The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-10-09

L
he promised to redeem with five hundred
dollars that he owed me--a debt Of honor,
sir--but he never paid it; so I retain the
ring. No, stranger, Il guess won't sell it,"
''But the owners You should have made
him pay; five hundred sollars is a dear
price for such bauble."
"Why, as to that" said the player, as he
gathered up his cards for the next hand,
"he couldn't come to time very we'll, for he
paid the debt of nature rs they say, the
same night, and shat cancelled my obliga. !
ton. Ali the stakes mine--theres always
luck in this ring sir, believe" said he, as
he drew the money towards him; suppose |
we try larger stake" and lie prepared to
shuttle the cards again.
"As YOU like" said Thorn.
"Well what shall it bel' said his oppo,
nent, "anything from one to five hundredl'
and he threw bank note of that denomi.
nation carelessly, as if in bravado, upon the
table.
To our surprise Thorn drew wallet from
his pocket, and produced an equal amount
OF money, then sweeping the cards they
had been using from the table to the floor,
he called for fresh pack, and passing them,
as the attendant brought them TO him, ra.
pidy through his hand. lie gave them to
his adversary, remarking to him as he did
so, to 'mind his deal this time," fixing upon
him searching glance as he went through
that operation. The game was that known
AS bluff" or "poker,"I know not which,
but at any rate one on which the players
bet upon the cards they hold. Thorn and
his opponent having each glanced ut their
cards, commenced the game.
"Ill go, you one hundred" said Thorn,
commencing
"Two hundred better than that" said
his opponent.
"Another hundred" continued Thorn.
"H'm'm! three hundred better!" said the
gambler, producing the notes from his pock.
ct book
"Three hundred more," said Thorn, oui-
city.
The game was getting exciting to us as
spectators; three thousand dollars Law upon
the table to be decided by the cards held bv
the players, each Of whom seemed from his
bets TO be confident of success, though their
countenances betrayed not the least emo.
ton.
"One hundred more" said the gambler,
again.
Il call you," said Thorn.
"Ah! three kings and an ace!" said the
sharper triumphantly.
"IHREE ACES AND A KINa!" said Thorn,
quietly, AS he displayed bis own cards, and
with his eyes fixed steadily upon his onpo-
nemt, folded up the money and crammed it
into his pocket.
Fortune favors you," said the gambler,
stoically, too well schooled to betray any
emotion Or chagrin at the result.
so it seems" said the other.
But hope TO meet you again, sir; for
must have my revenge after so heavy run
OF luck as this" said Thorn's opponent;
land have no doubt you friends will join
us in social sit-down, for if YOU are as
good at cracking bottle, singing song,
or telling story, as holding hand at
cards, those who are your friends are for
! tunate."
81 must confess" said Thorn, "that am
| not Of convivial or musical turn, though
can occasiouaiy ieii good story. have
| a little history now, sir, upon my tongues
end, that wiii be Of uncommon interest to
you"
ITO me! Pray tell it, sir" said The game
ster, with a laugh. 1T will be good
wind-up for the evenings entertainment"
1t was now long past midnight; absorb
ed in the excitement of the game, VIC had
scarcely noticed the flight of time, or that
the adjoining rooms were now nearly de.
serted 10y their occupants, and that the two
other players, at the other end Of the apart.
| ment in which we were, had flushed their
own game long since, and been spectators
OF that between Thorn and his opponent,
and were now apparently interested listen.
ers.
About three years since" began Thorn,
II young man in Kentucky, the contiden
lial agent Of a large business firm, was in.
trusted with sum of money and commits
stoned to transact some business in New
Orleans; it was bis first visit to that city. He
started happy, leaving behind him young
wife and lovely infant. Unfortunately upon
one of the Mississippi boats, or Immediately
upon his arrival in New Orleans, lie fell in
with a professional man ii man of play,
mean-you understand"
The gambler nodded, and Thorn conlin-
ued:
by the management Of this profession
al the young man was entccd to hell
induced to play, piled with wine, stripped
of his money in short, to use a'profeSsional'
word, 'pucked'-"
"Ha! ha! the old story" said the gam.
bier; ''the fate of pigeons"
"But | have not finished; that which
most interests you is yet to come"
Indeed! Go on"
The young man was perfectly sobered
by his loss; he returned to his hotel; stung
with remorse and half crazy with excite.
ment, he placed pistol TO his head and
blew out his brains, leaving tarnished
name as an inheritance for his wife and in.
nocent child"
But what is all this TO me- said the
gambler, now pale as ashes beneath the
flashing eye Of the speaker; sis it moral
lesson YOU'RE about 10 read heIe or a ser.