The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-11-07
RATES OF ADVERTISING.


Inv faiO baHk, Wltn ltS cfOWu OF Dcttefs--tne
R0uge et Noir table, with it's anxious circle,
and groups of players at other games, ofwhich
was ignorant OF the name, were all busily
engagedas we entered. Wehad passed through
two apartments, and reackeda third, in (which
were but iour players, playing in pairs at diff.
ferent tables As we entered we sat down at
an unodcupied table for asmomnent, when, as
1--WE did 30, we heard one OF the two men near
est us say to his opponent: l aG" ,iiai
l. That's the last dollar; buck is yours, and
i I'm cleaned outn n rt-3 aj as. 4sttaa t.ia "
| But you weara goodring,a said his dps
ponent. "Seel willEgive you q chance for
reyengel I'll back my ring against yours on
the next game It's a ring. won at play from
a Kentucky boy, who came To New Orleans to
see the sights" said he carelessly. .8t
| How little did he know those words so lightly
spoken had sealed his doom!aa. ,ssicY 94is.
t., No said his opponent, rising 3" I'll meet
you tor morrow night won't pledge my jew
elry YETI o.a sf !1gz y R& E7i7if'Tsy1
| As the player, who was sitting with his back
partially towards us, mentioned Kentucky in
! his conversation, saw Thorn listen with eager
ness. and rs he twisted the ring he offered to
bet upon his finger, j saw the Kentuckian
turn deadly pale His eyes glowed like fire
| for an Instant then his countenance assumed
his usual calm and placid look, and to ou.
amazemlent, he rose and walked across the
apartment to the player, who had just been
left by his companion, and courteously pro-
posed tp try a hand with him, If agreeable.
| ana if we, his friends, would excuse him for
| a short Time Of course we assented-so did
| the gambler, who appeared at first somewhat
surprise cd at the proposition, but probably re-
! solved tp try his skill on the new conner.
The cards were dealt and the game pro-
ceeded. We were sufficiently near to see that
the pieces of gold which constituted the first
stake was won by our friends opponent; so,
also, was the second. The third stake Thorn
gaiued and thus they went en-, alternately
winning and losing till at last Thorn careiessly
said: ,aH lE y !n8J& y5i8 Js!+ 7,is
THTfhat's2a pretty ring you offered to bet
awhile ago, stranger. Will you sell it?"-H ~
"WGl, as to that" said the other, "its
pretty enough, and cost me enough, for q
young fellow pledged it TO Inc some three years
ago as sort of note of hand, which he promised
to redeem with five hundred dollars TINT he
owed me---a debt Of .honoB sir; but he never
paid il, so ] retain the ring. No, stranger,
guess will not sell it."
"But the owner, you should have made him
pay. Five hundred dollars is n dear price for
such bauble,H ira.ss @ ,sH- Yt TG5
"Why, as to that, said the player, rs he
gathered up his cards for the next hand, she
couldn't come to time very well; for he paid
the Debt of nature, as they say, the same night,
and that cancelled my obligation. Ahi the
stakes mine; there's always lucklin this ring,
sir, believe said he, as he drew the money
towards him. D. aaa1 o7 sr yfgsr lsEas1.
Suppose we try larger stake; and he
prepared to shuttle the cards again: g.asr4ga
Auiy Ill - said Thorn
a"Well, what shall 1t be?N said his oppo-
nent; anything from one to five hundred" !"
and he threw bank-note Of that denomination
carelessly upon the table. sL.fa,.yy.f ..s..
To our surprise, Thorn drew out wallet
from his pocket, and produced an equal amount;
then sweeping the cards they had been using
from the table to the floor, he called for fresh
pack; and as the attendant brought them, he
passed them rapidly through his hands and
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, know not which,
but at any rate one in which the players bet
ON the cards they hold. Thorn and his oppo-
nent having glanced al the cards commenced
tho game. E".e
an go one hundred" said Thorn, COM
mencing. ..-r ..
1.-TWO hundred better than that" said his
opponsnt; ,4,... . u, b..
Another hundred" continued Thorn
"H'mIs! three hundred better" said tho
gambler producing the notes. .'.
"Three hundred more" said Thorn quietly
The game was getting exciting to us as spec
tators; three thousand dollars lay upon the
table to be decided by the cards held by the
Of, -IN,,, al bot
be confident Of success, though their counte-
nances betrayed not the least emotion.
Zone hundred more" said the gambler
again. .,. ...... ~.
4" | call you" said Thorn. .....
"Ah! three kings and an aceI' said the
sharper. ...." ".a.. -....
"Three aces and king" said Thorn,
quietly, as he displayed his own cards, and
with his eyes fixed steadily upon his opponent
folded up the money. a..
Fortune favors you, said the gamble, stoi-
cally, too well schooled to betray any emotion
or chagrine at the result. 0..... q
80 it seems" said Thorn 4 .. .
but hope to meet you again, sir, for l
must have my revenge after so heavy run Of
luck as this, said Thorn's opponent, "and
have no doubt your friends will Join US in
social sitdown, for if your are as good at crack
ing bottle, singing song, or telling story,
AZ holding hand at cards, those who are your
friends are Fortunate" g a.. ....... 20. .g.r4
~ must confess" said Thorn. that | am
not of conSiyial or musical turn, though l
can occasionally tell good story. ] have
little history now, sir, upon my tongues end,
that will be of uncommon interest to younaaqr
"TO me! Pray tell it. sir said the game
stcr with laugh. 1T will be good wind-up
to the evenings entertainment" aahst
Il was now past midnight; absorbed in the
excitement of the game, we had scarcely no.
ticed the fight of time, or that the adjoining
rooms were nearly deserted by their occupants,
at the other end Of the apartment in which we
were. The other players had finished their
game long since, and been spectators OF that
between Thorn and his opponent. @j Ht Il"
About three years since young man in
Kentucky, the confidential agent Of a large
business firm, was intrusted with a sum OF
money, and commissioned to transact some bu-
siness in New Orleans. II was his first visit ,
TO that city; he started happy, leaving behind
him young wife and a lovely infant un-
fortunately, upon one OF the Mississippi boats, !
or Immediately upon his arrival at New Or
leans, he fell in with professionals man ota5
n. ...t..F H.s-m s,.