The Placer herald., 1857-06-27
Two Hundred and Forty Thousand Dollars
or Nothing.
A CALIFORNIA STORY.

In the latter month of 40 number OF
professional gamblers in large practice were
residing at the Graham House-among the
rest, two were especially remarked for the
boldness OF their play and the steadiness OF
their business nerves, These were q huuch-
back, named Briggs-and Joe Basset a
better sort of graduate Of the old Vicksbure
school. Both had been signally successful
IN many sharp operation during the wear,
and had acquired considerable property in
lots, which for their convenience in business
they had converted into cash, and banked,
partly with Burgoyne or Wright, partly on
various monte tables.
One day, in an after-dinner chat, they
compared notes, and found that they stood
equally fairly on the gamblers change, each
being good for just one hundred aud twenty
thousand dollars in Immediately available
dust. Being both more than usually enter
prlsing under the inspiration Of wine Briggs
offered daring banter which was reckessly
accepted by Basset that they should at once
adjourn to an upper faro room, fill up each
check for the entire sum he was worth in
cash, divide equally between the two, two hun
dred and forty thousand dollars in red checks
and play for the whoe-neither to leave
the room on any preteXt until all the red
checks were lost and won. Accordingly,
with not less equanimity and pleasant single
ness otpurpose, they retired, with a few choice
spirits OF their set to the privacy Of q reserv-
ed apartment, and having provided a store OF
choice liquors, cigars and yands for the com
pany, executed the required documents di-
yided the rosy counters, they took their
seats at opposite sides of the table and began
the extraordinary and most interesting con-
test--a contest which called out such teats
OF memory sagacity Discrimination self pos
session, quick recognition of signs and de-
lection Of sly fnesse, such fine tents, nimble
thrusts and paIries, hot assaults and well
ordered retreats, as would have made the for
tune and the fame OF statesman, a general
or fencing master
The first deal was made at four o'clock
in the afternoon, and the game went on with
changing fortune all night. At the elbow
of each stood a glass OF water, moderately
treated with brandy. Neither smoked; a
cloud between them would have been as
Gu pable bunder as the sun in the eyes of
a duelist. Ten o'clock next morning found
''CHi SSb III 1HGIi P'iStS- pOIli iochlh9
somewhat pale and haggard, but very quiet.
Briggs had four thousand dollars left of all
that he was worth in the world The cards
were dealt. The table at which they sat
WAS near the door of the room; and Just as
Bassett, whose SAY" it was, was making up
his mind some one entered and stood behind
him. Briggs eyed his antagonist, over his
hand with a searching stare that held his
very breath. Without noticing the entrance
of the new comer with no futter Of his
cards, without any startled glance or even
the move Of a finger, Bassett "went six
thousand dollars" Take the money" said
the hupchback and he took it. Briggs had
two jacks, Bassett three kings. AS the two
tossed off great bumpers OF raw brandy,
Briggs remarked, as he rose to 90 off to bed,
"lf you had noticed that man | might have
borrowed the money and held on a little
longer; but when | saw that you did not
turn to look over your shoulder, or drop
the faces of your cards, knew you had
sure hand" A few days after that, the
hunchback invested fifty dollars, borrowed
from Bassett, in a miners outfit and started
for the diggings, where be died in month
helpless pauper