New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-19
California Gambler. Of tho Olden Time

California Gamblers Of tho Olden Time
The California gambler of forty wal
no vulgar rogue, or villain of the homely
stripe; he had his inspirations; it was fai
game he hunted, and he put his own life
into the chase. He had his sentiments
more or less exalted, according TO the l0ca
ton of his tables and the quality Of his
friends. The fifty cent roulette twirler or
thimble rigger OF Pacific etreet or Little
Sidney might not be 60 sublime and impOs-
ing in his definitions of honor 40 the thou
sand dOllsrsfaro dealer Of the Parker HDuse
or Ell Dorado, but he was sure to be twice
40 noisy and exacting.. "Gentlemen," he
az that-"GentleDen we play on the square;
it We doesn't play on the square difficulties
and unpleasantness and six shooters are
liable. Gentlemen, hope We are all hon.
0rable men; we'll have our little game peace
able and on the STU, r, If we can, but We will
have it anyhow, by thunder"
In the Bella Union, or the California
Exchange, aristccratically pitched on the
plaza, the style Of conversation across the
green cloth, in cases of difficulty" was
different, being more debonair, not SO
broad:
"a moment, if you please" quietly re-
inarks On almost beardless desperate, COW
ering his pile with Q firm hand, and fixing
,dAngerors eyes on the burly dealer Of monte,
whom, he addressed:
a. Yvu can stop there"
Well, sir ~
well excuse me, but think you drew
two cards."
II believe not; I'll take your pile, if You
please; the kerwaiyo takes it,"
1.-Two csrds7"
.'Y0ur money!"
And in each case the words are .accompa.
MED by quick movement. which discloses
revolver: With the appearance Of these
two new polished, curt, of brief
but sharp downright speeoh-there is a
quick but fuseless stir among the spectators
around the table. In . moment clear space
is formed in the midst of still circle of
flashing eyes, compressed lips and clenched
hands. You may count twenty deliberately
ere you hear . breath drawn or zee tt e
Sill htest movement.
"Well, sirg"
"Well"
"Your money ~
Your carCsr'
Up steps q bystander, some cool, steady
veteran. expert in the game, and versed in
the law OF difficulties man of awful
nerve, whose tymDanum, accustomed to the
crack, no pistol shot alarms.
"GentlemeD," says he, try arbitration
first"
Another quick exchange of inquiring and
ASSFoca'o 6AeASoc OSS"oDh tAO uASPutduts'
Not word, but the eyes Of each plainly
say agreed" Both throw themselves back
IN their chairs, and withdraw their hands
from the table, with the air Of men inviting
examination, and resolute to abide the re- |
suit. The veteran calls up two brothers Of |
the green cloth, competent to act as UNI
piree: and three minutes, fraught with |
mortal danger, are passed in deliberately
counting tho cards as they lie on the cloth, |
and naming them slowly-like the tolling
of a bell, or the measured pronunciation Of
a cath sentence. Except that, there has
been no noise but the simultaneous clicking
OF two pistol locks. The dealer and his
ais a ris arc seemingly strangely uncon-
oerned for the event.
"YOu are wrong, my friend" says vet
eran, mo double card was drawn here.
Mistakes will happen to the most careful
gentlemen"
From that decision there is ne appeal.
His finger on the trigger, after that, would
have cost the young fellow his life. So pis-
,Ols 20 back to their Aleeping places, hands
ire shaken across the table, drinks to the
company, at the exrense OF the ''bucker"-
ls he who plays against the bank is called,
md the game proceeds with better under
Handing.
Had the result of the examination been
'therwise, man or two would have been
killed presently.