The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-01-11
A Scene in a California G lamb.
is' nssaels@ ,s 3s ling Saloon. .

ss,s.sr nss4s1'a 5F = ling Saloon. =
A man, tidily and respectfully dressed
Ia black frock coat and dark trowsers,
had come regularly for some, evenings
this was the seventh always at the same
time aud to the. same table,, had for
while looked on at the game, and at last
drawn q 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 table to count the
money. There were twenty-eight Span
ish dollars, upon which the banker quietly
counted ont to him the same sum, and
the gentle man walked off with his gains
Without yenturing on a second cast. =
On the second evening. he came again,
stakes as before, and lost. Quite coolly,
however without even look of discon-
sent he opened the bag, shooksit, out 1t
contained exactly the. same, sum as on the
last occasion-then rollsd it together, and
thrusting it into his pocket left the saloon,
On the third. fourth and fifth evenings the
same thing occurred. The gamblers, had
yots used to the man, and amused them
selves with his. odd ways Again he lost
and behaved exactly, as before. always
taking. the bag away with him. $ s -. - -
On the sixth evening and so exactly
had he kept his time, that the gamblers
sald, laughing to. each other: .sTt can't
be eight o'clock yet; the eight-and-.wen-
tydolIar man has not como"-he appeared
again. staked as usual, and once more lost.
! The bar keeper, who. dispensed his wines
and spirits just opposite to this table,
could not forbear laughing aloud as the
stranger shook out the money in his cool,
business like way, as if paying regular
debt for some employer rather than ganb.'
ling and throwing away his own money.
The. seventh evening came-it was q
idlI minute past eight o'clock, and one of
the gamblers said, laughing, to the other:
sWe have used him too badly, we have
frightened him away" when his comrade
pointed over his shoulder, and there was
the man in the black frock coat making
bis way to his, customary place. where
some who had happened to meet him
there before. readily made room for him.
AND where be quietly took his seat, paying
no sort Of attention 10 the whispered jokes
and, laughter around him, Uatil pre-
cisely y quarter to nine, he gravely watch-
ed the l,iay. and then brought out the
well:known linen bag, setting it upon the
= deuce, which was that moment turned up.
Two cards were drawn, without the deuce
appearing the ace fell on the left;
and on the rigbt-a scarcely perceptibe
smile played on the bapker's lips-the
'dence! The stranger turned pale as death
but without altering a word upon his
change of luck, he stretched out his hand
for bis linen bag, aud was untying it, a.
usual, to count the dollars, when th'
gambler said, laughing: ..,;.. trc
Let it be; know how much there i
in II Eight, q gsht;alld and lSS twenty Am no
4No a. said the man. quietly, and shool
out the silver upon the table, shook th
bag again, and after the silver came a rel
Of closely wrapped bank AN n notes and a fold
What is this?", cried the startle'
gamblers, and the bystanders erowded. u
full of surprise. and curiosity. ..,
ut is my stakes,n said the man, wit
seeming Indifference, and united the rib
bon that held the bank notes together.
'1ot.Holdl, That won't do exclaimed tn
gambler throwing down his cards. .Tha
Il false play. You have counted out onl
eight and twenty dollars the other even
alssis III i play Iiaa repeated the man, with
christening frown; prove il to be falls
play, Did ! not place the bag. just as
lifss there, upon that card? And did 70
psks sny objection lj Il to ldg tAlkisg it nnnopen
!, no. Il ,i9jsl is all fight, it is ali fair,
gcc.led the bystanders, always ready an
eager TO, take part against the profession
al gambler. who, they feel quite convince
do not play fairly, although they cannt
'resiist the fascination Of the gaming g-tabl
but return again and again to be cheate
oftheir money, as l,ng as they have an
to sqnander there - - s, -. !.
"He has staked and won it, and
must have it, they said. . e ss'i@ie'f-
10 sCount your money How much is it
-said the gambler, who had whispered fe
-hasty words TO his comrade. How muc
! ;isait?,e svad oia0 io siqssG sa@ .s:aamij
= sFifstly, eight-and twenty dollars in 81
iSef,fE replied, slowly and the othe
aqangbed; .then, here bank notes on
htwo, three four, Eve, six, seven, eigl
hundred dollars; and then here - ~
80 sWhat, more?' yt' i9h F'aio n7t''sas
"A small bill Of exchange upon Smi
, 81 Penneken--as good as gold, accepts
sand alt the money only needs fetching
.for three thousandf'; 'Hu1ius 9J = asss
s-eq Three ithousandH shouted the gamble
istartiHgm up from his chair. Are ye
anads tThatis altogether near four tho
5Skadl dellars.ia Ishali not pay thatl'us
ssnssShalk younotP said thestrrnger, indi
-nantIy. D dafW Wouid you not have taken