The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-23
a Gruesomo story BY al American
Editor, Which Deals With Dice
Used by Roman Soldiers in
Casting Lots for Our
Sayiour's Garments.
BRUCE's SCHOOL HISTORY
y Criticism By Richmond Lawyor'''Pro-
fessor Minor Tells the Readers Of the Z
Tim os. Dispatch About an Interest
ing French Book-"Amoricai'
Baptist Pulpit, Edited BY
Rev. Henry Thompson i
Louthan-Iiterary
Notes.

THE CRIMSON DICE. BY George Nox
Mccain. Published BY j. Murray Jor-
dan, of Philadelphia. For sale in Rich
mond BY the Bell Book and Stationery
q Company.
Tho author OF 1.-THE Crimson Dice" has
been known among journalists as q writer
Of ability for some years. HIS novel,
which has been looked for with much
Z impa tience, has q very unusual plot. The
a descriptive power with which Mr.. Mccain
has always been accredited Is shown to
j great advantage, many scenes IN the BOOK
being depicted with almost startling Wy
a illness. IN
..The Crimson Dice' around which the
main interest of the story gathers, are
supposed to be those by which the sol
"A diers OF tho Roman legion cast lots for
4 the garments OF Christ after His cruel
fxion. They are taken by a young Amer
lean OF wealth and leisure, tho main
character OF the book, from the skeleton
hand Of Roman centurion exhumed at
Ponpeii. The American is an archaeol-
oEist and finds clasped In the centurions
fingers bronze box holding the three
dice and n letter written about 1000 years
ago. which Identifies the dice. These are
marked with tiny crosses IN red upon.
their alabaster surface. Hence Vnelr
name.
cruise is attached to the dice and
falls upon their possessor. The many al
ventures into which their. ownership
plungos the young American ana MS l,lht
deliyerance from their evil Influence when
"A his sweetheart casts them into the sea,
make many chapters Of absorbing IN
terest. n
one Of the most dramatic Of these,
telling of a murder which the American
witnessed in an Italian gambling den,
Is given here:
Suddenly, without warning, there was
n a muttered, horrible imprecation, and
Palurzo the notary, sitting next to Ferrl
on his right, half rose and leaned toward
the latter with appraised. cenched hand.
There was CLEAN Of steel, the sound OF
"a a blow dull and hollow, Il groan. 1ol'
lowede by a gurgling cry, and the notary
sank back in his chair with flushed DIS
torted features.
'Ferri dropped his cards Imply and sat
with a stupefied expression for the lrac-
X ton Of a moment; then, with CHASTITY
countenance and bullying eyes, he stroVe
to rise, but. failing. fell backward IN MS
73 chair WITH a hoarse, appealing cry. rue
sat for what appeared to be an inter
\ mlnable length. though It was only 0
! few seconds, his lips working and .his
4 eyes rolling in paroxysms Of volceles'
& pain. Then in a final convulsive struggle
he threw his arms upward the action
accompanied by gaurgling sound OF
blood yelling into his throat; the veins
s in his neck bulged into corrugated ridges
ii his features Redeemed and grew dark
and he pitched forward his face striking
the table heavily, while the fingers OF hi
outstretched hands twltched spasmodlcal
z ~ among the scattered heaps OF gold.
heaving Of the back once or twice. !
tremulous movement of the arms. ans
faint, half smothered rattle In tn,
throat marked the end
81 THE tragedy was enacted 50 swift!
IA that none of the living stirred from hi
place, and seven pairs of eyes watched
the death agony of the wretch. fascinated
by tho flight Of a human soul.
1.-THE splashing drip of blood on tn
bare floor broke the tense silence ant
recalled them to their senses
'He deserved It, cried the murderer
doggedly. with an oath. ilnging tn.
RI stIletto into Il corner beyond the side
board. = -
HE has cheated all night, he con
tinued hoarsely glancing around wit
sullen eyes for some approval OF NJ
( deed. His swarthy face was yellow Wit
passion and fear.
"'He has won every time he dealt. an
he has not lost once tonight. He wa
a
a my money. and yours and yours; an
q he pointed rapidly In turn to the others
# the circle with a long, bony forefnge
@ Think you ! know not? Ill prove !
X Hero Bacci,' he cried, in thick voice
turning to the servltor, hit him and let
81 see how many cards are under his legs
@ "The british creature pulled the lin
form back into the chair, the head, Wit
$e fixed, wideopen Dyes and dripping lip!
lolllng horribly from side to side; thor
! passing his arms beneath those OF tn
III dead man. he raised him roughly fror
VS. his seat. The indisputable evidence 9
81 Pietro Ferris crime fell in a little Shove
~ in and around the pool of blood, hall
dozen cards all told, but they were sufi
Client to account for the sequence OF luC
that had led him to his death.
"'Enough,' exclaimed Cuneo, the arm
fl officer, with a graceful, contemptuou
wave OF his hand toward the huddlet
inanimate figure. He was a scoundr
and deserved his fate. Remove hin
Paurxo. permit me-and he extended Il
hand In congratulation across the tabl
with the indifference OF one TO who
such scenes were not wholly unfamllia
~ the attendant dragged the form, wi
hanging head and arms and sprawlit
a. legs across the apartment and deposit'
1t al full length on the floor close again
the wall. He flung 1t down as though
had been a manikin and kicked the arr
into place lengthwise of the runk, IN
an old cover was spread over the po
of blood beneath the table to absorb
the ll-gotten money was gathered
geher and placed on the sldeboard, al
the game proceeded as though foul ml
s. der had not stalked through the rich ri
III OF the old ROOM
BRUcE's SCHOOL HISTORY OF TIL
- UNITED STATES. American Bo
Co., New York. 1903,
The author candldly says in his prefac
"In the treatment OF the principal que
tions that have divided the people OF t
southern and Northern States, the poi
OF view of this work iss Southern, but
have aimed TO present this side IN te,
perate and moderate spirit the only spi
becoming In history Of our reunlt
country" ~,
He Is a scholar OF yecosnlzed abil