Squatter sovereign., 1856-08-19

8s PLAYER. -
Atthe request Of one Of our Oldest sub
scribers We publish, slightly revamped, a
story which appeared originally in this pa
per some sixteen years ago. and under
the same heading. 1t had an extensive
run in its day, and we give it another send
of. ssi @
The hero of the story was of class OF
gamblers who followed the river, as far
back as 1887, as regularly as any steam
boatmen. Whenever seen upon shore
for any great length OF time, you might be
tolerably sure that race meeting was on
hand, or some kind Of gathering where
/ pigeons were numero and plucka ble.-
The fellow ordinarily wore q species of
green cutaway sporting coat, decked with
a perfect menagere Of bronze buttons
We say managere, because each par
or full length Of some beast or bird. and
the collection was about as numerous as is
seen in ordinary caravan. The cuffs were
larger than common, perhaps TO enable the
wearer to .ssleeve card occasionally,
while peering out were couple of hands
ornameneed with the usual complement of
long and nimble fingers. which were con-
stantly playing about as though stocking
an imaginary deck of the documents. ;"
His hat, set jauntly upon his head, did not
half conceal a thick growth of we'll greas-
cd hair. His eye. of cold, restless gray,
was shaded with dropsioai looking blue
lines, giving abundant evidence of late
hours and lamp light. He carried stiff
cane, upon the end Of the candle OF which
was an elaborately carved fox with pink
glass eyes. A search warrant would
have discovered in his pockets few dol
lars (mighty few Of sure enough good
; money, smart roll of Brandon and other
questionable paper 10 make the pile look
respectable. couple of decks, of cards.
the backs of which he knew by heart, and
a set of thimbles-;he tools or stock in
trade ordinarily carried by gentlemen OF
his particular calling. Such is but faint
picture of the worthy we are about to in
,roduce upon the boiler deck OF one of the
old Mississippi steamboats,. He had been
driven from the upper cabin for some Glow
flung" attempt at cheating as it was term
ed, and at once set about looking out for
victims among the steerage passengers,
deck hands, and fremen off duty.
He was not long in making up small
game of poker, nor was he long, by dint
of putting up the cards and other tricks
known to the profession, in transferring
nearly all the odd dimes on the lower deck
into his own pockets. He cut, shufiled
and dealt to all appearance fair, and gave
extra pokes to the cards at times to show
that lie was above taking any advantage !;
but at length he was caught in some trick
which at once proved to the honest steam
boat men that they had lost their money
by foul means.
| The game, as matter of course, was
blocked at once, and demonstration was
! Immediately made that the gambler should
refund or disgorge his ill-gotten gains
This he fully refused to do he said that
he had won the money fair and on the
square, and that he was very clear Of part
ing with what he had come honestly By.
The luck had been little in his favor
that was all. They still persisted, while
at the same time, not little indignation
at the idea OF being accused of unfair
play.
The boat at length stopped to wood,
when the men. finding it useless to attempt
regaining their money by fair means, re-
sorted to game which the gambler un-
doubtedly thought foul. Having gained
the consent of The engineer, who under
stood the lark, and wished to help it, to use
The engine while the boat was woodine.
they forthwith proceeded to put their plan
in execution.
They in the first place tied one end CT
q rope around the neck of the wandering
gambler, while the other they made fast to
the end Of the piston rod, allowing him
only two or three feet slack. They then
told the fellow that unless he shelled out
their money, instanter, they should pro-
eeed TO work the engine, atthe same time
quickly informing him that they were no'
responsible for any injuries he might sus.
tain. 10th to give up his gains. the ga m
bier cast searching look a, this original
system OF exortation, cody calculated his
chances, seemed TO make up his mind thai