The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-12-31

A SOUTHERN LAWYER TAKEN ron (
QouETayAAN. mr.. Cslhonn Rlsnks ef
Columbia, y. O., came to New York q
few days sgo aud put up % the United
States Hotel. On Monday evening, he
started togo TO MI. DaIy's new theatre.
On passing through Fulton street, on
his way, he met avery nice-looking gem
tleman, who, after momeat's hesita-
tion. advanced. with outstretohed hand,
aud said: "Wby, Mr.. Blank, how do you
do? How are the folks in Columbia?"
"How do you do. sir?" replied Mr..
Blank. "but you must excuse me for
not calling your namo-I do not remem.
ber ycu." "Why, don't you remember
Harry Stevens? In the telegraph Office.
you know. How are Howard aud Gath
cArt?"
Now. it NO happened thnt during III.
war. AIR. Blauk had been in the Tele.
graph Bureau, and ho thought he might
have met the gcDtlemun before, esre-
cially as the names be mentioned were
those 0f two gentlemen we'll kunwu in
Columbia. So Mr.. Blank told him
where he was going, aud the gentleman
was go we'll pleased ut meeting his old
friend that he must needs 20 with him,
and so they went up Broadway toge-
ther. When they arrived in the neigh.
borhood Of the st. Nicholas. Mr. Ste
vens remembered that he hn,i a lottery
tick. in his pocket which hud won
prizs. III You will DO kind enough TO
wait for me-" said he, II will rejoin you
in minute" ''Don't be long" said
Mr.. Blank. "for it is cold out here. :"
"Come up with me. then." said Ste
vens. aud Mr. Blank went up. They
entered III elegantly furnished room, in
which there was large table, with hi
open newspaper lying on it. They
found four or five elegantly dressed
men. with dyed moustachcs, ionnging
around. and one particularly villniuous-
looking fellow sitting at the table.
Stevens presented his ticket, aud WAS
told his number had drawn SlOl, which
sum the Misunderstanding gentleman
counted out to him, less one doI!nr, for
which he was given red card. 'rhis
card you can play here il you choose, I"
enld the man, removing the newspaper
aud discovering sort Of u checker
board, with numbers painted ou the
squares. ''Iou put your card Oh any
one Of these numbers and throw the
dice. Ii the number you throw, added
! to the number you have chosen, equals
any one of these marked with q star,
that will he the amount you will win"
Mr.. Stevens tried his Inck, and won
80 and two rcd car,iS, rud was tht re-
fore. entitled to two nore throws. He
threw again and won; again, aud lost.
He then gave M. Blank two OF his
car'ls. and nsked him to throw for him,
ell of which he did, with varying sue.
cess. but MIR. Blank played cautiously,
for he did not understand tho game.
Stevens, on the contrary, rushed bIindly
on to his fate, and within very fev.
moments lost nearly all he had. He
turned to Mr.. Blank for consolation, but
he was almost as badly off as he Was
himself. He had no money and only
two cards. one of which was not ayail-
able, as 1t WAS sin chanoery." Mr..
Blank did not know how this extraordi.
nary state Of things had been brought
about. and every time he tried to in-
qulrc into il. he Was met by su many
explanations on the part OF the other
gentlemen present, that he was com.
pletely mystiiied. However, he under.
stood that being 'in ohsncery" meant
that the dealer was not entitled to take
his card. and was compelled to put up
~ ON the snme number, aud that he,
(Mr. Blank by putting up 80 more,
could have the privilege of throwing for
it. Stevens urged Blank to put up.
Blank declined. Stevens grew reckless
and drew on his reserve. He threw.
Again in chapoory. Another throw. In
chaucery still, with $50 in the pot, aud
Stevens had 10 more money to put up.
With gronn of despair. he ackuow
ledge,l be was "broke." Would not his
friend. MIR. Blank. put up and win the
money? Lets 80 to the theatre" said
AIR. Blink, very decidedly; Il never
play ut IA game don't understand"
More explanations from thu other
gentlemen. Mr.. Blank was determined.
"Fako drink before you GO, gentle
men. said the proprietor.
Il never drink" said Mr.. Blank.
Tho despairing Stevens and the ,m.
perturbuble Blank were oucs more in
Broadwny.
Il haven't got cent in my pocket"
said Stevens.
IA very bad fix to be ill.," said Blank.
II can't 60 to the theatre or any where
else without money" sighed Stevens.
Very true. replied Blank.
they walked up Broadway.
''Mr. Stevens" said Mr.. Blank,