The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-05-27
HUNTED DOWN.
A Tale of the West.


The time-a beautiful summer
night, in the year of our Lord ont
thousand eight hundred and fifty.
The scene-the social saloon of the
beautiful 6 steamer Mercury, as she
steamed swiftly down the Missouri
river. 70 9if Io lagzs
"I'll play poker with any man pres.
ent, for five, ten, fifteen, or twenty
dollars ante,' said a rough looking
customer, walking to table and
throwing q pack Of cards upon il
who'll plays' s.sl
How much ante did you say, stran-
gera asked a green specimen of hu-
manity, on the long lank and bony or
der, from his seat in the corner. His
clothing was of rough material and fit
him poorly his hat was beaver that
looked as though it had seen much
rough usage and many storms; his
forehead was high and well formed,
hishose prominent, and his eyes dark
and small. The remainder of his face
was covered with thick, coarse hair.
Five, ten, fifteen, or twenty, is what
l said,' the rough looking customer re-
piled, seating himself at the table and
running the cards through his fingers
You know how to play, snppose?'
= VAL l reckon Jim Brown knows
somethin' about keerds when his dad
drawed his last breath a playin' all
fours! The last words he sed were
right EN- up an shuttle EN- out, pard-
ner high, low, jack am the game for
us, or a busted biler! Yes stranger
the green customer concluded, "I1l
play you poker for ten dollars ante.
L can't begin any higher IAN that,
cause I'm rather scarce o. TIM
"a green one whispered the gambler
to friend, as Jim Brown seated him
self on the opposite side of the table,
AN if don't clean him out Of every
cent he's got, in less than two hours,
my name amt Joe Sparks, that's all.'
The cards were now shufied, cut
and dealt, the ante posted in the mid
die ofthe table, and the game, COM
Brown was allowed to win till he
had pulled about fifty dollars to his
side Of the table, and then his luck
suddenly turned and his opponent be-
I
gan to win itrapidly back. 1
Jingo! he exclaimed, I never had
sich luck in my life. Can't git nothin'
but deuces anasqueenss am queens is
the dnrndest unlnckiest keerds in the
whole pack. If my father was alive
an here noWy he'd say 1o me, Jim
Brown, o. Arkansas / cant own son
o. mine when he holds sich hands as
them-jingol I've lost agini -
Let's raise the ante to twenty dol |
lars, said Sparks, pulling the money
from the center of the table.
sJingo! its too muchi You'll bust
mel exclaimed Brown, half jumping
from his chair, but I'll try it, maybe
A raise in the spte'll change the luck,
Shuttle 'em up 80,
Sparks dealt the cards out, one3at
lime until each had five, and then
placed twenty dollar bill in the CEN
,er of the table. 55.@-
Jingo! exclaimed Brown. looking
1t his cards, I'll bet twenty on
ner, if ! do lose,
See your twenty-five. and go one
hundred better said Joe Sparks, with
!. smile.s I zgT HIT az7EE
See your hundred and put five
luudred on top. of it, there's ne use I
, bettin' without you bet, as dad used
@ say; Brown calculated, taking a
'oll of bills from an inside pocket, and
aging the amount he had bet on the.
able; aud then turned suddenly round
ne said TO man who had been sitting
behind him from the time the game
lad commenced: ri 7..ae7 l.
Look here, stranger, I've seed
you lookin' into my hand twice, an.
4
hen wink at this chap Tn playin'
with; an if I see you do it agin' I'll
smash you in the face, that's all !.
I'll see your five hundred and go
one thousand better said Sparks, put
ing up The money. 7 8s s
'Jingo ! you mean bettin, exclaimed
Jim Brown of Arkansas, wal, Pm still
IN I guess; I'll 80 you five thousand
betterpqola 7aa.o --asaaa.5s ..s,4gk k.v-a q
II call you, said his opponent,a lay
ng down the required amount of mon
BY in large bills. 4s.s ag M
What have you got?' asked the
sTseA one, with a s4ails. |