The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-07-03
The Faro Dealers Story.

About the games morality.
think that's neither here nor there:
| think its much like other games,
When deal. upon the square.
II men haze cash and want u play.
The. law won't hinder them bit:
Ia time they learn it doesn't pay,
And then they sometimes quit.
I've dealt the game for twenty years;
I've left it now: didn't fail;
sickencd at one sight saw
And thereby hangs a tale.
Some three years since | ran game -
4 hishtoned one-dcsd on the square;
If I'm not wrong you know the place:
think I've seen you there.
Well. sir. ran a thriving game.
And dealt for half the Hoods in town,
I've had as much as five lay outs,
And no chance TO sit down.
One evening young chap strolled in
Fair hair. blue eyes and fair cut face,
So fresh that you could see he WAS
A stranger to the place.
He was at home though. for saw
IL his blue eyes the love Of play,
Aud after that first evenings deal
H. scarcely missed a day.
lie played his pile right up and up.
And never growie if luck WAS hard;
He'd stack the limit up III blue
On every second card.
His luck was bad; sometimes the worst
ever saw-and I've seen lots.
I've known him in a single deal
Lose seven double shots.
Business tor me. OF course, ana yet
Sometimes 1t seemed almost too bad
OF course | couldn't say a word,
Eut still liked the lad,
He'd lots of cash though; l should
He must have dropped since that first
day
A hundred thousand. first and last,
Dtiofe ne gave UP Pt1J
v. both quit gambling the saline night;
He, poor boy. for sufficient cause.
Aud | because loathed the game;
Aud this Is how it was;
lie didn't have much coin along.
/ IL gave out in q deal or two;
SO he put up diamond ring,
T. zee his Ill luck through
! The chips soon went; he had pin
/ A flaming stone iii msssive gold;
Without a word lie passed it IN
+ Aud drew five hundred cold.
SO help me God. wished him luck.
A did each player in the place;
But. DO: his last stack came my way
Upon losing ace
lie passed me in his watch and chain.
Aud drew, l think. three hundred
more
And tried his line of bets again
The luck was as before.
My God never shall forge.
The pale drawn look upon his face
But still he never spoke word
And never left his place.
His hand lay where his chips had been,
Aud moved at times as if To bet
A thin, worn circlet Of dull gold
Was on the finger yet.
II caught his eye At last he stopped,
Aad looking At it little space,
And dark wave Of crimson blood
Passed ho,ly DER his face
And then he drew it off, i. came
Reluctantly. this worn old ring:
For closer than the flashing gem
This circlet seemed To cling
He hauded II across to me;
Il don't know what its value is.
Bat Iii redeem it first Of oil
What can have on thisf"
| took the ring it might have cost
Five dollars; it was W, rthless then;
But | passed out fifty stack
T. let him ty again.
He planked the pile down in the pot,
lbfh low upon TIC tan.c laiu
Ills face upon his folded arms.
AID 50 that deal was played.
Well. the luck changed he won three
times
told him when the limit barred
He took no notice. SO We played
Two fifty on each card
Would you believe it !: In that deal
The spot won out and never lost;
And's,il the winner hid his face
Upon has two arms crossed.
The deal was out; l shook him up;
He did not move. raised his heal;
Aud there among his piled up gains,
The boy WAS sitting dead.
I've a.ten wondered 10 myself
What thoughts were fitting through
his mind
When he bent down his fair young face
Ard hid x from mankind
Via, pledge. Of better llfe.
Regrets for fortnne spent III vain
And loathug of his bysone course
Were hosming IN b's brain.
We cauuo, know, /. i - well;
Sach lssnEs we gdess A.. de- not feel,