The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-12-31
! .,DoDaNan THE GAMBLERS;

T :.
ag.iD0DGING' THE GAMBLERS;
oRTHE MANWHo BOUGHT THE TICKET
20. e. Dodge, the violiniss, who paid $62E
for The sfrst choice Of a seat at Jenny Lind's
Boston concert, appears 10 be man Of Infinite
~it; and the New York Spirit Of the Times
tells laughahls story of his taking in, three
Mississippi gamblers, some years ago. Dodge
came aboaydihe boat, pretending TO be a hall
wiiiedt Yankee rustic, whereupon the confeder.
atss resoived to fleece him; and accordingly
upef some eircumt6cdtion. they induced him 10
play at game called .Changins Jaak. The
Spirit Of The Times thus gives the story denoue.
mann, which issail for which we have room ;:
!, s.aEs say, yeon, lonk ;yere," says Dodge. NOV
lag siowlysand sideways up the table, 81 say
! yeeii, / don't know nothing about keerds. but
I'm willing to riska heap Of money on that ere
game. 4 ~ II,
s4ivery well--I'n with you. stranger" er.
claimed Strong, swapping his fingers; there's
pies,y more mnney where this cane from, and
rm &illipg to risk: all I've got in the world.
that can, by repeating d few. short sentences
in has Latin. change the Jack Of Spades while
under your hand. into the Jack Of Clubs, and
that YOU. cant elFby tie sense Of feeling, when
the Spade takes its departure !'' ;, ~
ys,I1oek a. here, old fax keadP exclaimed
Brown, apo,her Of ihs eonfederates, swelling
GU, his large form to its fullest Dimensions. and
krialing up to Dodge as It for ia fight. I" Look
a''here, Mr.. Philgarlic, you are interfering in
other peoples hnsinrssl / have set TO that
mans pile myself, and I don't want no man to
interfere" 49,. a
}. II as your pardon, If Intrnde,' . says Dodge.
.s;AVerS. we'll; you may jest bet once, says
Brown, looking a. Dodge very closely. "for
sec you are not 4 sporting man. You may bet
once, ifyou wish; mind, only once' as it's my
game; but hereafter, as q general thing, yon
had betler not interfere with strangers games,
for you might get into a muss !"
aWal, yeas, it pears to be-so now go on
wah.the shoc, for | want lew make some mo
ney ALFRED bad" says Dodge, taking bold with
both hands Of what appeared TO be the leg ofthe
jack Of Spades. >
every we'll, ,hen." says Strong. turning the
pack over, ...Bow pull the card, and keep it bot.
Tom side upward" ,r
Dodge pulled ihe apparent Jack ofSpades
oit on the table. holding his left hand over it.
while with the right he took of his bell crown
ed;bat, and sweeping the card off between the
palm Of both hands, had the appearance of pla-
cling The drawn card into The top Of the oldbea
yer, but, in fact. only into the folds Of old ban,
dana, upon which he placed his doubled fist, re.
marking at the time,
"By ginger! efyeoukin gil that air Jack O.
Spades eout Of that air hat by way Of yeour
latin, / hopeI may he stuffed to death with
billed unyunst"
While the party were in the highest state of
frolic and excitement over the verdancy of the
victim. Dodge took from his pocket jack knife,
and opening it with his teeth, held it over his
hat and taking out the bandana, which held
the card he had drawn from the pack, he Jab-
bed the blade OF the knife clear through the 9TH
err card and hat, and into The table, exclaiming,
.sDang my buttons, ef keer for the hat-Pll
jab her anyhow! cause. if make hull lot of
money kin buy newhat, can't :"
While Dodge was holding on 10 the knife,
and-looking as fhr expected every minute that
tbe ha, wond take wings, the trio could hard.
iy keep 10, but il was too good 10 spoil. so they
only winkedto one another, as much as to say,
"a sure thing Of il Go, him on the dead |!
What nm excellent thing to tell ]"
4 The crowd smoking something extraordinari-
ly rich, gathered around the party. and reveal.
ed.by their anxious faces. that every one a.
board bad now become deeply interested in the
result fthe professional sknning.
"Now, then" says Strong, Looking the vic.
tim sharply in the eyes. and holding up his right
arm, while he repeated in slow and measured
tones as solemn as the High Sheriff al pub.
lie execution" now then, my friend, prepare
for the miracle:
.'Now look out for tricks that's strange
Hocm--pocus--prssto change"
"l'i be ker. wallopsd to death with cabbages,
old fcller! ifthat air keerd is changed any.
how T. ;ae .,.