Year: 1860




more than once and that his heart beat
and that his dark eyes fashed-for her
sweet face was pale and careworn, and
the smile that played upon it was as
meaningless as wayside sunbeam. Her
companion who called and scashed'
the game as she turned the cards, was
what any lady, without too careful scru-
tiny Of his face, would have pronunced a
fine looking man. He was dressed in the
extreme of good taste, with the exception,
perhaps. of too great display Of jewelry.
His features were regular and his eyes
piercing and restless; but that proud
curl of the lip, which not unfrequentl,
denotes frmness and manly independ-
ence, in him was a repulsive indication
of recklessness and disdain.


The cards were shufled, aud lay
out given.


Make your bets, gentlemen, sang
out the gambler, while he jingled pile
of silver lying before him; a jack and a
ten-make your BETS


Pulling his bat over bis eyes, the mi
ner approached the table, and carelessly
tossed an ounce upon the ten. The dealer
looked up, and again her eyes met those
OF the unshorn stranger. She knew not
why-tor thousand eyes had gazed as
intensely into hers before-but the color
mounted to her cheek, and she invoIunta-
rily admonished the miner to withdraw
his hat. The indication slight, though il
appeared, was not lost to the gambler.
who answered it with frown as dark as
midnight, and turning searching stare
upon the stranger who met it with a
glance of defiance that brought the hand
of the gambler to the handle of revolver
in his belt. The woman observed ALL
The miner quietly folded his arms, and
the dealer, with trembling hand pro-
ceeded to draw the cards. The jack
won. Again, the cards were dealt, and
two ounces were thrown instead of one.
He lost a second time, and again and
again, until all of bis gold pieces had been
transferred from his pocket to the table.


Let your husband deal,' said the loser
addressing the woman, perhaps it may
change my luck


Certainly said the gambler, reaching
for the cards.


AT the mention of the word, husband
a peculiar smile rested upon his lips, and
the eyes of the woman dropped to the
table. as il to avoid the scrutiny of the
stranger, that be might not read in them
a confession that she had no husband, al.
though she was a mother. But he read
all.


Again the cards were dealt. There
was perceptible nervousness of the
hand and strange twinkle in the eye:
of the miner as he drew from the pocket
of his overcoat two purses. All eye:
were turned towards him.


'Pll bet two hundred ounces on the
ace? he exclaimed to the astonishec
gambler, dropping the sacks of dust upo1
the table, and will draw the cards my
SELF


Five numbered dollars is the limit,
exclaimed the gambler.


'There is no limit to your rascality
thundered the stranger, NOR should there
be to your gameP and he replaced tht
purses III his pocket.


The gambler sprang to bis feet will
his hand upon his revolver; but ere b,
could draw it, blow from the horny
fist of the stalwart miner sent him reel
ing to the floor


In moment all was confusion.
dozen gamblers rushed from the adjoining
tables to the rescue Of the fallen black
leg, with pistols and knives glittering il
the lamplight. The woman had riser
to her feet, and stood speechless behinc
the table.


Stand back shouted the miner
drawing from belt with his left hand
huge bowie knife, and swinging an eigh
inch navy revolver in the other; stanc
back ? be repeated, retreating agains
the wall as the gamblers attempted t,
close in upon him, or by the Mother O
God I'll strew the floor with your car
cases.


Shoot him down ? cried one of tn,
gamblers, brandishing pistol above hi
head, and eyincing little inclination t,
undertake the job himself.


The first man that pulls a trigge
diesP said an elderly man, breaking
through the crowd, and placing himseI
beside the lion-hearted miner. Ten 4
one is too great an odds for any man. H
is stranger to me, but, by hell, be shal