The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-08
It va, night in tn. great metropolis.

r
e. paise and rush of New York s
crowded -s--sEnughfares had partially sub.
sided.
In ons Of the gilded palaces OF vice, by
which all cities are infected, was gath
cred motley crowd. most OF whom were
bent on seeking the tickle goddess of For
tune az the gaming table.
Almost every class was represented
the man Of the world alongside OF the
laborsr. professional smen of all kinds
merchants, clerks and the sharp, always
on.watch for a victim-were all dawn
there oy the same magnet.
There were boisterous laughter and
loud talk from those who had i'm bibed
too freely, oaths and imprecations from
those who were losers AMI excited .ex-
CARNATIONS from the winners.
The dispenser of dril ks was kept busy
supplying the wants of the crowd. 1t
seemed as if business was rushing on this
particular occasion. yet this was only a
usual nightly occurrence in various pal
aces of the great city.
At q table in one corner the room.
slightly isolated from the rest of the
crowd we're seated two Young men.
From ordinations that fell from the
lips Of one of them 1T was evident that be
was losing. also that he had been drink
ing heavily.
Earlier in the night they Fhad been
playing with two other men and had won
several hundred dollars.
Now for the first time in their acquaint.
ancs they were pitted against each other.
\,
played and drank together and were con-
slant companions.
One, Richard Grey. was a clerk in a
banking house and had wife AID sweet
little girl aged 5 years, named Maud.
He had fatal fondness for the gaming
table, hence his association with Bar
nard Clayton, gambler and blackleg of
the fast type. As above stated, Richard
Grey was losing. not only the $500 he
had won from the strangers, but also 5000
of his own money. and he was fast ap-
preaching that stage of Iecklessness
caused by losing and excessive drinking.
His companion. though appearing to
drink as often as he, was perfectly cool.
In fact, most of his liquor had gone under
the table.
Bern, this is my last dollar" and
Richard Grey threw $50 bill in the GEN.
ter of the table. If l don't win this
deal I'm broke.' Clayton dealt, and
won.
He coolly picked up the money and
quietly passed the cards over to Grey.
''Dick, you are evidently out of luck to
night; take another drink; may be it will
change"
Grey hastily snatched a diamond stud
from his shirt front, and throwing it on
the table said, .'Give me $50 on that"
Clayton quistly covered it and the game
proceeded. with the same result as be-
fore, Clayton drawing the bet over to his
side.
Richard Grey, his face perfectly livid,
leaned across the table. Barnard Clay.
together with my diamond stud; now
I'll play you one m ore hand ana stake
Maud against $1000.''
Agreed" said Clayton. and the hand
was dealt. Grey drawing one card while
CLAYTON drew four.
Dick, see by your faoe that you have
a good hand"
Yes, Bern. have got good hand,
the money is mine,'' throwing down four
kings on the table.
Hold on, not so fast Dick" and
Clayton threw four aces by the side. of
the kings.
Richard Grey uttered fearful oath and
rushed from the room, little thinking that
Clayton had stocked the cards against
him. Once in the open air he took off
his hat and les the cool air fan his fever
ish brow. my God, what have 1 done !"
as the awful truth rushed upon him.
''bartered nv darling child. and to a
gambler without scruple."
Ons day about year aiterward Clay
ton called IN Grey. Since that eventful
night there was GOODNESS between the
two men. Grey had wanted to pay him
$1,000 and be released from the terrible
obligation. but Clayton had refused.
In this day Clayton made a PROPOSE
ton to Grey; he offered to let the child
remain with her father until she was l6
years old, and then Calyton WAS to take
her as mis- wife.
This Grey indignantly refused, say
ing be would pay him double the sum OF
money, but Clayton would take nothing
but the girl.
The discussion waxed SO warm that
Richard ordered him from his house.
Clayton took his departure, threatening
vengeance.
A Few days later a closed carriage drove
up to the side entrance of the Grey resi-
dence.
eaClayton got out. quietly approache
Maud, who was playing in the yard.
picked her up, entered the carriage and
was driven rapidly away.
Going for ride this morning, Miss
Mura? 1 see you have your horse" The
sneaker, a tall, handsome young man,
magnifcently formed and well proper
toned, with long wavy, black hair and
finely chiseled features, addressed the
above remarks to a young lady, who was
standing on the piazza of hacienda. vel
known along the Texas border, i'm patient.
ly waiting for the stable boy to bring hel
horse.
Eyes, Mr.. Strathomre, Chico and I are
going for a ride across the plains; you
know l am never better satisfied thar
when in the saddle"
Mura Fafnsworth was the Pct of the
ranch, the idol of the cowboys. She wal
young only in the middle of her teens
and lovely as picture.
Her trich, auburn hair hung IN long
wavy curls over shoulders that were o
Exquisite mould. She had a queenl,
bearing, though neither proud no
naughty, and a magnihcently symr etri
cal form that was a perfect model for
Cleopatra. And her picturesque costume
handsomely trim med in beads, fringe,
buckskin leggings and broad white som
zero, she was perfectly ravishing. Ii
her hand she carried q small life OF tn
Winchester pattern, elegantly carved ant
engraved q present from the COWBOYS,
token of her skill.
She was the only child of Farms
worth who bad come to Texas durin
the early seAAl~.ne nts and had amassed
y-s~6urtacio fortune in cattle, countin
his herds by the thousands and employ