The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-05-24


ploughing through The tur}id waters of the
great river on the down passage since came
on hoard. 1t was early in the morning when
we stopped at Matches. where we took on
board some twenty passengers, who came
dr"rlnn" along. one. two. three. or four at a
time. during the hour of our ston. Once
more we were of with the current and short
" afterwards the break fast bell rang The
dav passed away pretty much as davs gene
rally do on board Mississippi steamers: when
the evening came, the cabins were alive with
fun and sentiment Towards 9 o'clock nv
attention was called 10 a table AT which four
men were PLAYING at twenty deck poker
he chiet PLAYER was Young man of six or
eight and twenty, who handled fhe cards with
a professional! air, and whose face BETRAYED
the l'hertine ard sensnalist lie was in some
respects. handsome but the reckless villain
was so plainly stamped upon his countcnanre
that n" gentleman could look upon him hnt
with pity and disgust He was >lirh:lv
built man. and dressed caudi!v | had not
stood bv the table ten minutes before the 9th
rr two players arose and the youth was left
alone.
"Who'll take hand :" he asked, casting
his eyes around upon the crowd "Come
gentlemen. I've a few thousands to lose
Who wants 1t ,"
Look here. stranger, I've GOT little mo-
ncv that : no use to me. What Sav We
The new speaker formed striking con-
!ra>t with tl" PLAYER already at the table
lie was powerfully built fellow. dark and
feet high His dark ness was from expo>nrc,
and his gloom WAS surely from recent causes
for 1t was PLAN 10 hc seen that his bold open
features had not Vet brromc used to it. Iii.
ha,r hung in light-culored rinuiets about his
neck. and hts sharp grey eyes were full OF
strange fire. His dress was mostly composed
of panther skins. and his cap was the same
with a 'al hanging behind When he sat
down to the table saw that he did so with
a reckle,>re>s which was not natural to hlm ;
and from that momrn: iccamc deeply inter
t>trd IN him. felt that he was a noble aud
UrncrouS man.
MAKE YOUR own game" sad the Young
man. >huiiiIn. the cards adroi'lv.
Ito ahead. responded the other AZ man
don't hunt wiki vsrnInts for a lifetime to hr
afraid of quarter pack Of cards; % ahead
and lc,'> have en-
ANTE up ten"
The hunter put up a ten dollar bill. and
the youth dd the same. and the cards were
dealt and the betting commenced The ia,
Ter gazrd sharply INTO his antagonists face
As The bets were made. bat hr could read no
thing there He seemed disappointed at this.
and called the hunters hand AT the fourth
bet and won five hundred dollars
The hunter smiled, and the youth dealt a
gain. This time the betting was commenced
IN earnest Nv the dealer. but the other was
not moved by II. The voung man put up a
thousand dollars more, but IT. appearance al
no effect u;,on his antagonist. Tho>c open
features did not change in expression. nor
dId the keen urcN eve grow more hrIght or
dim. He covered the note and called He
had won. After this the luck was even some
time. ! watched the younr man. because he.
was sure V Younger than the hunter. though
not much. for the latter individual was in the
prime of early manhood but. a, was re
marking. | watched the more cx,cri-nccd
gamc>tcr, aud saw him several times try to
It' tOi III SUM- tl MS IIltkS, tpIt tupSc grey
eyes were fixed too kccnlv upon him. At
lrn4th the hunter b"gan to win rapidly, hut
not >inglc ray ot satisfaction could be Sen
upon hl> face. | was puzzled. for it really
seemed to me that he would rather lose th IN
win.
But nv thoughts were soon called from
the PLAYERS to the plav. | saw the young
man shuttle the cards. and | knew he had
stocked them. Ispped around him and
saw that he held four kings and a jack. He
had intended to have held four kings and an
ace, but double cut OF his opponent had
hurt him. ! knew the trick, and | SAW what
the gambler did not See He wa, sure tha,
one of the aces was at the bottom Of the pack
ard thar his opponent had the other three
with par OF queens, while ! saw that IT
cutting, the fourth ace was left upon TIE pacI
instead OF at the bottom
"IIere's thousand dollars" said the voun:
man, promptly.
IL see that, and 90 a thousand better"
"llerc'S that thousand AID two thousan,
better" said the hunter.
The b'arkleC looked at his 'pic' very anx
} iou>lv. He counted i; and found Just 4 thou
sand dollars Tie look ed at his cards one
more, and a look OF assurance dwclt upon hi
face. He locked next upon the pack, and h
knew the fourth ace was there
I.ook here have but a thousand dollar
r in money, but have another piece of pro}
ertv I'll put up for the extra thousand. Tv
got one Of the hand>omr>t gals YOU ever saw
r Young pretty and >ound-onlv nineteen hur
| drcd dollars. twenty years Old"
p That's poor property for me. stranger"
= Poor property, Why bless nv soul.
: paid nirctccn hundred dollars for her tn
p very morning"
| This morning" calculated the hunte
V with start.
e Yes, lust above here. in Natchez-here
5 the bill of sale 'One girl, lanthe, ninetee
. hundred"
: "Lets see" The hunter took :he bill, an
r for single instant could discover a Stranc
spark in his eye and quivering of the netf
er lip. but it was gone IN moment.
"Make me- ont bill of sale of YOUR girl
{ he said, "and put it up with your ,housan
dollars. and I'll put up nine hundred more
That's fair thing, and can afford to los
: it,"
: blank was procured. and the bill file
: on; and duly signed. and at the hunters r,
4 quest witnessed. The Young man then place
= it with the money. and pushed the whole t
wards the centre of the table.
There is your twentvnine hundred, an
: now what have you got :"
You dealt Yourself" remark ed the hunte
: as he spread his cards out upon the table an
{ showed four aces, IL think that gal is mine
: "Broke-dead !" gasped the gambler.
l. "All gone:"
Every pic"