Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-03-13

to show il tons; as one tof the sights or
s. lions'' Of the city. Never having wit.
messed an5tRing of the kind. both / and
my friend lassented, ,oanH after short
walk, found ourselves within the precincts
of one of those glittering and gorgeously
furnished estabfishments-y to
the Internal regions 4where men are en-
gagged in various games of hazard.
f. The interior of a gaming house, has
1been too frequently described to heed
repetition q Tie faro bank, with its crowd
Eof visitors: the rouge ct -noir table, with
its anxious circle, and groups Of play ers
at other games, Of which was ignorant
OF, the name. were all cbusily, engaged as
we, entered. We had passed through
two apartments and reached a third, in
I which were but four players, playing in
pairs at dlfferenttables! GAS we entered,
we sat down at an .unoccupied itableHor a
moment. when, as wee did $50, we heard
one Of the two men nearest 10 us say to
his opponent: ''e
f. (" That'sthe last dollar luck is yours,
and I'm cleaned OUT asnaa,* adf
/ g - .But. you wear . good ring. - said his
chance for revenge. I'll back my ring
i 1OuI5 Ou LuG u6Ab pdLu6s IL
firing won !atplay from Kentucky boy
j thet came to New Orleans to see the
sights" said he. carelessly. a
How little did he know those words, so
lightly spoken, had sealed his doom.
"No!" said his opponent. rising. "Tll
meet you tomorrow night; II wont
pledge my jewelrya YETI llo ,-aIegi I'D /
AS the player, who was sitting with his
back partially towards US, mentioned
Kentucky in his conversation. l saw
Thornllsten with eagerness, and, as he
twisted the ring he offered to bet upon
his finger, saw the Kentuckian turn
deadly pale. His eyes glowed like fire
for an instant, then his countenance again
assumed its usual calm and placid look,
and to our amazement, hercse, and walk
ing across the apartment to the player
who had just been left by his companion,
courteously proposed to try hand or
two with him, if agreeable, and if we, his
friends would excuse him for a short
time. Of course we assented-so did the
gambler, who appeared Somewhat sur
prised at the proposition, but probably
resolved % try his skill upon the new co.
| mer.
The cards were dealt and the game
proceeded Ne we're sufficiently near to
see that the piece Of gold which constitu-
ted the first stake was won by our friends
stake Thorn gained. And thus they
went on, alternately winning and losing.
till at last Thorn carelessIy observed:
- = That is q pretty ring you offered to
bet a while ago, stranger; will you sell
it 90
-o'" Well, as to chat, !" said the other. it's
pretty enough, and cost me enough, for a
young fellow pledged it TO me some three
years ago, as a sort Of note Of hand. which
he promised to redeem with Ave hundred
dollars that he owed me-a debt Of hon
or, sir-but he never paid it; so + retain
the ring. No, stranger, | guess | won't
sell it," -4. y, .g....s 4!
'sBut the owner; you should. have
made him pay ; FIVE hundred dollars is a
dear price for such bauble.' g.
n." Why as to that said9the player. as
he gathered up the cards for the hand,
'' he come 70 time very well fqr he paid
the debt Of nature as they say, the
same night, and that cancelled my obIi-
gation. Ah the stakes mine there's
always luck in this ring, sir, L believe"
said he, as lie drew the money toward
him ; suppose we try larger stake"
and he prepared to shuttle the cards again.
. AS you like said Thorn. ~
''" Wen, what shall it be ?" said his
opponent, g anything from one to FIVE
hundred r. and he threw a bank note of
that denomination carelessly, as if in bra-
vado, upon the table. 1.
TO our surprise, Thorn drew a wallet
from his pocket, and produced an equal
amount Of money, then. sweeping the
cards they had been usin from the table
to the floor, he called for a fresh pack,
aud passing them, as the attendant brought
them to him, rapidly through his. hand.
he gave them to his adversary, remarking
to him as he did so, to ''mind his deal
this time,'' fixing upon him aosearching
glance as he wentthEough that operation,
The game was that known as /" bluf'' or
"poker," know not which. but at any
rate, one on which the players bet on the
cards they hold. Thorn and his oppo'
nent having each glanced at their cards.
commenced the game. ...7.8..eu; III. .pd
=" I'll 90 one hundred p said Thorn,
coffnm1eucing.i .io anh-'f' 9ai 'H0l's"''''St
."jTwo hundred better than that IL said
his opponent. 'If in.ll sa't'a tfsta -
" Another hundredip' said Thorn.
!" Hmm! three hundred, better !"' !'',
| said the gambler producing the notes
from his pocket BOOK q II !" t'.'' 'a.. ~
..Three hundred more iP' said phorn,
quietly sL.1y -ro 1stsl isBm 81 ,roifn9
The game was getting exciting, TO us as
spectators; three, thousand, dollars .flay
upon the table, to be. decided by the cards
held by the players, each Of whom seem
i d nfrri,r, his hatsl1tIn ha con iAAnf of sticl