Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-07-16

think he is at it now"
81 think he would have been at hom
before this time if he had not fallen il
with some of his evil associates"
"Then you rest here while I go anC
find him. By my soul, will save hin
if 1 can"
"But you will come back soon p
James stopped and thought moment
"I don't Know" he said. "But don't
you be worried. No harm shall be-fal
j Ambrose to night"
=: y t,.ttis nj he o. dfoek ksasssA pabrose
Dearborn entered one Of the gaming sa-
looms of the city. His business had
kept him latter than usual, and having
made some fifteen dollars in trade since
dark, he had determined to stake tina
amount upon the altar of fashion. His
wife was right in her fears. The card
table had gained facinating power over
him, and he had lost some heavy sums.
But on the previous evening he had been
cursed with turn of winning luck, and
he was on his way to continue his luck!
He meant only to play an hour or SO,
and then go home. r
He went up to the sideboard and took
glass of wine, as he turned he met a
stranger, who had seemingly come for
the same purpose.
"Good evening"" said the stranger, in
pleasant tone, as he poured out tum-
bier full of water from pitcher and
drank it.
Ambrose returned the salutation.
II came to take few moments re-
creation at cards. said the stranger,
| IsI,,k EanI f-ianlO horo -
$50 did I, answered Ambrose, ''and
my friends are missing"
"Then suppose we take a hand or
two, just to pass away the time until
some others come.
"With pleasure" said Dearborn.
And accordingly the two sat down
and were soon on the most friendly
terms. The cards were dealt, and for a
while the playing was on small scale,
and the luck was about even. By-and-
by Ambrose began to win, and he went
on until he had won hundred dollars.
He would have felt ashamed somewhat
had not his antagonist maintained such
good hrmor, he smiled so kindly when
he; lost
But the luck changed. Ambrose lost
all he had won, and soon lost over a
hundred dollars besides. He had just
hundred dollars more in his port mon
ME and he took it out.
A new hand was dealt; he cut the
cards carefully, and helped up for Jacks.
Twas the best hand by far that had been
out during the game, it being the first
"four of the kind he had seen during
the evening. He bet ten dollars. An
tagonist covered it, and went ten dollars
higher.
II have an excellent hand" the strang-
or said with a light laugh. 81 have
held better ones, but this is good; I'll
bet high on it.
Ambrose did not speak. lie was ex-
cited.
He was afraid that his antagonist
would mistrust how good his hand was
and stop betting, but the betting w ent
on until Ambrose had his last frac tion
of the hundred dollars on the table.
''Shall go higher?' inquired the
stranger.
CAS- you please
Then must say hundred better.
By the trump of trumps you shall
have a chance to make pile this time"
Ambrose hesitatcd a moment, and
then he placed his hand in his bosom
and drew out package of bank notes.
There were four thousand dollars in the
whole. It was a sum he had drawn
from the bank that very day. 1t was
the accumulation Of over four years la
Dor and economy, for the purpose of
paying for his house and store. He
drew out hundred dollar bill and COW
cred his antagonist last stake. He hes
itated a moment and then drew another
hundred, and event that over" The
stranger covered the hundred and ''went
five hundred better" Ambrose cover
ed the five hundred, but he dared bet
no more, and he called for his compan-
ions hand. The stranger smiled as he
showed it-four queens
Ambrose uttered deep groan as he
folded his cards and placed them on the
back.
"By my soul, that's S hard, my friend"
''But better luck next time. Come,
I'll deal for you this time"
A new hand was dealt, and this time
Ambrose won a hundred dollars. He
began to revive. Next he won two
hundred more. He went and got an
other glass of wine and then returned in
better spirits But at the next hand he
lost FIVE hundred dollars. His spirits
were sad again. But he resolved to
play carefully and win back what he had
lost and stop.
But there is no need of following the
the game step my step. The man who
held those cards was not professed
gambler, nor did he now gamble at all
for his own amusement. But he had
been among gamblers much, and he
could handle cards as he pleased. And
more still, he could handle a nervous,
excitable man as he pleased. He kept
Ambrose in good humor, let him have
the occasional flashes ofluck and finally,
just as the clock struck eleven Ambrose
Dearborn staggered up from the table
penniless All, all, was gone! His
four thousand dollars-The sum that
was to have cleared him Of debt the sum