Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-12-06
& Game at cards.

From Temple Bari
Major SprOtt was an lnyeteTate gamester, II
jouat gros jou. The highest stakes were power
less 10 make him finch. There were, as | have
limited, public gaming tables at AK la Chapele
IN those DAYS, and the Major looked in for two
or three hours every afternoon At kursaa. As a
rule, although a careless player. he won largely
one night he carried away 5000 Nap0leOns; on
another ne broke the bank, which was limited TO
5UOO. But il was observed he never approached
the roulette table, addieting himself always 10
the rouge ct nor or tTente Ell quaraBte-a game
which, you should know, is played with cards,
and in no way depends upon the treacherOus evo-
lutioDs Of al worry ball
After all. these attendances at the KuFsaal
were only pour sc destraire 1t was in private
that Major Sprott made his largest gains. Al
lansquenet, at picquet, at ecarte, AZ whist, at
yingt- et-un, be was unconquerable lie always
won, and that, too, by seeming the most indit-
ferent player. At loo he is said 10 have amassed
enormous sums. 1t was impossible to bring
against him the slightest accusation of foul play
but at last the grand dukes and ambassadors
whose pockets he emplied began to look with
some uneasiness upon the terribls American. He
didn't play on system. he scarcely looked at his
cards. and vet be always Won.
There was at this time at AK n dasbing ad
venturer, OF Irish extraction. whose real name
is believed to have been O'Kelly, but who called
himself the Baron de koli He had been mixed
up in the mysterious and disreputabe intrigue by
means of which the British government endeay-
ored. but unsuccessiuly, 10 release Ferdinand
OF Spain The Virgins peiticoat embrOderer)
from the clutches OF Napoleon at Bayonne. The
Baron de Kohl had come TO AK on the chance
OF something turning up in the way OF adven
ture or of ssindiing and lived from hand to
mouth like "a high melted gamester as he was.
de could not obtain admission 10 the patrcian
society in when Major Sprott was welcome
guest. but the kutssal was open 10 everybody
who had decent coat on his back, and TO the
kursasl. and to the trente ct quarante table. the
Baron de Kohl came afternoon after afternoon,
PLAYING a little when the odds were favorable
but occupying himself much more with witching
the game o; the man with the tortoise shell
spectacles.
1t CHANGED one day that. as Major Sprott was
bending across the green balze TO stake q hand
fu of NapOleons the rouge, one of the
strings which, besides the tortoise she'll, confined
the spectacles 10 bis head, became loosened, and
those appendages sid off his nose and fell on the
floor he stopped rapidly TO pick them up but
Baron de Kohl had been beforehand with him
He had placed the bee of one OF his Hessiar
boots on the gls- . and crushed them into a
hundred iragmeI l..
Maior Sprott nc had won the stake by the
way) looking extremely Disconnected, and turned
towards the irishman, as II for an apology ou
the latter coolly Whispered
- did il on purpose. You may pick up tb,
pieces and put them in your pocket, ifyou like
think I've spoiled your little game, my dar
! ling'0
Major SpTo,, angriy shrugged his shoulders
muttered something about an awkward Door,
and, pockeeing his winning, turned 10 leave tbs
room. when the Baron &c Kohl laid his hand OF
/ his wrist.
You'll just 20 on playing. my jewel" h'
shIspered-"just FOR one little hour | want {,
see how you'll get On without those cat back
birnacles Of yours II you don't. declare iha
/ I'll pick quarrel with you and blow your b.ani
oui before sunrise TO morrow"
! The Baron de Kohl looked though he coax
be a. good As bis VOID, and the msjor went OF
| playing without bis tortoise shell spectacles. tie
sraked low, ill Inc Baron whispered 10 him that
unless be put on the Napole0ns a little faster, b,
should be compelled 10 carry out his promise
At the end OF half an hour. Major Spro,t haS
| lost egh, hund Ell Na2oleons
And now" he said Familiarity. taking the ma
jors arm, well just stroll 20 the roulette room
| and see What they are doing there.
"Tush | don't want u be ruined quot
Major Spro.t I'll play 10 win. and not 10 lose
Baron Hers. come this way and we'll SETTLE
this little matter outside"
They walked into the garden Of the Kursaal
and when they had reached 8 secluded nook, IN
American said:
Il suppose you are not ovesbardened viii
worldly sOlfh. Baron ?