The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1896-09-03
pockets as the thought occurred to me

that robbery was his game.
Il will tell YOU" said he, coming
close to me and speaking in my ear, II
am going to take your life"
gave a start. and looked at the man
amazedly, wondering whether he was
mad or a fool. A strange look about
his eyes that had not before noticed
strongly impelled me to the former
conclusion, though endeavored to per-
suade myself that the latter was the
case.
You are joking" l accordingly said,
with a sorry attempt at a smile.
'On the contrary, | never was more
serious in my life,' he replied. 81 will
give you a proof Of it." As he spoke
he drew a revolver from beneath his
jacket, and levelled it at my head. Il
have only to pull this trigger and you
are dead man!' he remarked, coolly.
"But l don't want to do the thing in
that way, and, besides, L mean to give
you n chance" he added. Look here,
am fond of cards, and you play well.
We will have one more game. If you
win, you go free; lose, and proceed
with my purpose. What say you to
that? You hesitate. Very well; l
will give you one minute in which to
make up your mind. Unless you con-
sent within that time, / will blow
your brains out straightWay"
That, sane or mad, the fellow meant
what he said there was no manner of
doubt for with piefol I'm ono ha nd and
watch in the other, he began quietly
to tick off the seconds. OF course, l
was not slow to see the danger / was
in. and looked round for a way out Of
it, but saw none. The door which l
had entered knew was locked, so that
escape by means of it was out of the
question. There was one other exit
to the place, as l could see, but be-
tween it and myself stood this ruftian
with loaded pistol. For moment l
thought of springng at the man and
taking my chance, but he was stronger
built than /, and, armed as he was, l
felt | should be no match for him.
Thirty seconds have gone; what do
you say?"
His words sounded mockingly, and
he leered as he spoke. Once more
prudence seemed to point out that the
better course would be to make a pre-
tence of yielding, in the hope that a
way out of the danger would yet pre-
sent itself.
II consent" ! said.
"Ha! thought you would" he re-
joined. Now for an interesting game.
We don't want to make long business
of it. One cut each; highest card
wins!"
Replacing the revolver, he shuftfed
the pack and laid it face downward on
the table. offering me first play. l re-
moved portion of the pack, and ex-
posed the card l had drawn. 1t was
the ace of diamonds! My heart beat
freely, for knew that I could not be
beaten. He followed and showed his
card. 1t was the ace of spades, and
we had tied!
At once he reshuffied the pack and
laid it ON the table.
my first play this time" he said.
taking a dip at the boards. He drew
the deuce of clubs, and | had the salts
faction of knowing that it was impos-
sible for me to lose. l went low down
the pack for my venture, and eagerly
displayed it. 1t was the deuce Of
hearts, and again we had tied.
''The third time will settle it!' said
my opponent, rubbing his hands in en-
joyment of my suspense. With a few
dexterous twists he rearranged the
pack, and once more placed it on the
table.
Your play" he said to me, and l
reached out my hand hesitatingly.
drew the queen Of clubs this time; he
capped it with the king of spades, and
Il had lost!
With a yell of triumph the fellow
pounced upon me, and hurled me to the
ground. For several seconds l strug-
gled violently in his grasp, but, as
had anticipated, he proved more than
a match for me, taken by surprise as
l was. Notwithstanding my efforts
to prevent it, he bound me hand and
foot with a rope he drew from his
pocket, and thfn dragged me to the
end of the room, where he fastened the
cord to an iron ring projecting from
the wall.
"villainv I gasped, breathlessly, IF
you intend to murder me, at least tell
me your motive for the atrocious act"
Have you so soon Forgotten he
said, fiercely. You cheated me out
of my estates, and so worked my ruin!
Is not that enough? l have sworn TO
be avenged, and now the hour Is
COME"
1t was in vain to protest that he was
mistaken. The fellow needed nothing
of what l said, and when, in despair, |
raised my voice to shout for help, ne
put gag over my mouth and effec-
tually silenced my cries. Helpless,
breathless, and almost stified, l could
only watch the preparations for my