Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-10-13

| disgrace by suicide. he was seized DY
the tall stranger, who had followed
him, and by his wife, who was watch
ing him. and was persuaded to go to
his cabin and seek sleep instead OF
death.
Keep awake and watch him closely
until l return" said the stranger to
the distracted wife.
Going to the cabin, where the gam
blers and others were clustered at the
bar, the stranger drew from his pocket
big valet, and, handing a 800 bill TO
the bartender, quietly asked for change.
The latter, being unable TO make II,
referred him TO the chief gambler.
With pleasure" said the gentleman;
and, noting the fat wallet, added cour-
teously, won't you have drink"
The tall man assented, and casually
remarked that, as he was going TO stop
off at Natchez, il was hardly worth
while going to bed; whereupon one OF
the other gamblers, getting a wink from
the chief. chimed in: Il don't care TO
go to bed, either. Let's play another
game" WhereuDon the stranger was
invited to join them, and, after some
demur, he consented.
They allowed him to win some stable
bets, but just as day was beginning to
break the dealer gave him a hand that
would induce him to bet still more
largely.
The ante was So, the blind was $40,
the next man put in $50, the stranger
$40. which was followed by $3.50. They
went on raising each other in the usual
fashion. except that the hundreds jump
ed rapidly into thousands, while the
breathless crowd around them instinct
lively drew closer. with a sense that
something was coming.
At last 100000 was stacked up on the
table. and the dealer and one OF his
confederates had dropped out The
man who made the blind and the
stranger remained. looking into each
others faces the former with flush
on his forehead the latter pale and
cool as if mapping at church. But his
eyes were very vigilant, and he was
only waiting for the crucial moment
when the dealer would slip card to
his opponent.
Suddenly rising he drew a long.
hideous looking knife, with a curious
curved point, from his bosom, and,
throwing his own hand on the table,
said serenely:
-Four kings and ten take this pot"
Then he seized the gambler by the
wrist and added: Show your hand as
il is, If it contains six cards shall
kill you"
The strangers voice was almost as
quiet as if he were speaking in lady's
parlor. But there was depth Of pur'
pose in it which the whole crowd felt
from head to foot.
As the cards from the gamblers sud
denly twisted wrist fell on the table
they were seen TO be four aces, queen
and knave.
There was moment Of deathlike s.
| lence. Then a roar like prairie fire
went up from che crowd, which was
composed chiefly of Planters and honest
travellers.
Who the devil are you, anyway 2"
cried the bafied gambler when the
shouts subsidized.
James Bowie" was the answer.
The voice was like velvet, but 1t cut
| Ike steel into the hearts OF the CHIEF
gamblers and deferred them from any
purpose or impulse they might have had
70 interfere. They, with the crowd,
shrank back from the table, sm-tten
with sudden terror by the name. Bow.e
softly swept the bank notes into his
large SLOUGH hat and lightly clapped Il
on his head.
"You must fight me for this" said 'ne
chief gambler, recovering his courage
ar the loss of his booty.
Certainly" said Bowie. l sara
should kill you. In what way 90 you
prefer it? With knife or pistol?
Not with your weapon replied O1e
man savagely.
80 be It, then" returned Bowie;
''Will some gentleman lend me pistol
and act as my second?"
A dozen were instantly offered, anu
selecting one very carefully bO"-e
said: -.
let it be at once, on this boat Make
the arrangements TO SUIT yourself
will return in five minutes.
Lightly as a panther he bounded up
the stairs. went to the young mans CAD
in knocked handed the contents OF inc
ba+ ~ the wife telling her that Two
thirds Of it belonged to her husD1nu a.,G
the rest to himself, and that DC "ouiN
return in a few minutes
The seconds had arranged IlaC co. ~
of the duelists should stand on one oi
the wheal-houses, which were aOOu, OF
feet apart, and that the signal snouI -. "
GIVEN: zone two, three fre-s'op.
Tbev were TO shoot between the WORDS
IRE" and stop as often as these WORDS
were uttered.
AT the first call the professional gam
b,er fired before the word three wa;
i entirely uttered. Bowie fired apparent