The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-05-08

as the tickle dame deigns to smile M M
on tnem, the next plunged into the
depths OF despair as the croupier's rake
transfers the glittering Offering TO the
wrong side of the table.
See. whispered Don Jaime into nv
ear; observe that lady in black, she
with the lace mask, who places her lit
tie pile on the red double zero with
such a queenly air. That is Sonora de
Los D. Ten months since she
was the idol of her husband, who pos
sessed almost princely wealth, but the
mania seized her. She visited the Ia
bles nightly, losing enormously, giving
orders upon orders upon her husband
for the amounts, which were gladly ia
ken, Tor Don D., everybody knew,
would sacrifice his last thaco rather
than dishOnOr his name by refusing pay
ment. Her husband soon discovered
the truth and paid her debts, but there
was a stormy scene between them, 1t is
said, and two days afterward he was
found dead in the street, slain by the
stroke of a cuchillo in the hands of a
hired bravo. The truth is not known
for certain, but many believe that she
paid for the murder. Since then she
has been nightly visitor here, losing
almost constantly. The last of her
husbands property is sold, and when
that is gOne-Well, there is the suicides
grave. :"
At the next table a Californian of
swart features and sinister aspect, not
lessened by the strips of court-plaster
that diagOnally cross his face from eye
to jaw-bUne, deals monte for the "ben-
eft of the moths who futter around
the golden piles in momentary expecta-
ton of raising them first into their own
pockets; but, alas though riches have
wings, they do not fly in that direction.
The low cries "CaYalle en- la puerta p
Soto mOzo p ("Tne queen in the
gate !" ''The knave winner !'O at in
tervals announce in set phrase the pro-
gress of the game. The golden stakes
sharp, metallic click contrasting with
the soft, rapid shuttle of the cards.
But then the betting almost ceased
when man pushed himself forward
and seated himself in front of the
benches, while a servant deposited an
iron box before his master. When the
lids were thrown back a glittering mass
OF onzas appeared, causing even the i'm
perturbable dealer to start with wonder,
and glance of Joy to fit across his
face-two things that had not occurred
before within the memory of man.
The stranger played heavily, for the
bank had no limit, and in less than an
hour the banker slowly uttered Gen
tlemen, this bank is closed % The
stranger ordered his Sc want to gather
up the gold, and then scattering hand
full of ounces among the crowd, van
ished amid the confusion, by this ma
NEWER escaping probable blow from
cuchillo in the alley without.
"That man is an enigma, p" muttered
Don Jaime, with a long-drawn breath.
''This is the third time that have wit
messed the same thing each time he
broke the bank, and then vanished, Just
how nobody could tell, though have
heard that the best cuchillo in Mexico
has been hunting for him this past
month. No one knows who he is, where
he came from, nor where he lives.
Some even say that he is the-the
| devil. And here the superstitious
Spaniard devoutly crossed himself
But let him be what he may, [ wish
he would impart his secret to me %
Around the adjoining table the faro
players were gathered, where a smooth,
oily, cat-like southerner dealt, huge
bowie with an inch blade sticking in
the table before them. Shutting the
cards he placed them in a silver box,
then while waiting for the players to
make their game he said, tapping the
silver hilt of his bowie
Gentlemen, you see this? I play
on the square, and I warn you all that
the first man catch trying to confuse
the stakes will have his hand pinned to
the table ~
As no remarks followed this blunt
statement, one would infer that such
trick as &C confusing the stakes" by sud
denly shifting from a losing card the
money staked thereon was not entirely
unknown. We watched the deal nearly
out, when, improbable as it may seem,
a seedy-looking greaser" suddenly
shifted his stake, his quick eye detect
ing the losing card ere it was fairly IN
covered.
Thud went the knife swift as the
lightning's fash, true to the eye as Kit
CarsOn's long "Harkins," and the
greaser's hand was pinned to the table.
Instantly all was confusion around the
table, each man instinctively shrinking
back as the glittering blade flashed be-
fore his eyes, while, with a single sharp
yell OF pain, the greaser bent low over
the gOlden-laden table.
His pain must have been intense, for
the broad blade had penetrated through
the back of his hand, severing one or
more of the bones, fastening the palm
upon the trifing stake he had wished so
much to cover. And yet, as I stood at
the end of the table, 1 distinctly saw
the rascal slip his left hand beneath his
body and clutch handful of the gold
en- ounces from the pile of his next
neighbOr, then drop them unperceived
down his wide bootleg! The sharp
jingle of the coins he deadened by an
other shrek, and long-winded volley
OF all the curses in his vocabulary,
which would have put to the blush the
Oldest "bull-whacker" of prairie freight
days.
The dealer "politeIy cursed" the
greaser for few moments, then with
drew his bowie. wiping it upon the mans
blanket, then calmly resuming the in
terrupted game. The greaser, Swapping
up his hand, stole silently away, no
doubt thinking his wound paid for by
his adrOit clutch.
L had been watching young man, a
casual acquaintance, whom I knew was
lnlor partner In a New Orleans firm.
He was playing heavily, and kept call
ing for liquor, which the obsequious
walters promptly supplied. would
nave spoken to him, but Don Jaime re-
strained me, pointing to the cooked re
yoIver lying before the man. And I
dld not care to risk a certainly an
lnsuIt-by making an effort to draw the
young man away from the table.
Every deal seemed to go dead against
young Cleveland, and then. when but
one more turn remained in the box, he
flung large pocket-book upon the ia
BILE, muttering hoarsely:
It's neck or nothing if that loses,