M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-11-13

theatre, | was enjoying the cool air ana
fragrant Havana in the rotunda ofthe
st. Charles Hotel and conversing with
a friend from the North, whom / had
fortunately met, when whom shonld |
encounter but my steamboat acquain-
tance.
After our usual greeting our CONVEX
sation turned upon our trip down the
river. our fellow-passengers, &c, when
my fellow-traveler remarked that if |
would like TO visit the interior of a
gambling house, or hell. as it is some
times more appropriately called, he
would he pleased to show it to us as
one OF the sights or lions Of the city
Never having witnessed anything Of
the kind. both ! and my friend assent
ed, and after short walk found our
selves within the precincts of one OF
those glittering and gorgeously turn
ished establishments. .vestibules to
the internal regions--where men were
engaged in various games Of hazard.
The interior Of a gambling house
has been too frequently described to
need repetition. The Faro Bank
with it's crowd of hetters, the Rouge
ct Noir table with its anxious circle,
and groups Of players at other games OF
which | WAS ignorant of the name,
were all busily ngaged as We entered.
We had passed through two apart
meDts, and reached third, in which
were but lour players, playing inpairs
at different tables. As we entered
We sat down at an occupied table for
moment, when, as we did so, we
heard one of the two men nearest us
say to his opponent
That's the last dollar; luck is yours,
and YIN cleaned out"
"But you wear a gold ring" said
his opponent. "See! will give you
a chance for revenge. III back my
ring against yours on the mex. game,
It's ring won at play from a Ken
lucky boy that came to New Orleans
to see sights, said he carelessly.
How little did he know those words,
so lightly spoken, had sealed his
doom.
NO" said his opponent, rising,
"l'll meet you tomorrow night. l
won't pledge my jewelry yet"
As the player, who was sitting with
his back partially towards US, men
toned Kentucky in his conversation,
| saw Thorn listen with eagerness,
and as he twisted the ring he offered
to bet upon his finger, | saw the Ken
tuckian turn deadly pale. His eyes
glowed like fire for an instant then
his countenance again assumed its
usual calm and placid look-and, to
our amazement. he rose and walked
across the apartment to the player, who
had Just been left by his companion,
conrteuosly propose to try hand or
two with him if agreeable, and if we,
his friends, would excuse him for a
short time. Of course we assented--
so did the gambler, who appeared at
first somewhat surprised at the prop
osition, but probably resolved to try
his skill upon the new conner
The cards were dealt, and the game
proceeded. We were sufficiently
near to see that the piece Of gold
which constituted the first stake was
won by our friends opponent. So al
so the second. The third stake Thorn
gained. And thus they went on al
ternately betting and loosing, till at
last Thorn careleSSly observed:
THAT is a pretty ring you offered
to bet a while ago, stranger. Will
you sell it2"
"Wpll. as to that" said the other,
''its pretty enough-for a young tel-
low pledged it to me some three years
ago, a sort of hand, which he promis
ed to redeem with five hundred dollars
that he owed me--a debt Of honor sir
but he never paid, so | retain the
ring. No, stranger, | guess | won't
sell it."
"But the owner9 you should have
made him pay; five hundred dollars is
a dear price for such 'bauble."
why, as to that" said the player,
as he gathered up the cards for the
next hand, che couldn't come to time
very we'll, for he paid the debt Of ma
turo,' as they call it, the same night,
and that cancelled my obligation!--
All, the stakes mine-there's always
luck in this llng, | believe" AS he
drew the money towards him, sup
pose We try a larger stake;" and he
prepared to shuttle the cards again.
"As you like" said Thorn.
well, what shall it be?" said his
opponent, anything from one to five
hundrcd!" and he threw bank
note ofthat denomination carelossly,
as il in Gravado, upon the table.
To our surprise Thorn drew wal
let from his pocket, and produced an
equal amount of money, then sweep
ing the cards they had been using
from the table to the floor, he called