The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-08-10

thinking had an easily task to accom-.
plish.
with the gay light of the next morn
ing I was up and making myself generally
useful about the premises. On meeting
Dacey he saluted me with the usual set
phrase of good morning, and then added,
1 see you are no idler, and as you are
very handy with an ak, wish you to fin
ish the job yoa are now working on and
then build me rough shed to put my
horse under in stormy weather.
'For three days I labored steadily, and
had nearly completed my task, when my
employer came to me and bantered me to
play game of cards.
Il replied that was ignorant of the
art, but if he would teach me I would,
for the sake of amusement, try to
learn.
That afternoon he faithfully endeavored
to make me Gan old gambler) understand
the game of 'seven up,' but proved poor
scholar, and several times he was about
giving up the business as being hopeless.
However, I managed to keep him in 6 ood
humor, and thus ended the first day of my
undertaking.
'Dacey was now so interested in teach
ing me the secrets of gaming. that the
next morning he could not resist the temp
tation of proposing fresh trial of our
skill.
'On this occasion, seeing, as he said, L
began to know something he offered to
lend me small sum of money so that we
could make it interesting by betting.
Il stoutly refused to do this for some
time, but the arguments of my new friend
prevailed, and yielded. Three hours
flew rapidly past, and by dint of wonder
full iuck,' as he styled it, had now quite
nice sum.
.Dacey now began to show signs of be-
wilderment at my occasional bad playing
and yet my success. He finally became
so irritated at his continued bad play,
that he refused to go on with the
game.
The cards were hardly placed to one
side before I expressed my desire to re.
turn to him his gold. Said I, 'Mr. Dacey
do take the money, for feel as though I
had stolen it from you. Ny conscience
Will not permit me to rest until you have
again your property
"No, no, my good fellow he said -
, Keep it; you came BY it fairly; 1 obtain
ed it in the same way from the mi
, ners.'
/ That evening my host was less cheer
! full than l had before seen him. He wa
> seemingly engaged in deep thought, aut
, although kept up an animated fire o
small talk, he would not join in, but instead
s chose to retire to his blankets at an earl,
, hour.
'Dacey was very restless during tn
D night, and once or twice he mutteret
r something that sounded like my name
The next morning, after giving me di
: rections as to what to do during his alb
r sence, he started away on horseback in tn
r direction of the nearest settlement. Lat
y in the afternoon he returned, but with hin
e came another man whom he introduce,
by the, name of Martin. They brough
e with them Aug of whiskey, and both mel
b pretended to be drunk.
J i at once saw what was in the wind, an,
: determined to act accordingly. Martin
s I knew from his manner, to be black leg
's and the errand that had taken Dacey fro:
q his home was to get him to come and vii
g his money back. After several drinks
d in which sparingly INDUCED, although.
> went through the motions, we commence
i chatting on various subjects, and woun
up by eating supper, which 1 had in tn
meantime prepared. The two men ha
< evidently been fasting all day, for thei
o appetites were exceedingly keen, but afte
'e time the repast was finished and tn
+. boards were cleared.
- 'Dacey lit his pipe and brought out hi
Il cards. He evidently was in his elemen
~ ~ and with boast he offered to play MAJ
~ ~ tin and me any game we choos
~ to name. The former accepted the cha
'' lenge, but refused it, at which they ez
= hibited surprise. However, at it the
~ -. went, and for about one hour they ha
~ ~ everything their own way, while remain
- ed simple spectator. Dacey now aske
r me to take his hand, for he said he mu'
=, go out and look after the riding animal
- !; I complied, after begging Martin to Owe
look my want Of skill, which he agreed t
T do. I lost every game until Dacey r
. turned; but as expected, was not a
. lowed to stop playing when he rejoine
10 10 us. My time had arrived to checkma
10 :. their schemes, and therefore when stakin
W. W. my own money I lost less frequently.
-. ~ was clear to me they were partners, an
:" ~ that Dacey was the banker. now wei
- to work with good will, and before NOR
W ing I had won nearly all of Dacey's go
49, dust. The value of this gold reached
~ ~ high figure, yet it was not SO great as
-. - had been led to imagine.
,u m 'Dacey and Martin did not suspect n
" true character until had drawn them tt
IN IN deeply into the game to withdraw. Ma
tin played desperately, but his attemp
u 60 -.