Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-02-05
MISCELLANY.
The Myst ,rious Gambler.

The Myst lrious Gambler.
! have made several passages up the Mis-
sisSippi land Ohio rivers. and never without
seeing ON board more on less professional
gamblers. 1t is thriving business ON board
the boats, where time hangs heavily ON the
hands of the passengers, and the backlcrS
carry oft large sums of money. They usual.
~ remain on board but dav or two-lnnn
enough to have their true character cNpuScd
These gentry had become such an intolcr-
able nuisance that The captains of the boats
dld not knowingly permit one to come ON
board ;and not uutrcqucutly u brace ofblack-
legs were landed in the woods when their
professions were discovered.
During one OF my trips the boat put nm at
the mouth of the Arkansas river. and as
usual. took stroll on shore. | heard the
bell for the departure of the steamer. and
FASTENED back to the landing. As | WAS ON
my way was ovcrtakcn by Il gentleman with
II hroad-brlmmcd hat, green goggles, and
white ncck-cioth, tuggng along with n large
valiSc q
g, am rather late, am not ?" said he. as
he joined me.
True enough, sir" replied respectfully
Tor the gentleman was Clergyman, "a Meth
"diSt It'mcrant. | Supposed.
My Nalise is rather heavy. and Gnorol
| should lose the boat"
" Let me help yOu carry it, sir"
lie accepted my civil offer. and | took hold
Of the vn'i>c, which was certainly loaded We,
ry heavy Tor a Methodist pnrson. I'm few
moments W reached the steamer. and mas
Scd on board but my new acquaintance had
accomplished but half the distance, whcnthc
plank cantcd, and he was thrown into tho
river Fortunately for him, was promnt i'm
my Efforts to rescue him. and he was mmc.
diat"Iy drawn ON board with no other dctri-
ment than thorough duchimg.
My friend whrm. as | never learned his
name, shall have to call the Rev. Mr.. Coo
giles, retired to II vacant state room. IL WAS
now nearly da k and did not see him uroiu
that night
As r>unl in the evening. there was a table
in the cabin, devoted To cards: in u word
there WAS gambling without stint. No one
objected TO the practice, so lungas it was done
by professional hlacklcgS. | never PLAYED.
but / often stood by the table to observe the
progress Of the game. and study the looks of
the players, as they were asitntcd by The
Tickle changes of fortune.
While was thus wttching them. obscr.
we'd on the opposite of the table Il wrll.drcSs-
cd gentleman. who was regarding with carer
interest the plays ot lltc gamblers lIcman-
lcS'cu desire to engage i'm the place of one
who had been CLEANED"
WAS - sIIilrnI nI,rnr i ',';'' .; ''lI new conner
swept the board of all that had bccn SIakcJ
ma short time his companions hal enough
o., 1t ana Withdrew. lie had won large sum
~ ". n"mri, ana WAS evidently satisfied with
lie smoked % "n m ,Hc h. hoi,or do,, ~ =,
passengers had retired ay1 TgGN 'oa H'' nc AZ 'c
curo ,iy had been mnnilns,nj rn l'n,,, -r"Lm
and what he was Nob,dy had seen him be. w.
fore, and nobody remembered when he came
'm ~, ard ana what seemed most singular Of
War No., " ''H , 'oc Iuv 'c eNt I"y' though the
The next DIV Il," Mn. S"mTSS, S"''',S '"o 'isnV'
fast time my Methodist friend @ mnj" M h;s G''"N- AK
pcarnncc. ~
My good friend. have to thank YOU for
me , ,,s goo & services t you did me last EVENING