THE FATAL CARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1552, 8 February 1879, Page 3

THE FATAL CARD.

Some years ago the Mississippi River was noted for its “ floating palaces,’ as the large steamers plying between New Orleans and the ports above were called. Now the railways have driven nearly all the tine boats off the river, and left the field to the freight boats, whose accommodation for passengers are by no means palatial, The former clas-s of steamers were in many respects delightful but they never ceased to be objects of dread to timid people, for if the racing, which w s reduced to a system, did not result iu the loss of tho boat, tin re was sure to bo one or more encounters between the lawless portion of the travellers, iu which p : stol ballets would fly rather thick for the comf rt of steadygoing people. The cause of such disturbances was genera ly a quarrel over 1 the gambling-table. The regulations of the boat usually required that all such amusemeu's should be conducted in a sa'oon provided for the nurposo in the ‘ Texas or officers’ cabins, situated on the hurricane deck ; but the sporting gentry were by no means careful to obey this rule, and the gaming was most commonly carried on on the dining tables in the main saloon of the steamer, to the great annoyance of two-thirds of those on board. Many professional gamb'ers used to make these boats their home, travelling back and forth with them, and fleecing all who were verdant or foolish enough to fall into their clutches. So well, indeed, wa-> this system managed that the various members of tho ‘craft’ seemed to have their different steamers marked out for them by common consent, so that no one would trespass on the domain of tho other. Of course these men were warm friends of the officers of the boat, who were either tco sincere in their friendship to put a st p to the prac ice, or too much afraid of the gambles to care to nrovoke a quarrel with them, for iu those days it was a com men affair for such men t-' res* nt any fancied affront with a piste 1 shot. One of the most remarkable men of their class was nam» d Daniel Sturdivant, a Frenchman* the son of a broken-dowu scion

o' i ability who had settled in New Orleans before the transft of Louisiana to the United States. Sturdivant had been raised s a ’gentleman’ by his aristocratic father, hut upon coming of age, and his fortunes very bad, had taken to cards as a, means of bettering them His success in this field was so great that he was induced to continue it, until at the time I write he was one of the most notorious gamblers he tween St Louis and New Orleans _ He was forty-five years old, but had kept himself so well that he seemed much younger. He was a man of fine personal appearance and of great physic .1 strength, lie was also ro'od for his personal courage. As a gambler he was meet export and successful 1 here were dark atorie i of deeds which he had committed while under the influence of play and 3 quor, and it. was said by some that ho had killed half-a-dozen m n in lua life-time. Vet no one eared to speak these rcores openly, for no one cared to bring upon himself the anger of a mb a man. There were few who knew him who really cared to play against him, but they feared that a refusal to do so might involve them into a a quarrel with him, and rarely declined his invitations.

About fifteen years ago, the time of which I write, he had attached himse’f to one of the magnificent steamers plyirg between New Orleans and Views’ u g amt had publicly announced his determination to shoot any man who attempted to encroach upon his scene of operations. Of course, this left him in und sturbed possession of the field, and he reaped a golden harvest from it during the one brief year that he conducted his operations there.

It was my lot at that time to he compelled to make frequmt trips betvv en New Orleans and Vicksburg, being heavily engaged in cotton speculations. 1 preferred the steamer of which Sturdivant had taken possession, inasmuch as it was not only the most com fortable, but also the swiftest, and time was of importance to me. It was known that I carried large sums of money with me, and I was always apprehensive less Sturdivant should ask me to play. I had fully made up my mind to refuse him, and if ho attempted to draw me into a quarrel, to shoot him without mercy, as I knew that the only chance for my life lay in getting the advantage of him. Strange to say, he did not make any such proposition to me, and I gave him no chance to do so. One night: we had started out from Vickhurg, and were heading merrily down the river, when Sturdivant came up to the group which had gathered around the stove. He had been drinking, and was smoking a fine cigar. As he approached, all made way for him.

• Well, gentlemen,’ he said, in an unsteady tone. ‘ you seem to be terrible dull. Who wants to play for 20dol. ante ? ’

’('here was no reply,

‘Umph!’ he exclaimed, with an expres sion of contempt. ‘ Afraid t • try your luck against Dan .Sturdivant, eh ? Or maybe you want a little coaxing. Some of you must play with me. I can’t stand such treatment. Come, let’s see who it will be.’

lie glanced around the crowd as if to select his victim. For the fir.-t time I noticed the gazo of one of the group fixed steadily upon him. He was a stranger to me, and was dre-sed in a plain suit of homespun, and his face was naitially concea’ed by a wide-brimmed sombrero which was drawn over it. He was a small but p >werfully-tnade man, and in the decided expression of his well-shaped hand I read an unusual firmness aad intensity of purpose. ‘Are you Daniel Sturdivant, the gambler P ’ he asked in a calm voice, without rising. Sturdivant flushed darkly, and gave the stranger a fierce glance. * Some persons call me so, behind my back,’ he said insolently; ‘but no one would dare apply that term to me before my face.’

‘Nevertheless’ replied the stranger, ‘I want an answer—yes or no.’ * Well, then ’ said the gambler, angrily, ‘ I am. What of it ? ’

‘Simply this, replied the stranger, ‘I have heard it said that you claim to be the best card-pla er in the south-west. I have come two hundred miles to prove you a liar. Stordivant strode forward a step or two, and thrust his hand into his breast, as if to grasp a wtapou. ‘ -top,’said the stranger. ‘lf you shoot me, you will simply prove yourself afraid of me. Take your seat at the table and I will make ray word good.’ There was something in the ca’m, stern manner of the stanger that seeded to render the gambler powerless. He hesitated for a mom nt, and then said, bullyingly—‘l never play with a man whose face I cannot see.’

‘ Never mind my face,’ said the st-anger. ‘ If you are n; t afraid of losing, you shall see it when I am done with you.’ ‘ But how do I know yon have money enough for such sport ? ’ persisted Sturdivsnt. ‘You look seedy enough, my fine fellow,’

‘There,’ said the stranger, producing a large pocketbook. ‘ I have 10 OOOdol. there. If you can win it, vou shall do so.’ With an oath, Sturdivant placed himself at the table, and bade his cha'lenger do likewise Those of us who had listened to this singular dialogue now gathered around the table, expecting to see a scene of more than usual interest. The stranger had not yet raised his hat b im, and none of ua had seen his face ; but we all felt, from his general air and manner, that daniel Sturdivant had at last met his match. It did not take long to sh >w that the stranger was an unusually good player. Tor an hour or more, the playing went on in silence. The stakes were high, and the contest marked with rare skill. turdivant exe-ted himself as he had neve' done before ; but in spite of his efforts, ho lost steadily. 13y the expiration of the time indicated above, he had lost 2000dol. I noticed the Hush upon hi* face to deepen, and a stra-'ge light came into his eyes. At laat with an exclamation of triumph, he drew toward him the heap of notes. ‘ That was well done,’ said the stranger. ‘You are an expert at cheating. But go on—l can b at you whether you play openly or dishonestly. Sturdivant said nothing, but dealt the cards again. The hand was played, and Sturdivant was about to seize the stakes when the stranger laid dowu a card and checked him. Ihe gambler uttered a sharp cry aud sat motionless with his eyes fixed ou the card ~a worn aud faded ace of hearts, with a dark red stain across the face. Sturdivant’s face wo ked convulsively as he gazed at it, and the spectators gathered more closely around the two, wondering at the strange scene. ‘in Gods name, who are you?’gasped Sturdivant, Ins eyes still fi on the Cj.nl ‘ Look at me ’ said the stranger quietty. As if powedess to resist, Sturdivant raised his eyes to the speaker. The stranger had raised his hat, and sat looking at the trembling man with eyes that fairly (dazed with lury. Sturdivant uttered a groan, and sank back in his ehair, with his face white and rigid. The stranger, with one sweep, gathered up the money from the table, aud thrust it into his bieast

‘ That ace of hearts is an unlucky ca’-d f r you, Daniel Sturdivant,’ he said, coldly. ‘ You played it once when you thought it to your advantage. Now God help you, for that play is returned ! ’ As he spoke, he raised a pistol which we had not seen, and before we could stop him, aimed it deliberately at the trembling man and fired. The gambler fell heavily upon the table, a corpse, and tho bright blood streamed over it, hiding the fatal card from sight. ‘Gentlemen,’ said the stranger, rising to his feet, as we stood paralysed with horror at fhe dreadful scene, ‘that man ruined my wife, and tried to murder me. I have been huuti; g fur him ten years.’ ilo walked slowly by us down the stairway to the lower elect. Just then the steamer touched at a landing, and he sprang ashore and var.iahed in the c ark woods.

1 never learned the history of the mysterious affair, for the dead gambler was beyond human questioning, and 1 never saw the stranger again ; t ut 1 shall not soon forget the impression made upon me at the time.