St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1881-09-24

| Nv ~ SoA. ho yo0 lAi1h A0 10
at it now2
"I think be would have been at
home before this time. if he had
not fallen in with some Of his evil
associates.
"Then you rest here while I go
and find him. BY nay soul, I'll save
him if l cam"
But you'll come back soon?"
James stopped and thought for
moment. Il don't know" he said.
But don't you be worried No
harm shall befall Ambrose tonight.
1t was just nine o'clock as Am
brose Dearborn entered one of the
gambling saloons of the city. His
business had kept him later than
usual. and having made fifteen dol
lars in trade since dark, he had de-
termined to stake that amount upon
the altar of fortune. His wife was
right in her fears. The card table
had gained fascinating power over
him. and he had lost some heavy
sums.
But on the previous evening he
had been cursed with turn of win
ming luck and won back nearly as
much rs he had lost, and was now
on his way to continue his luck!
He meant to play an hour or so
and then go home. He went up to
the sideboard and took a glass of
wine, aud as he turned, he met Il
stranger, who had seemingly come
for the same purpose.
Good evening"" said the stran-
ger, iu pleasant tone, as he
poured out tumbler full of water
from the pitcher and drank the
same.
Ambrose returned the. salutation.
Il came to take a few moments
recreation at cards" said the stran-
ger. but [ find no friends here" :"
$50 did l." answered Ambrose,
''aud my friends are missing"
"Then suppose We take hand or
two, just to pass away the time until
the others come"
with pleasure, said Dearborn.
| And accordingly the two sat down
and were soon on the best of terms.
the cards were dealt and for
while the playing was on small
scale and the luck abont ever By
and by Ambrose began to wiz and
he went on until he had won over a
hundred dollars.
He would have felt ashamed
somewhat, had not his Antagonist
maintained such good humor, and
smiled SO kindly when he lost.
But anon the luck changed. Am
brose lost all he had won, and soon
lost over hundred dollars besides.
He had just one hundred dolla,s
more in his pnrtmonnie. and this
he took out. A new hand was dealt,
he cut the cards carefully, and he
held four jacks. Twas the best
hand by far that had been dealt out
during the game, it being the first
-four of kind" he had seen dur
ing the evening.
He bet ten dollars.
HIS antagonist covered it and
went ten hig-er.
II have an excellent hand" the
stranger said, with light laugh.
Il have held better ones but this
is good. l shall bet high on It.
| Ambrose did not speak. He was
very excited. He was afraid his
antagonist would mistrust how
good his hand was and stop bet
ting.
| But the latter went on until An
brose had placed his last fraction
OF the hundred on the table.
/ Shall l 20 higher" asked the
stranger
"As you please"
"Then I mus. say hundred. By
the trump of trumps: you shall have
chance to make pile this time
Ambrose besitated a moment,
and then he placed his hand in his
bosom and drew forth package OF
bauk notes. There were four thou
sand dollars in the whole. 1t was
a sum he had drawn from the bank
that very day. 1t was the accumu-
lation of over four years labor and
economy for the purpose of paying
for his house and store. He drew
out hundred dollar bill and COW
cred his antagonists stake. He
hesitated moment more, and then
he drew another hundred and
event that" over. The stranger
.saa..nrnd, that and umnnt FIVE hnn-