The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1896-10-01

am going to take your life"
| gave Il start and looked at the man
! anaZedly. wondering whether he was
. mad or 4 fool 4 strange look about
his eyes that | had not before noticed
strongly impelled me to the former
conclusion, though cndeavored to per
suade myself that the latter was the
case.
You are joking" accordingly said,
with Il sorry attempt at a smile.
''On tn" contrary, never was more
serious in my life" he replied. Il will
give YOU a proof of it." As he smoke
he drew a revolver from beneath his
jacket. and levelled it at my head. Il
have only to pull This trigger and you
I are a dead man he remarked, coolly.
But | don't want TO do the thing in
| that way. and. besides. [ mean to give
| you a chance,' he added. Look here,
am fond of cards, and you play we'll
! We will have one more game. If YOU
/ win, YOU 90 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 Stlai ightway"'
That sane or mad. the fellow meant
what he said there was no manner of
doubt. for, with pistol in one hand and
! watch in the other. he began quietly
to tick off the seconds OF course, I
was not slow to see the danger ! was
in. and looked round for Il way out of
! it. but saw none The door which
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 | could see, but be-
| tween it and myself stood this rutfan
! with loaded pistol. For a moment |
! thought of Springing at the man and
! taking my chance, but he was stronger
! built than l. and, armed as he was, |
! felt | should be no match for him.
t Thirty seconds have gone; what do
you say"
His words sounded mockingly. and
II" leered as he spoke. Once more
. prudence seemed to point out that the
!
! 1ence of yielding, in the hope that !
way ont OF the danger would yet pre-
sent itself
Il consent" I said.
"I!a. | thought YOU would he re-
| Joined. "NoW fer an Interesting game
! We don't want 10 make long business
of it, One cut each; highest card
wins"
Replacing the revolver he Shuffled
the pack and laid it face downward on
the table. offering me first play. l re-
moved a portion of the pack, and ex-
posed the card had dra WI. 1t was
the ace of diamonds, My heart beat
freely for | knew that | could not be
beaten. He followed and showed his
card 1t was the ace of spades. and
we had tied,
At once he re>hutfied the pack and
laid it on the table.
My first play this time.' he said.
! taking dip at the boards. He drew
the deuce of clubs. and | had the salts
fartion of knowing that it was impos-
sihle for me to lose. | 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 ell
joyment of my suspense. With Il few
dexterous twists he rearranged the
pack. and once more placed it on the
table.
Your play he said to me- and |
reached out my hand hesitatingly |
drew the queen of clubs this time: he
capped if with the king of spades, and
I had lost.
With a yell of triumph the fellow
pounced upon me, and hurled me to the
| ground. For several seconds | Strug-
gled violently in his grasp, but, as l
, had anticipated. he proved more than
a match for me. taken by surprise as
was. Notwithstanding my efforts
to prevent it. lie bound me hand and
foot with Il rope he drew from his
pocket. and then dragged me to the
end of the room. where he fastened the
cord to an iron ring projecting from
the wall
"Villain"' 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. tiercely. 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 said. and when, in despair.
raised my voice to shout for help, be
put Il gag over my mouth and etfec-
-. tually Slenced my cries. Helpless
hrcathleSs. and almost Stifed, | could
only watch the preparations for my
murder.
This would do the thing quicker
than | DESIRE" said my self-appointed
executioner. pointing to the revolver
which he again produced. "and
want to give you chance Of saying
your prayers before you die!'
Grinning hideously as he spoke, he