Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-11-20

player, who had just been left by his com
panion, courteously proposed to try hant
or two with him if agreeable, and if we, hi:
friends, would excuse him for a short time
Of course we assented-so did the gambler
who appeared at first somewhat surprised al
; the proposition, but probably resolved to try
his skill upon the new conner.
, The cards were dealt, and the game pro
ceeded We were sufficiently near to see
that the piece of gold which constituted the
!; first stake was won by our friends opponent
so, also, was the second. The third stake
Thorn gained. And thus they went on al.
ternately winning and losing, till at last
Thorn carelessly observed:
"That's pretty ring you offered to bet a
while ago, stranger. Will you sell it?"
"Well, as to that" said the other, otis
pretty enough, and costs me enough-for a
young fellow pledged it to me some three
years ago as a sort of note of hand, which he
promised to redeem with FIVE hundred dol
lars that he owed me-a debt of honor, sir
but he never paid it; so retain the ring.
No, stranger, guess won't sell it."
"But the owner? You should have made
him pay; five hundred dollars is dear price
for such bauble."
"Why, as to that" said the player, as he
gathered up his cards for the next hand, "he
couldn't come to time very well, for he paid
the debt of nature as they say, the same
night, and that cancelled my obligation. All!
the stakes mine-there's always luck in this
ring, sir, l believe" said he, as he drew the
money towards him ''suppose we try larg-
er stake;" and he prepared to shuttle the
cards again.
GAS you like" said Thorn.
"Well, what shall it be-" said his oppo-
nent, "anythiug from one to five hundred %
and he threw bank note of that denomina-
tion carelessly, as if in bravado, upon the
table
To our surprise Thorn drew wallet from
his pocket, and produced an equal amount
of money, then sweeping the cards they had
been using from the table to the floor, he
called for fresh pack, and passing them,
as the attendant brought them to him rapid
ly through his hand, he gave them to his ad-
versary, remarking to him as he did so, to
'mind his deal this time" fixing upon him
searching glance as he went through that
operation. The game was that known as
"bluff," or ''poker," I know not which, but
at any rate one on which the players bet up
on the cards they hold. Thorn and his op-
ponent having each glanced at their cards,
commenced the game.
"Pll go you one hundred" said Thorn,
commencing.
"Two hundred better than that" said his
opponent
"Another hundred" continued Thorn.
"H'm three hundred better!' said
the gambler, producing the notes from his
pocket book.
"Thrce hundred more," said Thorn, qui-
etly.
The game was getting exciting to US as
spectators; three thousand dollars lay upon
the table to be decided by the cards held by
the players, each of whom seemed from his
bets to be confident of success, though their
countenances betrayed not the least emo
ton
"One hundred more," said the gambler,
again.
~ call you," said Thorn.
"4h! tire" kings and an ace !" said the
sharper, triumphantly.
"THREE ACES AND KING" said Thorn
quietly, as he displayed his own cards, and
with his eyes fixed steadily upon his opponent
folded up the money and crammed it into
his pocket.
"Fortune favors you,' said the gambler,
stoically, too we'll schooled to betray any emo
tion or chagrin at the result.
$50 it seems" said the other.
"But hope to meet you again, sir; for l
must have my revenge after so heavy run
of luck as this" said Thorn's opponent;
"and have no doubt you friends will join
US in social sit-down, for if you are as good
at cracking a bottle, singing song, or tell
ing story, as holding hand at cards, those
who are your friends are fortunate"
81 must confess" said Thorn, 'ethat am
not of a couvivial or musical turn, though 1
can occasionally tell a good story. have a
little history now, sir, upon my tongues end,
that will be of uncommon interest to you. "
"To me Pray tell it, said the gamester,
with laugh. sit will be a good wind-up
for the evenings entertainment"
1t was now long past midnight; absorbed
in the excitement of the game, we had scar
cely noticed the flight of time, or that the
adjoining rooms were now nearly deserted by
their occupants, and that the two other play
ers, at the other end Of the apartment in
which we were, had finished their own game
long since, and been spectators of that be-
tween Thorn and his opponent, and were now
apparently interested listeners.
"About three years since," began Thorn,
81 young man in kentucky, the confidential
agent of large business firm, was entrusted
with sum Of money and commissioned to
transact some business in New Orleans it
was his first visit to that city. He started
happy, leaving behind him young wife and
lovely infant Unfortunately upon one of
the Mississippi boats, or Immediately upon
his arrival in New Orleans, he fell in with a