Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-10-25
aDoDGING" THE GAMBLERS.
OR,


|
$685. for the FIRST choice of seatat Jen.
ny Limbs Boston concert, appears to be
a man Of infinite wit; and the New York
Spirit of the Times tells lauqhable
story of his taking in three Mississippi
gamblers, some years ago. Dodge came
aboard the boat, pretending to be half
witled, Yankee rustic, whereupon The
confederates resolved 10 fleece him; and
accordingly, upon some clrcumloculion
they induced him to play at a game call
ed Changing Jack" The Spirit Of
the Times thus gives the story denou.
ment, which is all for which we have
room:
81 say yeou! look yere," says Dodge
moving slowly and sideways up to the
table, 81 say yeou, / don't know nothin'
about keerds, but I'm willing TO risk a
heap of money on that ere game
Every well-I'm with you, stranger!''
exclaimed Strong, swapping his fingers;
there's plenty more money where this
came from, and Pm willing to risk all
I've got in the world, that | can, by re-
peaiing few short sentences in swine
Latin, change the Jack of Spades while
under your hand, into the Jack of Clubs
and that you can't tell by the sense OF
feeling. when the Spade takes its depar-
turer'
81 ook a'here, old flax head!" exclai-
med Brown, another of the confederaes
swelling out his large form to its fullest
dimensions, and brisiling up to Dodge
as if for fight. "Look a. here, Mr..
Pilgarlic, you are interfering in other
peoples business! l have set to that
mans pile myself, and | don't want no
man to interfere"
81 AK your pardon, if | intrude," says
Dodge.
"Very well; you may jest bet once!"
says Brown, looking at Dodge very close
ly, "for | see you are not a sporting
man. You may bet once, if you wish;
mind, only once! as lis my game; but
hereafter, as a general thing, you had
better not interfere with strangers games
for you nigh! get into muss!'
"Wal, yes, it pears to be-so now
go on with the SHOW, for | want lew
make some money alfred bad!" says
Dodge, taking hold with both hands of
what appeared TO be the leg of the Jack
of Spades.
"Very well, then,'' says Strong, turn
ing the pack overthrow pull the card,
and keep it bottom side upward"
Dodge pulled the apparent Jack of
Spades out on the table, holding his left
hand over it, while with the right he
took off his bell-crowned hat, and swee-
ping the card off between the palm of
both hands, had the appearance Of pla-
cling the drawn card into the top of the
old beaver, but, in fact. only into the folds
of the old bandana, upon which he pla-
ced his doubled fist, remarking at the
time
by ginger! eff you kin get that air
Jack o Spades eout of that air hat by
way Of yeour Latin | hope | may be
stuffed to death with billed unyuns!''
While the party were in The highest
state of frolic and excitement over the
verdancy of the victim, Dodge took from
his pocket a jack-knife, and, opening il
with his teeth, held It over his hat, and
taking out the bandana, which held the
card he had drawn from the pack, he
jabbed the blade of the knife clear thro'
the other card, hat and into The table,
enchanting
"Dang my buttons, eff keer for the |
hat--Pll jab her anyhow! cause, if
make hull lot of money / kin buy
new hat, can't II"
While Dodge was holding on to th e
knife, and looking as if he expected eve
ry minute that the hat would take wings
the trio could hardly keep in, but it was
too good to spoil, SO they only winked
to one another, as much as to say
"a sure thing Of ii! Got him on the
dead! What an excellent thing to tell!!
The crowd smoked something extra
ordinarily rich, gathered around the par
ty, and revealed by their anxious faces
that every one aboard had now become
deeply interested in the result of the pro-
skinning.
SHOW, them" says Strong, looking at
the victim sharply in the eyes, and hold
ing up his right arm, while he repeated
in slow and measured tones, as solemn
as the high sheriff at public execution