Year: 1867

a Mississippi steamboat as follows


One night we had started out from Vicksburg
and were heading merrily down the river when a
well-know river gambler named Sturdivant came
up to the group which had gathered around the
stove.


"Well, gentlemen he said, "you seem to be
very dull. Who wants to play for twenty dol
lar antee ?''


He glanced around the crowd as if to select q
victim. For the first time noticed the gaze OF
one of the group fixed upon him. He was n
stranger to and dressed in plain suit
of homespun, and his face was partially conceal
ed by wide-brimmed sombrero which was
drawn down over it, He was small but pow
erful built man, and in the decided expression of
his well-shaped head read unusual frmness
and intensity of purpose.


'Are you Daniel Sturdvant, the gambler ~
he asked in calm tone, without rising.
"Some persons call me so behind my back, y
he said insolently but no one dares to apply
that term before my face"


" Nevertheless, said the stranger, quietly, "
want an answer-ycS or no.
"Well, then" said the gambler, angrily, "
am, and what of it 2"


q Simply this" replied the stranger, % have
heard it said that you claim to be the best player
in the Southwest. l have come two hundred
miles to prove you liar"
Sturdivant strobe forward step or two and
thrust his hand into his breast as if to grasp O
weapon.


Stop" said the stranger. " Take your sea
at the table and l will make my words good"


With an oath Sturdivant placed himself at tht
table and bade his challenger to do likewise.
did not take long to show that the stranger
was an unusually good player. For an hour OIL
more the playing went on in silence The stakes
were high and the contest marked with rare skill
Sturdivant exerted himself as he had never done
before but in spite of his efforts he lost steadily
BY the expiration of the time indicated above,
he had lost over two thousand dollars. I aaw
the flush upon his face deepen and strange
| light came into his eye. At last, with an excla-
nation of triumph, he drew toward him heap
of notes.


8. That was we'll done,'' said the stranger.
i" You are an expert at cheating. But 90 on.
can beat you whether you play openly or dis
| honestly"


Sturdivant said nothing, but dealt the cards
again. The hand was played and Sturdiyant
was about to seize the stakes again when the
stranger laid down a card and stopped him. The
gambler uttered a cry and sat motionless, with
his eyes on the card-a faded ace of hearts with
a dark red stain across the face. The gambler
face worked convulsively as he gazed at it, and
the spectators gathered more closely around the
two wondering at the strange scene.


g In Gods name, who are you?' gasped Stur
divant, with eyes still fixed on the card
| - LOOK at me, SAID tue stranger, Qulelly.


As if powerless to resist Sturdivant raised his
eyes to the speaker The stranger had lifted his
hat and sat looking at the trembling man with
eyes which bazed fury. Sturdivant uttered
groan and fell back into his chair, with his face
white and rigid. The stranger with one SWEEP
gathered up the money from the table and thrus
it into his breast.


THAT ace of hearts is an unlucky card fo
you, Daniel Sturdivant," he said coldly yor
played it once when you thought it to your ad
vantage. Now God help you, for that play i:
returned"


AS he spoke he raised pistol which we hat
not seen, and before could stop him, aimee
it deliberately at the trembling man and fired
The gambler fell heavily upon the table, corpse
and the bright blood spouted over it, hiding tht
fatal card from sight


Gentlemen" said the stranger, rising to hi:
feet, as we stood paralyzcd with horror at the
dreadful scene. /" that man ruined my wife ant
tried to murder me. I've been hunting for hin
for ten years


He walked slowly by US down the stairway t.
the lower deck. Just then the steamer touchet
at a landing and he sprang ashore and vanished
in the dark woods. l never learned the histor,
of the mysterious affair, for the dead gamble
was beyond human questioning and never saw
the stranger again ; but shall not soon forge
the impression it made upon me.