Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1857-11-27
THRILLING iDYEyTURE IN 4 O.
MING HOUSE.

NfSeH EihliHg upon the waters Ot tHe nIghty
Mississippi, and bpuud for the Crescent Git y,
| New Orleans.
/ With single exception found no travel
/ ling aeqIaintsnces en boarl the boat, although
| had been two days upon my journey, which
was becoming qaite nonotonous. The indi-
virtual with whom siogularIy enough, frater-
uzed, seemed like myself, tc have l:,lle ineli-
nation IT, extand his acquaintance among the
pas sseagers, though be continually seemed to
| be ON the lookout for some one, and from thl
operations of two or three udividulIs, whose
profu4e dieplty Of vest ciaris aud j4welry. aud
profeiencS OF cards at the table in the sql5on
betrayed their profession, more than once set
hini down police-lelecsive in disguise.
/ He called himself George Thorn, of Ken
tucky; SO his card read, which he gave me ia
exchange for mine. la truth he was noble
specimen OF that State. Full six feet in height,
Il clear, intelligent alle eye, broad forehead,
llgi,t curly hsil, mas ,ul,r arm, aud chest Of
a Hercules, he Challenged the almi, alton of
more than uns Of tue passengers, as with bis
serious aud never smiling face he paced the
promenade deck, or SAT buried in thought in
the saloon.
"De you ever play cards!' said | to him, as
be LEFT group that were sttniing about ta-
bla os four players. .aad noting the progress of
the game. bud frequently seen him invited,
bur lie invariably, lSe myself, refused to par
ticipaie in the game,
GOA yes, SAID he; stbut where is the use of
| playing here! tlps3 fellows DoGliug toward
the p1rers) know every card in the pack by
the backs, and they are trying to pluck some
poor pigeon iron smong the passengers, but as
yet with Indifferent success, beware of them,
sir.''
thanked him for his friendly warning, and
ai the same time expressed my a>tonishmeut at
his affirmation. To convince tne he cillei the
steward OF the boat, and ordered him to br.ug
fresh pack of cards, which were brought, and
he handed the pack TO me, bidding me Snuff,
item did ST, when be immediately selected
nearly every asc aud king from the pack, with
our looking at Ihe faea OF taem. Nexthe dealt
them in two parcels, when, upon examination,
iouad that al! the cards of real value in the
game were in his hand, although | could not
dercct the least unfajrnesS Is he dealt them.
lyon see" said he smiling at my look of as
tonishmeut, "ihe advantage an expert in these
matters has even over skilliul player"
81 do, Indeed" replied, astonlshed at my
fellow travellers dexterity, aud beginning to
thiak that ne might be reformed gasphler, or
Que playing the possum for some purpose OF 9TH
or, but as he did not urge or even invite ne to
play, nor bad played with any one else, ami
threw the cards aside with an expression OF
disgust too natural to be assumed, | cane to
the conclusion thai my travelling acquaintance
was riddle yet TO be solved.
Early the next morning the boat arrived At
New Orleans and amid the hurry and hustle
of Decentralization, lest thy friend, the Ken
tuckian, not seeing him TO bid him adieu, The
same evening however, after visiting the thea
tire, WAS enj,sing the cool air and the fra
GRANGE OF Havana, Ill tue rotunda OF the 81.
Charles Hotel and conversing with friend
from the North, whom had fortunately met,
when whom should | encounter but my steam
boat friend.
After the usual greeting our conversation
turned Upon our "trip down the river, our fellow
passengers &c. when my fellow traveller remark
cd if | could like TO witness the interior OF a
gambling house nr '.hel, as it is sometimes
more appropriately called, he would be pleased
TO show il to us as one of the sights or Lions
of the city. Never having witnessed anything
of the kind, both and my fread assened; aul
after short walk found ourselves within the
precincts Of one OF those glitteriug ami gor-
seouSlv furnished blishments-vestitule,
to the Internal regions where men were enga-
ged in various games at hazard.
The interior of gambling houses has too FIRE
auently been described to need a repetitlou.-
The Faro Bank, with its crowd OF betters-th,
Rgure 1T .Ioir liable, with its anxious circle
and groups of players at other games OF whIcl
was ipnpran; of the name, were all hus.ly
engaged as we entertd. We had passed throus Ii
two apartments, and had reached third, il
which were but four players, playing IN pair,
AT different tables. As We entered We sat a
an uaocclpied table for moment, when as W.
did So We heard one of the Two men nearest u,
say TO his oppanent:
THAT'S the last dollar, luck is yours, ant
I'n ei eaned out"
"Blst you wear good ring" said his oppo
nent. sSee give you chance for revenge
I'll back my ring against yours on the mex
game. Ii's ring won at play from Ken
tu:ky boy, who came to New Orleans to see
the sights, said he careles,ly
How little dad he know those words so light
" spoken had seaied bis doc,n!
"No," said his opponent, rising. I'll meet
you to morrow night. won't pledge my jew
elry yet"
.asthe player who was sitting with his bacl
partially toward us, mentioned Kentucky in hi
conversation. sa Thorn listen with eager
ness, nni Us he tw istei the. ring be offered u
bet upon his ingcr, l saw tho Kentuekian turl
deadly pale.
His eyes glowcal like fre for an instant, the
his ceuntenaucs. as sumed its usual calm an
placid ok, anf to our amczement be rose an
walked across ths .apattmeut the player, VIII