The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1871-12-12
California Incident in Is4s.

camp, with customary propriety, mad
dubbed him thus, because he was so
slim. On the same principle, his
awkwardness soon gave him notorlety.
Nor this only; IKE One-eyed Tom,
oplndles had made one OF the happlest
hits OF the day. Young, passionate,
elated beyond degree with the splendor
OF his prospects, 1t was no surprise
that he should court the favor OF the
pale-faced gamblers, who were the
aristocrats OF the camp, 1t was no
wonder that they should discover his
weakness and determine to salt" him.
Play No, no; Spindle did not play
he only came in tc watch the game it
was tiresome, sitting there in the tent,
alone. "Trv it; double your stake on
full" said a pleasant-faced fellow,
who was just raking in hundred slugs
or more. Spindle was inclined to listen.
"rell you what you do" said the gam.
Bier counting; "go me halves for an
hour, and see how you come out"
Spindle did so. At the end of the
hour he had won stake" Of several
thousand dollars. Spindle was fasci
mated. II will double this tomorrow
night" said he mentally, as he left the
gamblers tent. lie doubled it. "This
must be tripled," said Spindle, as he
sought the tent again, two nights after.
ward. 1t was tripled. Spindle means
to break, or be broken" sail the by
staDders, one night, about week after
his original venture. Look at the
dust he is betting" He is, indeed,
betting heavily. The rattlesnake has
charmed him. Bet after bet, till the
winnings Of the week have left him,
bet after bet, till its earnings are also
gone-till the last Slug is up, he has
but simple "sight" for it. Woe to
him, for he wins The tide is flooding
again, and Spindle is even. Safe,
SAFE" he remarks, betting a hundred
"slugs" as ''blind," on the strength
of his confidence. One by one the
cards go round to the players. Spiudle
does not look ut his, but gathers them
under his hand on the table. 81 see
your blind. and go you hundred
better" 1t was "Eagle-nose" who
spoke-"Eagle nose, the lucky" Spin
die looks at his cards. He has first
class hand-,four queens and king;
four aces only Will beat him. Eagle
nose can have but three of these, for
he saw one OF them on the bottom of
the pack, as the gambler laid the cards
on the table; the gambler meant thai
he should see it. 81 see your bet, and
raise you hundred better" respond
ed Spindle. Eagle-nose is uncertain.
He looks wisttully at the gold, furitivo-
ly at his antagonist, ard very careful
y at the cards in his hand. "He waits,
he weakens," says Spindle to himself.
81 thought he was 'blutfing.'" Spindle
does not see the smile on the face of
the by2tander back of the gambler, or
he would think differently. Rising
from the rough stcol on which he sits,
Eagle nose steps back in the tent, and
opens strong wooden chest. Two
bags of dust are taken from it, aud
the gambler staggers under the heavy
load, as he brings it toward the table.
Spindle sees $4,000 mark on each
of them. "Bet you them ere things"
says Eagle.mose, as he laws the two
bags with the other gold. 1t is now
SpindIe's turn to hesitate. Can it be
that he has the other ace? No, he will
not think 1t; but what shall he do {?
He has not money enough on hand to
"call" him. He does not wish to do
this; il would be cewardly. "Ha p
says Spindle, 81 have it now; will bet
my claim and the few thousand have
left, against his pile, if it only be large
enough" This TO himself Then to
Eaglenose, whats your pile ?"
There are five more bags in the chest"
said the gambler, quietly "what do
you do 2" "Bet my claim against your
pile" said Spindle, intensely excited.
The bet was taken. Spindle threw his
cards the table, with a half paralyzed
motion, and face whiter than the
tent above him-four qneens and a
king. Eagle.nose FLED his off. one by
one-three aces, "a king,and an ace. Not
a word was said by either. SDindle