The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-06-28

passed over to me. ..t-- ...... ...4.. -
! hesitated, but the spell was upon me,
and could not break it l piled up the
checks ninety. six of them--and ventured
them upon the knave again The HOOsier
eyed me sharply, and then ventured n
like amount on the queen, at the same
time muttering to himself that such luck
couldn't last always. Again the cards
were laid of, and to the astonishment Of
all who were watching the game, the
knave and the queen came out very near
together-the knave to the right the queen
to the left. had won-the Hoosicr had
lost. The banker had now taken in my
smaller checks, and gave me in exchange
slme worth twenty dollars each. My last
J stake had been four hundred and eighty
uohars, and my present pie WAS o1GssG-
quently nine hundred and sixty.
AIaks ii q Thousand" /" whispered the
| Hoosier.
!. kS.t.' -, !. .saSA, sO6.ndd, L two
checks to my accumulated venture.
| Again the banker b. gan to throw off
his cards. right and left. The knave came
up first to the right. had won The
queen came up the lelt-loSt. The Hoo
sicr drove his hand into his bosom, and
brought forth pocket book, from which
he took roll of bank notes.
Go yer two thousand!" he said in
hcarsc whisper; I've got that much"
My first impulse, before he had spoken,
had been to do that very thing, but now
hesitated. What had to do with him?
was not playing with him-l was not
betting against hm-my play was simply
against the banker, and his was the same.
told him as much.
No, l,O, dis SaNiG&ESe.y "Et'SsgiD
luck we're playin'. Them yer two keards
is in for it. The knavc's yonrn, aud the
queens mine. Go yer two thousands"
All that had on the table before me,
save one solitary check Of twenty dollars,
| had won; SO had little real risk to run.
1t is DONE" said; and down went
two thousand dollars on the knave.
The llooSicr placed his venture upon
the queen there were some checks and
nou,c bank notes, in all two thousand dol
lars. Ills hand quivcrcd little as he
pushed thc pile forward, and then he
turned to watch the movements of the
I banker.
The cards began to move off once more,
and this time the table was surrounded
byan eager crowd. There was something
novel in the spectacle of two men playing
against each other at faro; and it struck
me as being excessively novel. too. But
it was no doing Of mine. The Hoosirr
seemed to have a superstitions faith that
our chances were running together. How.
ever, | meant to make this one venture
farther, and then break the spell, let it be
win or lose. Right and lett, right and
left. The queen came up tirSt-to the
left! Lost! The knave came up-to the
right! | had won again! l gathered up
my gains, and then looked for the Hoo
sier; but he had gone.
Perhaps you'll try the knavc again !"
said the banker.
told him No, had played enough"
/ pushed over my checks and he gave me
the cash for them--some gold and some
bank notes-to the amount of nccsly six
thousand doliaTs.
went toSthe bar and took glass Of
wine, and then started for my boat. The
night was dark, and had long distance
to walk. looked at my watch as pass
cd through the hall, and found it to be
half an hour past midnight. began to
! think bad been fool. But there was,
and must make the best of my way to
the boa. So | started at brisk walk,
intending to strike the levee near the
mint, and then follow the course Of the
river. had gone. half mile or so, when
l heard heavy footsteps behind me. in.
or, aSed my rate Of speed. but tie SollOw-
ing footsteps still came nearer. ] hurried
on but TO no eflect-the echo behind me
was not to be outwalked. | felt for my
pistol, but had none. had not brought
it with me; l had dirk knife, aud that
was all. By-and-by the step sounded SO
near that,I turned to see who it was that
thus pursued me. At distance of only
a few yards came tall, gaunt figure,
which | at once recognized by the street
lamp. As the dull glare fell upon the OK
like form, | knew it was the Hoosier!
| would have started to run, but it was
too late. He was upon ne, and his hand
was upon my arm. would have shouted
for help, but he might have killed me to
stop my noise. would have drawn my
dirk-knife, but the show of opposition
might only have called the giants strength
down upon Inc and crush me. My in
stinct told me to be passive and wait for
the worst. We were in a lonesome spot,
with not light visible, save few street
lamps that sent their Sickly rays through
the dingy glass; and if the fellow meant
to rob me or kill me, knew not how to
help myself
Stranger" he said, his voice sounding
frightfully low and hollow, "you played
agin me tonight"
NO." replied, trying to speak plain
ly-to speak calmly was out of the ques-
tion-"l had nothing to do with you. /
was playing against the bank"
Its all the same, " he continued. "Our
luck run together, and it was you agin
me, an me agin you. 1t don't make no
odds now, I'm dead broke. amt got a
single pic. Hold on! Dye see this ="
He reached his right hand over his
shoulder, and from beneath his coat he
drew forth the largest, longest, brightest,
and most savage looking bowie-knifc |
had ever seen. My knees smote together,
and my heart leaped up to my throat.
You've got money" he went on, as
he held the cleaning weapon at hand.
You won it-won all. lost st-lost ALL
I'm dead broke, not pic. Iwant enough
to get home; paid twenty dollarMin in
clear waller gold for this yer toOthpick.
Give me hfteen dollars on it an I'll CO.
Ell ye're man, ye will not refuse that"
Mercy! What a letting down was
that Instead Of seeking my life, the
poor fellow had followed me for the pur-
pose of pawning his bowie-knife He
was acquainted with none of those he had
seen at the gaming house. and he had no
friends in the city. feared him no more.
AS spoke with him now;I l felt that he
was true.hearted man.
" II you get fifteen dollars, you will go
back to the gaming table again, /" / said.-
His answer was slow but sure.
"Fve tried TWICE. stranger; an when