The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-28


placed before you on tho slightest hint, for tie
walters at Hills have no visions of fees to dis
tract their attention and hinder thoir move
ments; and before you signify it your wishes
with Mr.. HILLS complimo,ts2 aud 1t stands.
beady and bright, ut your hand. with tho
ready bottle in the grasp OF the scrvitor behind
your chair to refill it as you zip.
Your host is q remarkable man. Ho sits ut
tho head of tho tablo, watchfu OF YOUR wants
aud OF those OF your dczon neighbors. optor-
taininE the whole company, not hall OF whom
know the other half, with quiet talk for one,
with q third, adapting himself with versatility
which mail ks hm as first class diplomat. He
Is a small man, thin. delicate in appearance
with dark hair, slight moustache shading a
mouth in which tho teeth arc somewhat ton
prominent, aud dressed with unos, entatious
elegance. His honts arc thin and wbito, his
fnce perhaps too much 20; and as no sits in
tho scat OF host, easily making it pleasant for
all about the table, gracefully receiving new
comers from his seat, OF recognizo one who
knows his'business and Ii ittel for it..
When you finish your supper Your dusky at
tendant brings cigar on salver aud Offers
You light. You make your adicux to your
eptcr'a,ncr and step into tho street again or
through tho arcbed doorway into the room
where tho game is in progress.
TIE PLAY AND THE PLAYERS.
Here YOU will find two tables. and it the
crowd is oppressive, two moro in an adjoining
private room. in full operation. Faro and
roulette are the only games, tho former being
the fayorltc with small operators, while on the
latter large sums are stnked. The presiding
genius pt the roulette table is aNsmooth, inno-
cent -lookirg youth, with n marvellous skill IN
the ends of his fingers for counting checks.
Quo un'ucky follow, after loosing Tor half an
hour on the black q i rcd, i'll desperation
ruu'cl on the caglo. q. d when he won, after
seventeen losses, this mechanical croupier
plankcd tho twenty. seven checks OH tho top of
the one stakcd, without g'anco- 10 verify the
IE nlfa fr1n hi
right. Clustered about this board-all stand
lnG, Tor there Is not room enough, to sit-you
Will see strange collection. II he old man On
the left, who continually bets tho red checks
of large value, is treasurer oil corporation
widely known. Tho rcsplendont youth next
him has just set up in business for himself,
a:d IS no longer limited by the certain lncono
which salnried position gives. Ba l-headcd,
cool and unobservant OF any about him, n
local judge OF New York City sprink'os the
chips from his rapidly diminishing pilo OH
wheel; while a willy individual opposite, who
narrowly cscap,d fat Office and one of hopor
under this administration, pinces h,s stakes
with what seems to be O careful calculations,
TIE game'is in silence, broken ouIy by the
rattle Of the ball as it flies around the circle
before popping into the red or black hole
which determines the fate OF the stakes which
hand VINE or cigars. or whiskey, Us MAY be
wished. 10 the plaSefs.s Bills 6restlitowfl across
the table tosbe exchanged tors iynry; checks; !;
ana ao Inc Gqms SSss On without stop or stay
the croupier calling the number and color ut
each pause. -
Occasionally there is bit OF excitement
The other nighta party Of Calitornians, fresh
from tho land Of gold and with ,plenty of it
in'their pockets, arrived ut the Springs and tue
frat evening made q visit to George Hills. 1t
was the first game they had struck since they
left Frisco, and :bey were correspondinsly
eager. Ono bite at o woodcock's breast, ono
sip OF wiue, and thoy left the supper for tho,
faro rable. Down went their hands into deep;
eagles of the yellow motal on king and nine
and three. Lost Down came the giitteriug
stakes again. Tho dealer examiped the coin
roulette table was deserted; the supper was
hastily left, and oil in the rooms crowded
about the table where gold was s,aked ag they
1an been uaed to see ivory. Eighteen hundred
dollars we're left behind by that party before
they went to their hotel I'm hour alter