Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-11-19
SOUTHPORT WISCONSIN, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1914

The four high stakes, SO boldly PLAYED
and so rap diy lost, rvetted the observations
OF the gamblers uon Vallea's proceedings.
Every body crowded round the table, and
even the slight buzz o. conversation that had
before been heard, totally ceased. II s al
tentlon attracted by this sudden Stiffness
Rafael rose from his chair and Joined his
friend. A gllnce at the increased wealth
of the bank, and the eagerness with which
all seemed TO be awaiting Vallela's move
ments, made him conjecture what had hap
pened.
"You have lost" said he to the count.
" and heavily, | fear. Come, that will do
for to day. Let us go''
" Psha" replied The Mexican, ga mere
trfle, which you will see me win back
And then turning to the banker, who was
jus. commencing deal
"Copo," SAID he. "thc king against the
ace"
For the uninitiated in the mysteries of
monte, II my be necessary TO state, that by
uttcrlng these words Vallejo bound himself,
if an ace came up before u king, to ply an
all the winnings of those who bad backed
the ace. If, Oh the other hand. the king
won, the whole capital of the bank was his
as well as the stakes of those who bet against
him.
scope at Reg"
There was general murlnur of astonisIl-
ment. The banl; was the largest that had
been seen in that room since IA certain me-
morabIe night. when Ferdinand himself. be-
ing out upon one Ct his nocturnal frolics in
which he so much delighted Ind come up n
Disguise with an officer of his household, and
had lost sum that had greatly advan.aged
the bankers and sorcly diminished the Goa
tents Of his Ma!es:y's pr:,y purse. There
were at least Thirty thousand dollars on the
table in gold and paper, and besides that,
scarcely had the Mexican uttered the name
of the card he favored, when, on the strength
of his ill-luck, some ofthe players put down
as much more against it. The two bankcis
looked at each other; the guardsman sh!uI-
ged isshouldc:s and elevated his eyebrows.
Both movements were 40 slight as TO be
scarcely perceptiblc; but they were never
theless, eXccllently we'll observed and under
stood by his plrtner, the high dried old Mar
qais, sitting opposite to him, who laid the
pack upon the table, their face to the cloth,
and after placing piece of money upon
Them to prevent their being disturbed by
any chance puff of wind, opened his gold box
and took prodigious pinch of snuff la
wing done this with much delbcratiom, he
let his hands fall upon his knees, and leaned
back in his chair with a countenancc ex-
prcssiye OF inexhaustible patience. The
players waited for nearly minute, but then
began 10 grow impatient of the delay. A,
The first question put TO the Marquis as &c
is motive, he waived his hand toward Val
LEILA. Il am waiting for the Senior Condc,'
said he.
For me- replied Vcllcja, sit is unneces,
sary"
There were about twenty thousand dol
lars in the bank" said the Marquis, leaning
forward, and affecting TO count the rolcau,
lying before him, sand some eight thousand
s!a>cd by these gentlemen. Wlll your Sc
noria be pleased TO place similar sum OF
the tablcD
Several of the gamblers exchanged sign
icant gllnccs and half smiles The rule o
the game required the player, who endcavo
red as Vallejo was doing, TO annhilatc the
bank at one fell swoop, 10 produce suH
equal TO that which he had a chance of car,
rylng of. At the same time, in societies
like this one, where the players were all
moe or less known to each other-all men
OF rank, name and fortune was not unu-
suil TO play this sort of decisive coup upon
parole, and, if los;, the money was invariably
forthcoming the sans day.
Vallejo smiled bitterly.
Il thought had been sufficiently known
here" said he, "to be admitted TO the privi-
Ieges of other players. Rafael" he added
turning to his friend and handing him key
.'your fathers ten thousand have melted, bu
have packet of notes and securities to {
considerable more than the necdlul amount
in the brass bound box in my apmtment
Will you have the kindness to fetch then
for meo do not wish to interrupt my OBJ
servation of the game.'
"NVilh pleasure" replied Rafael, taking
the key and eager 10 oblige his friend.
"And, perhaps, continued Vallejo smiling
aud OBTAINING him as he was about TO hastet
out of the room, "peThaps you will not OBJ
iect to tell these gentlemen that. until yor
return with the money, the may take Lui,
Vallea's word for The sum he wishes 10 pliv'
"Most assnredly | WILL" answered the
young man hastily, sand am only sorry
that the Senior Marquis should have thought
it advisable 10 pat any thing resembling a
slight upon friend of mine and my fathers
Gentlemen" he continued to the bankers
Il offer you my guarantee for the sum Count
Vallejo is about 10 play"
The old Marquis bowed his head, reply.
ing ''tha. is quite sufficient Don Rafael, .
and then began 10 draw the cards one after
another slowly and deliberately. Nearly
half the pack was dealt out, without KING
or an ace appearing. The players and look,
ers on were breathlcss with anxiety; the tall
of pin would have been audible; the tune
which the count continued TO hum from ms
station on the balcony, was heard ID the
stiffness that reigued, as distinctly as though
it had been Numbered out by whole orches-
ira. Another card and another was drawn,
and then-the decisive one appeared.
The silence was Immediately changed for
tumnlt of words aud ordinations.