Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1879-01-23
THE FARO FEEND.
An O'erTrue Tale of n Bout
with the Frisco Tiger--A
Startling Experience--Twen-
ty-five Hundred Dollars Re
gained at One Fell SwOOp.

ty-five Hundred Dollars Re-
gained at One Fell SwOOp.
''Let us go in here"
"What for?'
ooh, merely to look on game for
little while.'
''Well, don't mind" and we
stepped in one of San Francisco's 8
most gorgeous gambling saloons, an
institution which, in those early days
OF California, was considered as res
pectable as the best hotel or mercan-
tile establishment in the city.
Fred Martin and l had recently
come down from the mines, each
with about S., 900 IN gold dust, which
we had accumulated by whole sum-
tmer's toll. 1t was no great amount,
to be sure, but was more than we had
ever possessed betore-both being
young men-and it would seem like
quite a fortune when we should reach
ti,e east with it. While we had seen
some miners do better, we had seen
many do worse, and we had fully
made up our minds to be content
with our little fortunes, and return to
our homes ON the Atlantic slope. We
had, therefore, gone to San Francis
co to take passage on steamer that
was to leave for Panama in a few
days.
For nearly the whole amount l
possessed had already procured a
draft on New York banking house :;
but Fred, who was an eccentric young
fellow, as well as reckless and i'm
pulsive, had merely exchanged his
dust for twenty-dollar gold pieces,
which he determined to carry about
his person during our voyage. 1
told him it was quite risk, to say
nothing Of the burden, for it will be
remembered that five thousand dol
lars in gold weighs in the neighbor-
hood Of twenty pounds, but he dis
tribptea it about in small buckskin
bags among his different pockets and
in his belt, and unblushingly declar-
ed that he actually felt the lighter for
it. l told him that in case of ship
wreck he would find the gold a very
poor substitute for life-preserver.
The gambling saloon we entered
was one well known in the palmy
days of San Francisco. 1t was situat-
ed at one corner of the Plaza, the
only public square of which the EN-.
bryo city could then boast. The
. ! l.,,il Ell
rough and uncouth, but the scene
within was one of gayety and splen-
dor. The walls were fairly lined
with gigantic mirrors, costly chande-
liers depended from the ceiling, heaps
Of glittering gold lay upon tie gamb-
ling tables long rows Of decanters
and glasses caught the eye of the
thirsty miner, who was lured in by
the clangor of brass band stationed
! vi L won't, IIvT f~sh---! ,-II-----------
sented to enter this dangerous place;
but did not dream, as We sauntered
in, that he would do more than look
on awhile, as he had suggested. 1t
was about 8 O'Clock in the evening
an hour at which the gambling saloon
always presented a scene of the most
dazzling grandeur.
Fred asked me to take a glass of
wine at the barr which l did, while
he, complaining of feeling chilly,
took a rather substantial drink of
brandy. Then we strolled about
the large apartment, now and then
elbowing our way through the denser
portions of the animated crowd, and
finally stood beside large faro
table, where the betting, winning and
losing were going on at lively rate.
| observed that Fred looked on
With unusual interest, and at last
said:
"IyelI, let us move on. Suppose
we get out, and take walk on kear-
ney street,"
.s'Wait q minute" he replied.
I had not waited so long as a min
ute, however, when 1 noticed Fred's
hands move neryously towards one OF
his pockets. Divining that the ter
rible fascination of the game was be-
ginning to take hold upon him,
eagerly whispered:
ssFred, you are not going to bet2''
"Just once" he replied, somewhat
coldly; and before l had time to Of.
fer another word of remonstrance he
had drawn forth a five dollar gold
piece, and laid it on the cards.
, / could not repress cold shuddel
as saw this. Fred and 1 had been
. constant companions and very warm
friends ever since our departure from
our eastern homes, and it may wei
: he imagined that 1 experienced s
deep anxiety and dread when L saw
, him taking the first step on a road
whose end none could tell.
The FIVE dollar venture was success
+ full, and ] hoped he would not be
again.
"Come, let's go now," said, in
O low tone. so that he could barely hea
it above the noise of the band and thu
! general confusion CT voices and shut
=. fling feet.
+ Eyes, in q minute" be replied
4 with his eyes still on the queen table
i 81 don't want to act mean-win ty
q dollars, and not give them a chaac
q to win it back, or lose more"
y And he placed twenty dollars on
+ card.
He was in luck again.
"Come, now," l urged.
= "Just once MORE"
= = He now had fifty dollars in hi
y hand, and he placed it all on one care
= and-lost.
= / turned away, and he made
4 step to follow me, but touching m
:, on the shoulder, he said:
Il II "Wait just second. See here.
- / returned to his side with gre.
\ \ reluctance, and saw him place hui
dred dollars on the table. The gan
had enslaved him now, and l felt m
heart sinking. Oh, how / woul
at have liked to see some resistles
of power crush that hateful green tab
- to the earth! Fred lost his hundre
2, dollars, and down went another hun
ii dred. He lost that, and then p,
I'd down two hundred dollars, and lo