The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-04-17

1 u. L
went on: Valeja lost, and with his usual
Indifference saw his stake thrown into the
bank. Another followed and third and
fourth. IN four coups he had lost three
thousand dollars. Still not a sign of ex-
citement or discomposure appeared upon
the handsome countenaDce of the Mexi-
can; only an officer who was standing by
him observed, that pack of thin Span
lsh cards, which he had been holding in
his hands, fell to the floor, torn completely
in half by one violent wrench.
The four high stakes, 80 boldly played
and so rapidly lost, riveted the observa-
ton OF the gamblers upon Valleja's pro-
ceedugs. Everybody crowded around
the table,and even the slight buzz Of con.
versation that had before been heard, to
tally ceased. His attention attracted b.,
this. sudden stiffness, Rafael rose from his
chair and joined his friend. A glance at
the Incl eased wealth of the bank, and the
eagerness with which all seemed to be
awaiting Valleja's movements, made him
conjecture what had occurred
"Ycu have lost" said he to the count,
"and heavily. | fear. Come, that will do
for to-day. Let us CO." t,tase af
"Pshaw !" cried the Mexican, ga mere
trife which you shall see me win back"
And then turning to the banker, who was
just commencing a deal.
"Copo," said he, "the king against the
ace" el
For the uninltiated in tho mysteries of
monte it may be necessary to state, That
by uttering these words Valleja bound
himself, ii an ace came up before king,
TO pay an equal amount to that in the
bank, as we'll as tho winnings Of those
who had backed the ace. II on the 9th
er hand, the king won, the whole capital
of the bank was his, as well as the stakes
of those who bet against him.
"Copo all rey."
There was general murmcr of aston.
lshment. The bank was the largest that
had been seen in that room since certain
memorable night, when King Ferdinand
himself, being out upon one of the noe.
turnai frolics in which he so much de-
lighted, had come up in disguise with an
officer of his household, and lost sum
that Lad greatly adyautaged the bankers
and sorely diminished the contents of his
Catholic Majesty's privy purse. There
were at least thirty thousand dollars on
the table in gold and paper, and besides
that, scarcely had the Mexican uttered
the name of the card he favored, when on
the strength of his previous ill-luck,
some of the players put down nearly half
as much against it. The two bankers
looked at each other the guardsman
shrugged his shoulders and elevated his
| eyebrows. Both movements were 50
slight as to be scarcely perceptable, but
they were, nevertheless, excellently we'll
observed and understood by his partner
the high-dried old Marquis, sitting op-
posite to him, who laid the pack of cards
upon the table, their face to the cloth
and, after placing piece of money on
them to prevent their being disturbed by
any chance puff of wind, opened his gold
box, aud took prodiglous pinch of snuff
| Having done this with much delibera-
ton, he let his hands fall upon his knees
and leane back in his chair with a coun.
nance expressive OF inexhaustible pa.
thence. The eplayers waited for nearly
minute, but then began to grow impa.
tient of the delay. AT the first question
put to the Marquis, as to its motive, ht
waived his hand towards Valleja.
II am waiting for the Tenor Condo,
said he. saf
"For me ?" replied Vallejo. "It is un
necessary.
"Thcre were about twenty Thousand
dollars in the bank" said the Marquis
leaning forward, and affecting to coun
the rouleans lying before him, sand some
eight thousand dollars staked by these
gentlemen. VIII your Senoria be pleased
TO place similar sum upon the table 2
Several of the gamblers exchanged
significant glances and half smiles. Th,
rule of the lame required the player wht
lendeavoreC TO annihilate the bank at on,
fell swoop, TO produce sum equal to tina
which he had chance of carrying of
At the same time, in society like this one
where the players were all, more or less
known to each other--all men of rank
name and fortune lit was not unusual t.
play this sort of decisive coup upon pa
role, and, if lost, the money was invaria
bly, forthcoming the same day.
Vallejo smiled bitterly.
II thought had been sufficiently know
here" said he, ito be admitted to tn
same privilege as other players. Rafael,
added he, turning to his friend and hand
ing him a key, "your fathers ten thousant
dollars have melted, but / have packe
of notes and current surities to considera
bly, more than the needful amount, in t
brass-boun box in my apartment. vii
you have the kindness to fetch them TO
me? do no: wish to interrupt my Oh
servation of the game"
with pleasure ~ replied Rafael, taking
the key, and eager to oblige his friend
: "And perhaps" continued Vallejo
smiling, and OBTAINING him as he wa
about to hasten out of the room, "per
haps you will not object to tell these gen
tlemen, that, until you return with til,
. ADl~ T,..- 80