The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-12-07
VOL. XXXIV.

playing before me.
Rodden, of course, had made up his
mind to plunder the young carpenter. and
it had to be done before we got TO Mem
phis. They had played in little family
party at whist and euchre for candies
and sherry cobblers, or champagne
Greene generally won, and was confident
in his luck, and a little proud of his skill.
He was fascinated also with the pretty
woman, who could wind him around her
fingers. Then he tried his hand with
Rodden alone, and won thirty dollars,
he boasted to Brown, AZ half dollar
game. 1t was Of no use to advise him.
He was as conceted as he was honest
Like many very green persons, he be
lieved himself an excellent Judge of char
acter, and as sharp as needle.
The night before we were to reach
Memphis. Rodden and Greene were play
ing and Greene was flushed with his luck
and drinking more than usual Brown
watched them till he was tired, and turn
ed in at about eleven o'clock. Then
Rodden and Greene drank more, or
stronger drinks than usual and they
played for higher stakes. 1t was the old
story-infatuation, madness, and, of
course the loss OF the last dollar Greene
had in the world. Then came another
insanity, worse than that of the drunk
ard and the gamber-the insanity of
despair. Instead of going to his berth,
he assembled to the hurricane deck
Then he took Off his coat and vest, and
wrote on a scrap of paper this just lcgi-
bic note
''To THE CAPrAIN OF THE BOAT: Rod
| den has robbed me when | was drunk of
three thousand dollars, all have in the
world. 1 am going to drown myself
| Please thank Mr. Brown for me- and tell
| him / am sorry did not hear to him.
| JOHN GREENE"
| This paper he pinned to his vest, and
then quietly jumped into the river, but
he was not born to be drowncd-not that
time anyway. There was cry from the
watch on deck of man overheard. /
sprang out of my state room with Mus
ter ..Save him. MUSTER" said |. The
dog didn't need another invitation, and
he caught him and held him up, just as
he showed you, until the steamers boat
picked them both up, and brought them
on board again. The captain came down
on Rodden but Rodden drew bowie
knife and showed fight The boat hal
touched at Memphis, and before anything
could be done he broke away and was
clear. His mother, elegant and i'm
perturbable as ever, had their baggage
TAKEN aS0Ofe. aIlI we were soon Oh our
way, like the river. and life, and all that
sort Of thing. and forgot all about the
adventure. One can't remember every
thing, as the man said when he went to
the woods to chop and forgot his AK. |
got through with my business at New
Orleans Ii was n city then, full of
wealth and beauty, lying, purple grape
in the sum- full of luscious pulp and
sweetness. Well, it is just like grape
skin now, sucked and thrown under foot
to be trodden on but well adjourn that
subject.
On the fifth day Of May l left New Or
leans to return North. Invent on board
that palace of boat, the Black Hawk.
and almost the first person |
Roddens Mother. There she was, with
the same stately presence. the same sla-
ven forehead and false front, the same
rich lace and MORE antique; to which
were now added flashing jewels and there
was the pretty little woman, with her
baby, now about a year old, and both !
dressed in the same SNOWY manner; and !
presently | saw the hard faced gambler. (
Rodden. The young mother and her ba- I
by looked pale and ill, the old mother
and her hopeful looked flushed and eager /
for prey l paid so much attention to (
those people, and thought so much of .
what they had probably been doing all I
winter in New Orleans, that L rather
neglected the other passengers; but the ,
day after we started | observed Il particu-
larly green looking individual, with light (
haxen hair, an awkward slouched hat
blue home spun pantaloons, and "a but :
ternut colored coat. which seemed to NE
both home spun and home made: he had .
old yarn gloves on. which he never re .
moved, except to put on some old leather
or kid ones l watched the gambler. for .
il had somehow transpired that this
gawky. home spun individual had been
to New Orleans with a considerable car
go of bacon and cheese. | thought of
poor Greene and his three thousand dol
lars One day / saw Rodden and the
so he called himself
together.
NO matter about my name, mister.
said he ..call me Ike I'll answer to that
till the cows come home. You can't
come it over me calling me mister. How
do know but YOU are one of them fel-
lcrs that plays poker. and allus wins 2
Il never played but three games of
poker in my life. said Rodden. ..but III
play euchre with you for the drinks
mo YOU don't Look o here, mister"
pulling down the lower eyelash. "do YOU
see anything green there -
Il see that YOU have cut your eye
teeth" said Rodden. Il wouldn't un
dertake to cheat you. if cheating was nv
trade, which, | am happy 10 say, is not"
lyon don't say Good lookn'. but
We can't come in. l shan't play for the
drinks, nor for nothin' else, L promised
Susy, when l come away, thatI would
not s,ch kaird. the hull time | was off,
an no more | won't You see, five
thousand dollars worth of bacon and
cheese wouldn't be no shakes at all 10
one o. them fellers that plays poker
That's So said Rodden. You are
wise
Yes; and that amt the hull ont, for
my moneys in the cap'n's safe, and,
what's more. it'll stay till half an hour
afore l land"
"At--?" said Rodden suggestive