Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-07-17
Was She Il Brick 4?

packets on the river, and among
the passengers bound for Vicksbnrg
were u Georgian and his wife, who
have relatives in Mississippi,
lie was large sized, handsome
looking man, and she was plt as
ant looking little woman, with blue
eyes and short chesnut curls. One
would have said that she would
have screamed at = tilt of the boat.
He sat smoking with other gen.
tlemen after she had retired to her
state room, and the cabin was en-
ti'ely clear of ladies', when some one
proposed a game of cards. In ten
minutes after half dozen men
were shutting cards over cabin tn.
bles, and the Georgian was match.
ed against stranger to all on board.
He was quiet, courteous, we'll dress
cd man, and had been taken for O
traveller in search of health. He
was lucky with his cards, but he
did not propose playing for stakes.
1t was the nettled Georgian who
proposed it. He called himself a
champion hand at poker, and when
he found that he had met his equal
he determined to test the strangers
financial metal.
They had fifty dollars on the ia.
BILE when the captain looked into
the cabin. He caught the Gecrgi-
ans eye and gave him to understand
that his opponent was river black
leg, but the other gentlemen had
dropped their cards and crowded
around, money was up, and the in.
formation came too late. Besides
the Georgian was doing we'll enough
and he flattered himself that he
could teach the courteous black leg
a lesson.
1t was very quiet around the ta-
bic, and after the play had continu-
ed for fifteen minutes the gentlemen
spoke in whispers, and some of them
were reminded of old times on the
Mississippi, when gamblers had the
full run of every boat.
The Georgian had luck with him
from the start, and while he looked
smiling and confident, the gambler
appeared to grow excited and I'm.
easy. His money was raked across
the table until the Georgian had
5000 before him. The stakes had
been light up to this time, both lien
seeming to fear each Ot hers skill.
The Georgian proposed to increase
them, and the gambler agreed. In
ten minutes the gambler had his
5000 back. Luck had turned. The
Georgian lost $40, then $50, then
600, then $50, then 500.
The gamblers face wore a quiet
smile as the Georgian bee anne ner.
vOus. His hands trembled as he
held up the cards, and his face was
wet with moisture.
"Come, gentlemen |" said one Of
the group, ''let's have a general
hand for amusement, and then turn
in."
The Georgian looked up with
fixed glanced, and replied: III have
lost $400; he must give me a fair
show"
The play went on, the heap of
greenbacks at the gamblers right
hand grew larger. Once in a while
the Georgian won, but he lost ten
dollars for every one gained. He
finally laid down his cards, pulled a
roll of bills from a breast pocket,
and counted out $500. This was his
pile. In less than ten minutes every
dollar of it had been added to the
gamblers heap.
"Gentlemep will you smoke p
asked the gambler, as he turned
round and drew his cigar case.
They knew his true character in
spite of his disguise, and they refus.
ed.
IL am sorry for my friend,' he
continued, biting at the end Of a
cigar, "but you will agree that the
play was fair"
The Georgian had passed out on
the promenade deck. The gambler
turned to his stack of bills and was
counting them, when there was .
sharp exclamation, the sounds of q
brief Struggle, aud the little woman
with blue eyes and chestnut curls
entered the cabin. She was half
undressed, a shawl thrown over her
shoulders, and revolver in her hand.
No one had seen her leave her
staterOOm and cross the cabin. No
one knew that her husband had the
L. :: L 4 4. IL