The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1856-03-20
Gbrillin9 9tor1).
AN INCIDENT
ON THE MISSISSIPPI,
BY syLrATCs CogB, JR

sgFAoR six mortal days had our boat becn
~ ploughing through the turbid waters
of the great river on the down passage,
since came on board. II was carly in
the morning when We stopped at NatchCz z,
whcrO we took on board some twenty
passengers, who came dropping along,
TWO and three or four at time, during
the hour Of our stop. Once more we
were off with the current, and shortly af
tcrwards the breakfast bell rung.
The day passed away pretty much as
days generally do on board the Mississippi
steamers; and when evening came, the
cabins were alive with fun and sentiment.
! Towards nine o'clock, my attention was
called to a table. at which four men were
playing twenty deck poker The cAieI
player was 4 young man, not over six OF
eight and twenty, who handled the cards
with q professional air, and whose face
betrayed the iibcrtine and sensualiSt.--
He was, in some respects, handsome, bu.
the reckless villain was 50 plainly stamped
upon bis countenance, that no gentleman
could look upon him but with pity and
disgust, lie was slightly built man,
and dressed gaulily. had not stood by
the table ten minutes before the other
three players rose and the youth was left
alone.
who'll take a hand?' he asked, casting
his dark eyes around upon the crowd.
Come, gentlemen, I've Il few thousands
to lose. Who wants itP
Look here, stranger, I've got little
money that's no use to me. What say
yer
The new speaker formed a striking con-
trast with the player already at the table.
He was a powerfully built fellow, dark
and gloomy in expression, and standing
over six feet high. His darkness was
from exposure, and his gloom was surely
from some recent cause, for ii WAS plain
to be seen that his bold, open features
had not yet become used to it. His hair
hung in light colored ringIets about his
neck and lis sharp gray eyes were full Of
strange fire. His dress was mostly com
posed Of panther skins, and his cap was
of the same, with the tail hanging behind
When he sat down to the table, saw tha
he did it with a reckIcssness which was
not natural to him; aud from that momcn
| became deeply interested in him, for
felt sure that he was at hear! noble
bold, generous man.
Make your own game said the young
man, shuAling the cards adroitIy.
Go ahead responded the other, &
man don 1t hunt wild varmints for life
time to be afeared of a quarter pack o
cards. Go ahead, and let's have 'em.
ANTE up ten
The hunter pu' up ten-dollar bill
and the youth did the same; the cards
were dealt, and the betting commenced
The latter gazed sharply into his stou
antagonists face as the bets were made
but he could read nothing there. lie
seemed disappointed at this, and called
the hunters hand at the fourth bet, anC
won five hundred dollars.
The hunter smiled, and the youth deal
again. This time the betting commenced
in earnest by the dealer, but the othel
/ was not moved by it. The young mar
put up thousand dollar note, but its ap
pearanCe seemed to have no effect upor
his antagonist. Those open features dix
Q not change in expression, nor did the kedl
gray eye grow more bright or dim. lie
covered tie no.e and called He hat
won.
After this, the luck ran evenly for somC
time. watched the young man. cal
. him the young man, because he was sure
/ ly Younger than the hunter, though no
much, for the latter individual was yet il
the prime Of early manhood. But, as
was rcmarking, watched the more ex
pericnccd gamestcr, and saw him sever
al times make the attempt to perform
; some Of his tricks, bu; those two gray eyes
p were fixed too kernly upon him. a
length The hunter began to win rapidly
but net 4 single roy Of satisfaction couIt
y be seen upon his face. was puzzled
for treaty seemed to me that he wouil
rather lose than win.
But my thoughts were soon caIeC
from the players to the play. | saw th'
Young man shuttle the cards, aud knew
t he had stocked them. slipped arount
: behind him, and saw that he held ioa
kings and a jack. IL had meant to have
held four kings and an ace, but doubi'
cut by his opponent had hurt him.
knew that trick, and | saw what the gam
bier did not see. lie was sure that on,
of the aces was at the bottom Of the pack
! and that his opponent had the other three
with pair of queens, while | saw that IL
cutting, the fourth ace WINS left upon til,
E top Of the pack, instead Of upon thu
bottom.
Here's a thousand said the younge
of the players. promptly.
Here's that, and thousand better,
was the response.
i 4 see That, and go a thousand better.
b Here's that thousand, and two thou
sand better, said the hunter.
The backIeg looked at lis pile yer.
;, anxously. He counted it, and found JUS
a thousand dollars. 1t was all he had
His antagonist had already won twclV
/, thousand dollars from him. He locke
d at his cards once more, and look of as
t. sGrance dwelt upon his face. lie locke
II next upon the pack, and no Enew that th
a fourth ace was there.