Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-08-10
I,lphtinc lIle Tlgcr.

a game of faro. In those days such op-
erations were carried on rather openly and
almost under the eyes of the authorities,
unbarred doors, so that any one could walk
in. either in the capacity of u better, or
mere spectator In the latter capacity
found myself, near midnight, when the
door of the den opened. Just as the game
began to flag, and not sound was heard
but the click Of the checks, and the rattle
Of some dishes darkey was placing on
table, in walked n tall, rawboned country
looking chap, in gray satinet coat and
coon skin cnp. He walked right up to the
only vacant place at the table, and, draw
ing from n side pocket an enormous calf
skin wallet, which looked rs if it might
contain at least thousand, in tives and
tens, addressed the dealer
Look here, Mister, Pm going to fight
this here Tiger up to the mines! Under
stand me, alters fight TO the death; that
is, until | break you or You break me
Very good. said the dealer, you are
one of the kind we like to deal for And
his eyes fairly danced at the certainly of
depicting the plethoric-looking pocket
book.
But, understand me- continued the
rough customer, there is one thing you
must first agree to, and that is, if you
break me, you must give me money
enough TO carry me home
I'll do it, said the leg
You all on You hear, gentlemen said
Rough, that have the word of an honor
able sporting man, that if he wins all the
money in this pocket book, he gives me
money enough to carry me home
yes! yes!' responded the entire party.
Here the darkey announced supper, and
the keeper of the tiger announceda a recess
for half an hour The crowd went into
the good things prepared, and Rough was
not whit behind the rest. He dived
int the vension, the oysters pie, and the
chicken fxins,' until he could eat no more
with any degree of safety to himself-not
forgetting to wash down the whole with
liberal potations of brandy.
Relreshment over, labor bade fair to
commence in right down earnest. The
dealer took OFF his coat, rolled up his
sleeves, and seated himself Rough
squared himself at the table, and again
drew the ponJerous wallet. All eyes were
now turned upon him, for spectators, pat
rons OF the establishment, and even ban
kers themselves, looked for tall game.
Rough drew from one of the pockets of the
wallet greasy and rather suspicious look
ing five dollar bill, and called for the
worth Oft in chips. After scruCinizing it
n moment, the dealer tossed it into his
drawer, and passed over stack of ten
chips to Rough. He next gave the cards
sundry scientific 'flirts, placed them in
| the box, and announced All ready!'
| Rough placed his ten chips on the ace,
and the deal went on. Some eight or
ten cards were drawn out, when an ace
came to view on the top of the box, and
the dealer Immediately put ten more chips
on top of Rough's pile. Rough let the
twen,y chips lay upon the ace, and it was
not long before another one male its ap-
pearance, but this time it fell by the side Of
! the box, and the dealer 'raked down the
entire pile. He then waited few mo-
ments in expectation that Rough would
open the pocket book again, but the indi-
vidual continued resting his chin on the
palm Of his hand, and gazing abstractedly
on the ace.
We'll" said the leg 'aint you going to
bet any more?'
Nary red-I'm broke-hat!' said
Rough.
The leg laid back in his chair, and in
a tone of the most profound astonishment
said, The deuce you are! And pledged
myselfto give you money enough to carry
you home, in case yos got broke!
! you did that same, old hoss.'
Where do You live?'
at Brownsville, up the river
What will it cost to take you there?'
'At the present stage of water, l think
| can get rp for about fourteen dollars
/ Such ashout as went up at thi 'juncture,
was never before heard within the walls
of faro room!-while with great good
humor the leg counted out the four
teen dollars.
My friend said he TO Rough, sit is not
every day one meets patron like you.
Go and help yourself to another drink of
brandy and a cigar. Whenever you come
to town again give us call. Call often
you wIlll6nd the latch-string out. wish
you a safe journey. Give my respects to
your wife and the children. Bye bye!'
Rough didn't shrink one iota from this
railery, but took the proffered drink and
cigar. 4 say said he, as he held the
door ajar, Il wish you better luck with
the next green looking customer that
comes along; but before you make such Il
bargin with him, just ascertain where he
lives, and the size his pile" and So say
ing, he disappeared amid the outlaws Of
the crowd, in which the dealer himself
heartily joined Elk. paper.
A DEARLY GOVERNED CITY.-From the
annual report of Comptroller Flagg, of
New York city, made on Thursday last,
we learn that the cost of governing that
city for the past year. was seventeen mill
ion dollars, being about twenty five dollars
for each man, woman and child within the
corporation. About one-half Of this sum
was derived from taxes, and the other hal f
from pier rents, interest on bonds, DC.
A uCi1orobla DtOpOrtiop Of tbic in,D1anca N