Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-05-06
Se1tft Story.
HUNTED DOWN.
A TALE OF THE WEST.
By VI. SCOTT WAY,

The time-a beautiful summers night,
in the year of our LoId one thousand
eight hundred and fifty. The scene
the social saloon of the beautiful steamer
Mercury, as she steamed swiftly down the
Missouri river.
I'll play poker with any chap present,
for FIVE, ten, fifteen, or twenty dollars an
to-" said rough looking customer, walk
ing to table and throwing pack Of cards
upon it, who'll play?"
"How much did you say, stranger p
asked green specimen of humanity. on
the long, lank, and bony order, 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, his
nose 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 I
said,' the rough looking customer replied
seating himself at the table and running
the cards through his fingers, you know
how to play, l suppose
wal, reckon Jim Brown knows some
thin about keerds when his dad drawed
his last breathe playin' all tours The
last words he sed were right 'em up an
shuttle 'em out, pardner; high, low. Jack
an the game for US, or a busted bi!es'
Yes, stranger the green customer con-
cluded, I'll play you poker for ten dollars
ante. I can't begin any higher an that,
cause I'm rather scarce O tin
"A green one,' whispered the gambler
to friend, as Jim Brown seated himself
on the opposite side Of the table, and 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 shufled, cut and
dealt, the ante posted in the middle Of
the table, and the game commenced.
Brown was allowed to win until he had
pulled about fifty dollars to his side of the
table, and then the luck suddenly turned
and his opponent began to win it rapidly
back.
'Jingor he exclaimed, I never had SIGH
luck in my life. Can't git nothing but
deuces an queens. an queens is the
durndest onluckiest keerds in the whole
pack. Ifmy father was alive an here
now, ho'd say to me. Jim Brown O. Ar
kansas, l can't cwn son o mine when
he holds SIGH hands as them-jingo. I've
lost agin".
Let US raise the ante to twenty dollars,
said Sparks, pulling the money from the
centre of the table.
lingo its too much! You'll bust me |!
exclaimed Brown. half jumping from his
chair. but I'll try it, maybe-a raise in
the ante II change the luck. Shuttle 'en
up
Sparks dealt the cards out, one at .
time until each had FIVE, and then placed
q twenty dollar bill in the centre of the
table. 81
'Jingo" exclaimed Brown, looking a
his cards, I'll bet twenty-five on her, if
do losc.'
See your twenty-five, and 80 o2e hun
bred BETTER said Joe Sparks, with I
smile.
See your hundred, and put five. hun
dred on top Of it; there's no use o bet
tin without you bet. as dad used to ray ;
Brown calculated, taking roll of bill
from an inside pocket, ami laying tn
amount he had bet on the table and thel
turning suddenly round. be said to q maj
who had been sitting behind him from, tn
time tue game had commenced ys4.-s.s