Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-03-05
NUMBER IS.
ADVENTURES IN TEXAS.
No. II.
fContinued.1
A TRIAL by JURY.

[Contnuedl
when got the money, thought I'd 60 down
to San Felipe, 10 the Mexlcans, and try my luck;
and at the same time, see the doctor about my
fever. As | was goin' there passed near Johnny's
house and fancied glass, but determined not TO
get off my horse rode up to the window, and
looked in There was man sittn' at the table,
havin hearty good dinner Of steaks and potatoes,
g. washin' it down with stiff glass Of grog
began to feel hungry myself, and while |
consderin' whether should light not, Johnny
came sneakin' out, and whispered to me to come
in that there man inside with whom some
thin might be done five went to work the right
way man who had leather belt around his waist
cram-iuh Of hard Jackson and that, if we got
out the cards and pretended to play little together,
he would soon take the bait and Join us.
Il wasn't much inclined to do it, continued
Bob but Johnny bothered me to go in, that
got off my horse. As did so the dollars chinked
in my pocket, and the sound gave me wish to
play.
went in and Johnny fetched the whisky
bottle. One glass followed another. There were
beefsteaks and potatoes too but only eat couple
of mouthfuls. When had drank two, three, ay,
four glasses, Johnny brought the cards and dice
Halo, Johnny says cards and dice, Johnny!
I've twenty dollars fifty in my pocket. Let's have
a game But no more drink for me; for | know
you, Johnny, know you
~
we set down to play hadn't meant TO drink any
more. but play makes any one thirsty and with
every glass got more eager, and my dollars got
fewer. reckoned, however, that the stranger
would Join US, and that | should be able to win
back from him but not bit Of IT; he sat quite
quiet and eat and drink il he didn't see we
were there. went on playin' madden than ever,
and before half an hour over, ] was cleaned
out my twenty dollars and fifty gone 10 the devil,
or what's the same thing, into Johnnys pocket
when found myself without a cent, vas mad,
reckon. 1t warnt the first time, nor the hun
dredth that had lost money Many bigger sums
than that-ay, hundreds and thousands Of dollars
had PLAYED away-but they had none OF them
cost me the hundreth part Of the trouble TO get
tina, these twenty dollars fifty had two full months
had | been slavn in the woods and Prairies to arm
them, and caught the fever there. The fever
had still but no money to it with. Johnny only
larfed in my face and ratified my dollars ! made
hit at him, which if he hadn't jumped on one side.
would have cured him Of iarhn for week or
two.
Presently however, he came sneakin' up to me.
and winkin' and whisperin'; and, 'BobI says he,
is it that with you you grown
chicken hearted that you don't the beltful of
money round his body = said he lookin' at it,
No end of hard coin, | guess and all TO be had
for little more than half an ounce of led"
Did he say that 2 asked the Judge.
I was mad with him for winning my twenty dollars
and told him that, il he wanted the strangers
purse he might take it himself, and be ID; that
wasn't eoin' to pull the hot chestnuts out OF the
fire for him. And got on my horse and rode
away like mad.
MY head spun round like a mill. | couldn't
get over my loss took the twenty dollars hiy
cents more TO heart than any money had ever
gambled didn't know where 10 GO didnt
dare 60 back TO you, for knew you'd scold
me-
shouldn't have scolded you, Bob f; or, il had.
it would only have been for your good, should
have summoned Johnny before me, called together
jury Of twelve of the neighbors, got you back
your twenty dollars fiiiy and sent Johnny out OF
the country or better STILL out Of the world
These words spoken with much phlegm,
but yet with degree of feeling and sympathy,
which greatly improved my opinion Of the worthy
Judge Bob also seemed touched. He drew
deep sigh and gazed at the Alcalde with melan
choly look.
It's too late,' muttered he too late. squire
Perhaps not asked the judge, but let's hear
the rest
We'll, continued Bob, 4 kept riding OIL at
random and when evenin came i found myself
near the palmetto field on the banks Of the Jaciulo
As was ridin' past it, heard all at once the
tramp Of horse. At that moment the queerest
feen came over me that had ever had sort
of cold shivern' feel forgot where was sight
and hearin' lelt me | could only see two things,
my twenty dollars fifty and the well filled belt OF
the stranger | had left at Johnny's Just then
voice called to me.
"Whence come, countryman, and whittier going"
il said.
whence, and whether, answered |, as surly
could be, to the devil att gaoP, a. you had
better ride on and tell him I'm comm"
''You can do the errand yourself, answered the
g.. 4 cd lie nat
Gas he spoke, looked round and saw, what
was pretty sure of BEFORE that it was the man with
the belt full of money.
"Aint you the stranger seed in the inn yonder!'
asked he.
"And if am says I; what's that to your
"Nothin said he nothn', certainly
"Better ride on says | and leave me quiet
evil so, stranger but you needn't take II so
mighty onkind A word amt tomahawk reck-
on, said he. But rayther expect your losin's at
play amt put you in very church-goin' humor
and, i'll was you, I'D keep my dollars IN my pocket
and not set them on cards dice
"This put me in rile to hear him cast my loslns
in my teeth that way.
you're nice fsller,' said to throw mans
losses in his face. ptful chap you are, says l.
81 thought to provoke him, and that he'd tackle
me. But he seem ID 10 have no fancy for fight,
| for he said quite humby like
al throw nothin' in your face. God forbid that
should reproach you with your losses I'm sorry
for you, on the contrary Don't look like man
| who could afford to loose his dollars Seem to me
| one who Arms his money by hard work
eve were Just then halted at the further emu OF
the cane brake close to the trees that p~'aet ,no
Jscinto I had turned my horse. and Tas honun