves were mixing fancy drinks for a
noisy and thirsty crowd. Around a
table in an adjoining saloon so many
were pressing that I could not see
what the attraction was They stood
on tiptoe and tried to peer over the
shoulders of those in front of them.
A large chandelier lighted the room,
but the point of interest was concealed
by the throng.
that / was crowded up against the
wall. More to save myself from suffo-
cation than from curiosity, reached
up to the top of decreasing, put my
foot on the knob, and was at once able
to elevate myself over all heads, and
look directly down upon the table
The position was uncomfortable: but
was not compelled to keep it more than
ten minutes.
Two men sat at the table playing
cards. The one facing me recognized
at once as he who had been pointed
out to me by Mr. Dorion as Conrad
Bostock.
The crowd overtopped them, hung
over them, but they paid no attention
to anything but their game.
Piles of gold and notes were upon
the table could not see what the
game was or how it was being played;
but it was apparent that Bostock was
largely the winner. The pile of money
in front of him steadily increased, and
the light sound of cards striking the
table was now and then punctuated by
something like an oath from the other
player
Suddenly this man made a noise
that sounded like a deep growl, and
drawing knife from his sleeve
pinned to the table the card that his
opponent had just played. And SO
quickly that the whole seemed to be
but a single motion, he drew a re-
volver, cooked it and pointed it at the
others head.
The crowd fell back in fright; some
were thrown down and trampled under
foot, some were carried back against
the wall, and many who could fed
from the room. The two gamblers sat
motionless
"Iou wouldn't send maj at of
the world this way?" the one who was
threatened by the pistol said.
81 ought to, you cheating scoundrel!
Sir" to bystander, ''just look at this
ace of diamonds that he played last.
Now look at the trumps he's played
there, and see if there amt another of
'em."
The man addressed ran over the
cards, and quietly threw out another
81 thought SO; ] thought / was
cheated, an hour back, but / couldn't
lay my finger on the spot till this min
ute. I'm going to take every dollar of
that money. Dan Turner, rake it in. -
The revolver still covered Conrad
Bostock's head. The companion of the
man who held it proceeded to stuff his
pockets with great handfuls of the
gold and notes on the table until not
dollar remained.
"Now, I've done with you, you mis-
erable, clumsy cheat" the man with
the pistol said. "You ought to
be lynched. You're disgrace to
the company of all gentlemen; but"
Lynch him! Throw him into the
river! Drown him! Tie him fast to a
nigger!' came shower of suggestions
from the crowd.
The object of their attentions turned
pale. had marveled to see his COM
posure when the muzzle of the re-
volver was at his forehead; but he
doubtless was thoroughly acquainted
with his own class, and knew that
there was no danger of more than a
menace from that quayter, provided he
sat still and made no resistance. But
when those hostile cries We're heard, he
realized his danger at once. He was
among gamblers, sporting men, specu-
lators and adventurers; many of them
had been drinking freely; his offense
was something each man. by reason of
his own mode of life, was prepared to
regard as personal insult and injury.
And he probably knew, too, that no
wild beast of the forest or the wild is
so cruel in it's rage as crowd of men.
No time was allowed him to think
about it. A rush was made for him; q
dozen hands seized him; spite of his
struggles, cries and curses, he was
dragged along toward the gangway.
The captain came running down,
hearing the commotion; and, seeing
the situation of affairs, began to inter
cede for the endangered man.
"For Gods sake, gentlemen, what's
the matter? Don't have any violence
here"
"It's only a - card-sharp we're 60