Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-12-20

In the early days Of California,
when the miners were digging ''bush-
els of money out of the gulches and
hills, Reddy & Andrews owned i'm
mensely tich diggings in Forrest City,
Sierra county. They frequently clean
ed up from $4,000 to $4,000.
When a cleanup was made one of
the partners would take the dust
down to San Francisco to the mint.
Inmaking these trips they general
ly took turns. It was their custom
to stobiover nightin Sacramento, and
take the boat the next afternoon at
O'Clock for San Francisco. When
Andrews went down to Sacramento
he frequently did battle with the
"tiger,' but Reddv's suit was poker.
Thre aces was his big hand. When
/ he had three aces lie would bet his
''bottom dollar" This was well
! known among the sports.
/ On one occasion Reddy had been
/ playing all night, with some of the
Sacramento sports, and III the morn
iEg quit $500 ahead Of the game. The
sp0rts-Charley Dawson among the
number-did not much relish his get
ting away with the coin, and conclud-
ed, 'tjast for the fun Of the thing, -
as they told Reddy, to take q little
run down the bay
The boat had not proceed far down
the river before, rs the most natural
thing in the world, Il poker game was
started. In the game were Reddy,
Foster, a hotel keeper from one of
the southern mining counties, and
Charlie Dawson and two other sports.
| A job had qeea put up to "rai,;e Il
cold deck and give Rcddy his favor
| ite hand of the three aces. The game
proceeded, and III the proper time
| Dawson raised" the deck.
The cards were dealt, and Reddy
got his three aces, Dawson three
kings. and the others indifferent hands.
In the draw Dawson got the other
king. Reddy drew two cards, but
having his three aces, he felt strong
enough to fight an army, and did not
pick up or look ut the two cards
drawn.
Betting was begun. and Foster and
the two sports that were with Dawson
dld not come in.
Having IOur kIu.,>, .,na l,,tr.z con.
fident that Rcdiy had only his three
aces. Dawson went in strong; and,
having his three aces, Reddy felt that
nothing could whip him.
The betting was red hot, and most
of the loungers about the boat were
gathered around the two men, watch
| ing the game with brcathless inter
est.
Among the loollcrs-on was ''Do-
! minrO joe" Il nervous, restless little
sport. who was Dawnson's friend
and chum. Joe was slipping back
and forth in restless way. peeping
over the shoulders of the two men ut
their cards rs often rs an opportunity
offered, his ewes sparkling with eX-
element. He felt quite confident
that the cards had been properly
'.stockcd," " yet he would have given
mitch for peep ut those Reddy had
not yet picked up.
Several Thousand dollars had al
ready been bet, and finally, Is a Stun
per. Dawson went 81, 900 better. Red
dy promptly "saw the raise and
said: II go you another 81, 900 bet
ter" Quite absent mindedly he then
picked up two cards that had all the
time been lying UNI oticed by his
side. r-.-----...
The weasel eye OF ''Domingo Joe"
detected the other ace us the. cards
were lifted, and an ashy pallor spread
over his vIsagc. 1t was as though he
had been stricken by death.
lie almost instantly recovered his
self-possession, however, and, thrust
inc both hands into his trowsers
pockets, he shcerel OF from the party,
and, carelcssly sauntering up and
down The boat, begin singing:
| And the othar tGli in, too. boys,
And the other fell in there. too"
This was enough for Dawson. The
words of Joes's pretended song came
to his ears as a death knell. He turn
ed pale, then red, threw down his
cards, and SAIL :ss Take it all, |
squeal ]"
AssRed,iy r,kedelown the whole
pile he threw glance around at the
faces of the crowd of silent specta-
tors, and sang, as though the words
of domingo Joe" had just reached
him
"And the other fell in too. boys,
And .he other fell in tn ,re, To.
Stand by your friends, let come
what may, is a good motto. If yo,
don't stand by them you needn't ex
pcct them to stand ny you. So
whether they be friends of high o.
y low degree, in afiiuence or poverty
stick to them, and don't stop. to in
{ duire whether 1t will be popular
Wherever you prove traitor and de
sert those WHO have stood up for 20
: and helped your battles, you WI
/. find yourself without any one to COZ
| ..,.,4, 40, x,o,, t,,Ann xynIIr a oh ipypmpn