The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-01
How the Gambler was Out.
e. ~ witted. at

How the Gambler was Out
witted. amt.e
A nan, tidily and respectfully dressed in
a black frock coat and dark trowsers, had
come regularly for some evenings-this was
the seventh--always at the same time and
to the same table had for a while looked
on at the game, and at last drew linen bag
out of his breast pocket, and staked it on a
card. On the first evening the card had
won and he shook the bag out upon the ta-
bic to count out the money There were
twenty eight Spanish dollars, upon which
the banker quietly counted out to him the
same sum, and the gentleman walked OF
with his gains without venturing second
cast
On the second evening he came again,
4 AtA-.a'A- /, ,--4l l-r--.-.---s-s-=sz-.z1a
however, without even look of discomfort,
he opened the bag, shook it QUIT contained
exactly the sum as on the last occasion
then rolled it together and thrusting it into
his pocket left the saloon. On the third,
fourth and fifth evenings the same thing oc-
Cured. The gamblers got used to the man,
and amused themselves with his odd ways
Again he lost, and behaved exactly as before,
always taking the bag away with him.
On the sixth eyening--and so exactly had
he kept his time, that the gamblers said
laughing to each other: ''It can't be eigh,
o'clock yet; the eight and twenty dollar
man is not come-he appeared again, staked
as usual, and once more lost. The barkeepel
who dispensed his wines and spirits just op.
Iposite to this table, could not forbear laugh
ing alond as the stranger shook out thc
money in his business-like way, as if paving
a regular deUJ IUr souIs eIHi1yyrr, Iag11vi
than gambling and throwing away his mon
ey. ....
The seventh evening came--it was full
minute plst eight o'clock, aud one of the
gamblers said, laughing to the other: 1--WE
used him too badly, we have frightened hin
away" ;" when his comrads pointed over his
shoulder, and there was the man in the frock
coat making his way to his customary place
where some who had happened to meet him
there before readily made room for him
and where he quietly took his seat, payiEe
no sort of attention to the whispering joke;
and laughter around him. Until precisely {
E quarter to nine, ne graveiy watched the play
, and then brought out the wel-known linel
bag, setting it upon the duce, which was a
that moment turned up. Two cards wer
/ drawn, without the duce appearing-nov
the ace fell on the left; and on the right
E scarcely preciptible smile played on the ban
E ker's lips--the duce /! The stranger turne,
, as pale as death but without uttering
word upon his cha ige of luck, he stretche,
: out his hand for the linen bag. and was un
tying it. as usual, to count the dollars, whe
i the gambler said, laughing
! "Let i, be know how much there is il
I it. Eight and twenty. Am not right? !?
!. "No," said the man quietly, and shoe
, out the silver upon the table, shook the ba
a again, and after the silver came roll {
4 closely wrapped bank notes and folde
! paper.
''What is this ~ cried the strtled gan
blers, and the bystanders crowded up full {
surprise and curiosity.
: 1T is my stake" said the man with seen
= ing indifference, and united the ribbon thu
! held the bank notes together.
a "Hold That won't do" exclaimed tn
/ gambler, throwing down his cards. "Ths
6 is false play. You have counted out onl
! eight and twenty dollars on the other ever
s ings."
"False play p repeated the man, with
\ threatening frown. Prove it to be falls
r play. Did not place the bag just as it lie
/ there, upon the card And did you max
g any objection to taking it unopened ?''
'No, no. 1t is all right, it is all fair,
. cried the bystanders, always ready and eag'
! to take part against the professional gan
!. blers, who, they felt quite convinced, do nj
{ play fairly, although they cannot resist ii
!. fascination of the gambling table, but retur
!. again and again to be cheated of their none,
: as long as they have any to squander ther
'He has staked and won it, and he mu
have it," they said.
"Count your money. How much is it!
said the gambler, who had whispered fe
hasty words to his comrade. "How muc
is it?"
Firstly, eight and twenty dollars in 81
re YER" he replied slowly, and the othe
p laughed "then here in bank notes-on
two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight hui
ofl dred dollars; and then, here"
!, "What more ?"
" "A small bill of exchange upon Smith
a Penekin-as good as gold, accepted and a
the money only needs fetching -for tlr
8, thousand sffa sa f'ot
d, "Three thousand r shouted the gambl'
8. starting up from his chair. Are you mak