The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-10-07

dSam Ogilvie was gambler by pro
fession aud practice; but among the
planters who frequented his faro
bank (and all of those of any wealth
or standing within hundred. miles
of Selma took q turn at it when they
could) there was not one who could
entertain aoquestion ais to Sans hon
esty., In, that little white cottage;
almost hidden by the surrounding
grove, none but the fairest of faro was
dealt, none but the squarest Of poker
was bet on. When the chips were
bought and the cards cut, each one
felt that what fortune, meant t he
pack to bring him would not be in
terfered with by any manipulation Of
the cards.
But, alas! when was humanity be-
yond temptation? Adam fell, Caesar
fell, Warren fell Cat Bunker Hill)
and even Beecher is suspected. One
day Sam was tempted and he But
let me give the details.
Judge Humphrey, Colonel Swain,
old Andrews (whose plantation was
measured by the thousand acres,
and Sol. Lovett, from St. Louis, were
sitting in Oglivie's front parlor play
ing a; snug little game Of draw. All
were heavy betters when they held
the cards; but just then the cards
were running light, and SO were the
bets. Sam, who cared very little for
poker, bad sat by watching the game
rather than going in it. He held a
hand, of course; but his thoughts
we're rather on the layout in the
next room than on the cards in his
hand. Several times he had limited
at abandoning the game, but each
time the others had insisted on go.
ing on, so. Sam had politely stihed
his impatience and had kept his seat
at the table. 81, 81.
| AS the clock was telling ten, San
was called from the table, and excu
sing himself for the moment, left thu
room.a His way was through thu
back parlor where lay, the sleeping
tiger. ,GJThe table, with its layout
the case, piles Of, checks, decks 0
cards, all were ready for the players
4 AS he, glanced carelessly over them
a sudden thought seemed to fasl
through Sans brain. A sardoni
smile crept over his thin cut lips
and his long fingers played with hi
!, moustache, as il to hide the, twitch
ing lips from some, unseen observer
Advancing to the icard-bdx, wher
cards by the dozen packs, in unbrc
; ken packages, lay piled up, he busie
himself for a moment in openin
packs, breaking wrappers and assert
ing cards, then, with an expressio
of guileless innocence upon his fac,
! but with a "cold deck IMP his Slew
he returned to the poker table.
3 In a few minutes it was Sans tur
, to deal. His hand faltered as
t lifted thetcards; deuce spot flute
ed into his lap, and, in picking it u
!, a rapid movement of the long,, It'll
= fingers had exchanged the table pac
y for the .'cold deck. .la..5,s
A. grain of, remorse seemed
touch his heart when he came
o serve the cards.
: Il can't take a hand this deal, GEL
J, tlemen. ] have got to step arour
: to the hotel for moment"
: The others acquiesced and Il
: cards were dealt. A good hand, Oh
o would say, by the actions. Of the pla
i ers. There was thousand in Il
. pot and a very obstinate expressit
!, |. on the faces Of the players before tt
- drawing began.
# Then a singular circumstance W
noticed. The Judge only want
one card; one card satisfied the G.
" onel, and one card each took Love
IL and Anderson. Odd, thought ea
70 one, and wondered whether they VIC
~ trying to bite a full or flush, or w
q, : +
: hiding fours. But each glanced
~ his own hand, and calmly waited I
y issue, confident of his own and pi
" ing the others hand.
~ The cards served, Sam lit his c
~ ar and started for the hotel. If
had waited he would have seen
It. tallest betting that was ever done
a side Of that cottage. A thous'
dollars the first bet, fifteen hnnd
re- the second, two thousand the th
:ns and twenty-five hundrsd from
IN cage on Che first round. veryb
Il e. kf g.