Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-04-04


evidently has two chances out OF three"
"There, there % whispered the gentle
man, and l turned about. The Rogers
attention was 40 rlveted upon Us that
he did not see gentleman on the oppo-
site edge OF tho semi circle, slyly lift a
cup, reveal the bali, and Immediately re-
cover 1t. In briefer space than this
paragraph can be read, the friend OF the
loser wagered two pounds on that cup,
aud gained like sum. This so assured
him that he tried it again with a single
pound, losing-snd again, winning-his
funds in the end being exhausted
Meanwhile the sly trick of lifting the
cup was successfully repeated on the
right and left OF the Bigger, according
as his attention was attracted by
growing and absorbing interest in the
game. | am fearful that this fraud
against fraud was not unreservedly con-
demned in my consideration OF the case.
II will stake this lever watch against
a pound" said the loser, with all the
earnestness of desperation.
81 will play for nothing but money,
coolly answered the Bigger.
~ have bill of exchange for thirty
pounds; will stake it against ten"
said the loser, vehemently-for he had
seen the little ball on the board, after a
sly lifting OF the cup as before.
81 will play for nothing but ready
money" replied the Bigger.
"Will any gentleman loan me ten
pounds on this bill of exchange 2" said
the agitated loser. No one responded.
please, sir, loan me five pounds-three
pounds-two pounds" he continued, ad-
dressing himself to me-the sum dimin-
ishing as ! slowly but decidedly shook
my head.
"You shall have this watch as secur-
| ity," he persisted, lpressing it on my
hand, as l stood with folded arms sur
veying him sorrowfully. Indeed, sir, |
must win back my friends money, and
my own. De loan me two pounds; this
time I am SIRE to win" He had seen
the little ball, and SO had l.
mo, sir" was my reply, II never
gamble, even for the value of pin, and
| will not connive a. gambling in any
way. would not wager a pound on
that board against a thousand, although
certain OF winning"
"Do you know which cup the ball Is
under 2" asked the Rigger
eyes, I do" replied.
"Then why don't you stake pound
or two, and win ?" said he.
Because, sir, lam opposed to gambling
on principle"
"Perhaps the gentleman has no money,
and therefore has no means Of winning
a pound or two," reioiued the Bigger,
sarcastically.
81 am opposed TO gambling, sir, on
principle" said l, 'and would not bet a
penny on your board were Stirling Cas-
tie to balance it in the result"
perhaps the gentleman is poor. L
was once poor myself 1t is no sin to be
poor" resumed the Bigger, "or perhaps
the money he has isn't his own"
This speech and its insulting tone
greatly excited the two losers, and they
broke ont upon the gamester in terms OF
stern and terrible invective. 1t seemed
as if they needed little additional ag-
gravation to pitch him headlong over
the precipiCe.
"Take it coolly, gentlemen" said l.
"Do not speak after that fashion. Gam
bling-swindling is the mans business
Let him speak of me as he lists. He has
no conception of what acting from prln'
ciple means. beseech you, do not bet
any more" I continued, as the Riggel
re-arranged his cups.
DO y0u know which cup the little
ball is under ?" said he, looking toward
me with his basilisk eyes.
eyes do" replied, for at that mo-
ment the sly trick of lifting one Of The
cups was repeated by the gentleman or
the extreme left of the semi-circle.
"Then why don't you put down 8
pound-ten pounds-ffty pounds-any
sum you please--if, indeed, you have any
cash about you" resumed the Bigger, II
his bantering tone.
'T should certainly win it, replied
"but it would be the devils money, and
I would not touch it If 1t were multi
piled thousand fold
"The gentleman is eXcusable because
he has no money" persisted the Rigger
eff any other gentleman is more tortu
nate, he has a chance to win a pound o.
, two,"-sgain shifting the cups, one 0
which was Immediately lifted slyly b,
, the first loser, who stood on the extrem
| right.
40, d. sir, do loan we two pounds OF
this watch it is an excellent lever, TO
I which 1 paid gsix guineas,' entreateC
loser No. 2, addressing me, l shook NJ.
head, whereupon he addressed my wife
' "rlease, madam entreat your HUSBAND
!. to lend me two pounds "
@ Gwen If DESTROYS Of success, SHOULD
e not succeed, she replied. "He has SAT-
no, and ia vain you ask him. Please
{ sir, desist from this terrible thing" sh
# continued, greatly excited by both alarr
f and sympathy.
!. Nevertheless, he persisted in his en-
|. treaty. ~ sm sure Of success this time
i and l pledge you my honor that vii
Y stop as soon as win back what hav
/. lost"
K ~ will wager pound" simultsne
ously exclaimed Nos. and of tn
{ group, as they saw No. S reveal the littI
|, ball by lifting the cup that covered 1t.
v They won their wager. The trial wa
s several times repeated with an advers