Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-12-15
A HOT GOLD DECK"
BY DAN DEQUILLE.


the miners were digging "bushels of
money out of the gulches and hills, Red
dy X Andrews tom Andrews, who is
well known here and in the mining towns
of California; owned immensely rich dig
gings in Forrest City, Sierra county
They frequently cleaned up from 100000
to $4,000. When cleanup was made
one of the partners would take tho dust
down to San Francisco to the mint.
In making these trips they generally
took turns. 1t was their habit to stop
over night in Sacramento, and take the
boat the next afternoon Mt > o'clock for
San Francisco. When Andrews came
down to Sacramento he frequently did
battle with tho tiger" but Reddy's
strong suit was poker. Three aces was
his big hand. When he held three aces
he would bet his bottom dollar" This
was well known among the sports.
On one occasion Reddy had been play
ing all night with some of tho Sacrament
to sports, and in the morning quit $500
ahead Of the game. The sports Char
ley Dawson among the number-did not
much relish his getting away with the
coin, and concluded, "just for the fun of
the thing" as they told Reddy, to take II
little run down to the Bay"
The boat had not proceeded far down
the river before, as the most natural thing
in the wor'i, poker game was started.
In the game were Reddy, Foster, hotel
keeper from ono of the southern mining
counties, and Charley Dawson and two
other sports.
A job had been put up to " "raiso a
"cold deck" and give Reddy his favor
ite hand of three aces. The gamo pro-
ceeded and at the proper time Dawson
"raiscd the deck.
The cards were dealt md Reddy got
his three aces, Dawson three kings, and
tho others indifferent hands. In the
"draw " Dawson got tho other king
Reddy drew two cards, but having his
three aces he felt strong enough to fight
IN army, and did not pick up or look AT
tho two cards drawn.
Betting began, and Foster and the two
sports that wero with Dawson did not
come in. Having four kings, and being
confident that Reddy had but his three
aces, Dawson wont in strong and, hav-
ing his three aces, Reddy felt that nothing
81 81. III l hat l..
was right that he paid no attention TO the
cards gotten in the draw.
The betting was red hot, and most OF
the loungers about the boat were gather.
ed around the two men, watching the
game with breathless interest.
Among the lookers-on was " Domingo
Joe," neraous, restless little sport, who
was Dawson's friend and chum. Joe
was slipping back and forth in his rest
less way, peepng over the shoulders oI
the two men at their cards as often as al
opportunity offered, his eyes sparkling
with excitement. He felt quito confident
Q that the cards had been properly stock.
ed, yet he would have given much for Il
peep at those Rcddy had not yet picked
up.
Several thousand dollars had already
been bet, and finally, as stumper, Daw
son went q, 1000 better Reddy prompt
ly "saw the raise " and said 81 &c
you another $1,000 better" Quite ab
sentmindedly he then picked up the two
cards that had all the timo been lying
unnoticed by his sido.
The weasel eye Of" Domingo Joe " do
tectcd the other ace rs the cards were
lifted, and an ashy pallor spread over bis
visage-it was rs though he had been
stricken by death.
IIo almost instantly recovered his solf
possession, however, and, thrusting botl
han DIS into bis trowsers pockets, he steer
cd oil from the party and, carelessly
sauntering up and down the boat, begar
singing:
. " And tho other fell in, too, boys,
And the other foil in thero too"
This was enough for Dawson. The
E words of Joo's pretended song came t,
= his ears rs u death knell. lie turned pale
then red, threw down his hards aud said
"Take it all, | squoal !"
As Ready raked down tho whole pile
e be threw glance around at the faces o.
the crowd of silent spectators and sang
as though ;no words Of " Domingo Joo
had just reached his ears
" And the other foil in. too, boys,
And tho other fell in there, too :"
- Vr0nia, (Nev.) Enterprise.