San Andreas independent., 1856-10-04
&C sSIOped for Texas.'
A TALE OF THE WEST.

This is an answer given in some of the
States of America when gentleman has
decamped from his wife, from his credi-
tors, or from any other responsibility
which he finds it troublesome to meet or
support Among the curious instances of
the application Of this phrase is an adven-
ture which happened to myself
1t is the boast of the bloods of the town
of Rackinsack, in Arkansas, that they are
born with skins like alligators, and with
strength like bears. They work hard, and
play hard Gaming is the recreation most
INDUCED in, and the gaming houses of the
western part of Arkansas have branded it
with an unenviable notoriety.
One dark summer night, [ lounged, as
mere spectator, in the different rooms,
watching the various games of hazard
that were being played. Some of the
players seemed to have set their very
souls upon the stakes; their eyes were
bloodshot, and fixed, from beneath their
wrinkled brows, on the table, as if their
everlasting veal or woe depended there
upon the turning of the dice; while others
the finished blacklegs- assumed an in
different and careless look, though a kind
of sardonic smile playing round their lips,
but too plainly revealed sort of habitual
desperation. Three of the players looked
the very counterparts of each other, not
only in face, but expression; both the
physical and moral likeness was indeed
striking. The other player was young
man, stranger, whom they call " green
one" in this and many other parts of the
world. His eyes, his noise, his whole
physiognomy, seemed to project, and to
be capable of growing even still longer.
"Fifty dollars more," he exclaimed,
with deep-drawn breath, as he threw
down the stake.
Each of his opponents turned up his
cards coolly and confdentially; but the
long-visaged hero laid his stake before
them, and, to the astonishment of the
three professionals, won.
"Hurrah! the luck has turned, and I
crow p he cried out in an ecstacy, and
pocketed the cash.
The worthy trio smiled at this, and re-
commenced play. The green young man
displayed broad but silent grin at his
good fortune; and often took out his money
to count it over, and see if each piece
was good
/" Here are hundred dollars more"
cried the sylvan youth, " and I crow"
" / take them," said one of the trio
The youth won again, and crowed"
louder this time than he did the first.
On went the game; stakes were lost
and won. Gradually the rouleaus of the
"crower" dwindled down to three or
four of dollars, or so. 1t was clear that
the gentlemen in black had been Turing
him on by that best of decoys, success at
first.
I" Let me see something for my money.
Here's stake of two dollars, and | crow p
But he spoke now in very faint treble
indeed, and looked penitently at tie cards.
Again the cards were shuffiea, cut, and
dealt, and the "plucked pigeon" .staked
his last dollar upon them. -
"The last button on gabe's q
cr- cr-; no, I'll be hamstruy
He lost this too, and, Will
curse as | ever heard, he r
green board.
The apartment was vervT
on the ground floor. Ty
one gaming table in IT,
lookers-on besides mrs
gaming was over
found the door
There
wind
Of ne
the
VII
4