Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-12-08
The Storp Teller.
ADVENTURE IN A GAMING HOUSE.


1t was in the Spring of 1S- that founo
myself gliding upon the waters of the mighty
Mississippi, and bound for the Crescent City
New Orleans.
With a single exception, had formed nc
travelling acquaintances on board the boat
although l had been nearly two days upon
my Journey, which was becoming somewhat
monotonous The individual with whom l.
singularly enough, fraternized, seemed, like
myself to have but little inclination to ex'
tend his acquaintance among the passengers
though he seemed to be constantly upon the
lookout for some one, and from the close
manner in which he regarded the operations
of two or three individuals, whose profuse
display of vest chains and jewelry, and pro-
fciency. with cards at the tables in the saloon
betrayed their profession, | more than once
set him down as some sort Of a police detec'
tive in disguise.
He called himself George Thorn, Of Ken.
lucky; so his card read, which he gave me
in exchange for mine. In truth he was a
noble specimen of the Blue Grass State
Full six feet in height, clear intelligent
blue eye, broad forehead, and light curly hair
muscular arms, and the chest of Hercules
he challenged the admiration of more than
one of the passengers, as, with his serious
and never smiling face, he paced the prone
made deck, or sat apparently buried in thought
in the saloon.
"Do you never play at cards" said I to
him, as he left a group that were standing
about a table of four players, and noting
the progress of the game. had frequently
seen him invited, but he invariably, like my
self, refused to participate in the game.
"Oh! yes," said he; "but where is the use
of playing here. Those fellows (nodding to.
wards the players) can tell every card in the
pack by the backs, and they are trying hard
to pluck some poor pigeon from among the
passengers, but with Indifferent success. Be-
ware of them, SIR"
I thanked him for his friendly warning
and at the same time expressed my astonsh'
ment at his affirmation. To convince me Of
the truth of it, he called the steward of the
boat, and ordered him to bring fresh pack
of cards, which were brought, and he handed
the pack to me, bidding me to shuttle them
/ did so, when he Immediately selected near.
ly every ace and king from the pack without
looking at the face of them. Next he dealt
them in two parcels, one to me and one to
himself, when, upon examination, [ found
that the cards of real value in the game
were in his hand, and could not detect the
least unfairness as he dealt them.
"You see," said he, smilingly, at my look
of astonishment, "the advantage an expert in
these matters has over even skillful player
II do, indeed" I replied, astonished at my
fellow travellers dexterity, anc beginning to
think he might be a reformed gambler, OF
"playing possum" for some purpose or other
but, as he did not urge or even invite me to
play, nor had played with any one else, and
threw the cards aside with an expression oi
disgust too natural to be assumed, came to
the conclusion that my suspicious were un
just, and my travelling acquaintance was q
riddle yet to be solved.
Early the next morning the boat arrived
at New Orleans, and, amid the hurry and
hustle of debarkation, lost my friend the
Kentuckian, not even seeing him to bid adieu
That same evening, however, after visiting
the theatre, I was enjoying the cool air and q
fragrant Havana, in the rotunda of the St.
Charles Hotel, and conversing with friend
from the North, whom had fortunately met
when whom should I encounter but my
steamboat acquaintance?
After the usual greeting, our conversation
turned upon our trip down the river, our fel'
low passengers, &C., when my fellow traveller
remarked that if would like to witness the
interior of gambling house, or "hell," as
it is sometimes more appropriately called, he
would be pleased to show it to US as one Of
the sights or "lions" of the city. Never hav'
ing witnessed anything of the kind, both
and my friend assented, and after short
walk, found ourselves within the precincts o
one of those glittering and gorgeously fur
nished establishments -yestibules to the infer
nal regions-where men are engaged in va
rious games of hazard.
The interior of gambling house has beer
too frequently described to need repetition
The Faro Bank with its crowd of betters, th'
Rouqe ct Noir table with its anx ious circle, anC
groups of players at other games of which
was ignorant Of the name, were all busily en-
gagged as we entered. We had passed through
two apartments, and reached a third, in which
were but four players, playing in pairs at dit
ferent tables. AS we entered, we sat down
an unoccupied table for moment, when a
we did so, we heard one of the Two men near
est US say to his opponent
"That's the last dollar. Luck is yours, ant
I'm cleaned out"
"But you wear a good ring" said his oppo
nent "See will give you a chance for re
venge. I'll back my ring against yours OF
the next game. It's ring won at pla.
from Kentucky boy that came to New Or
leans to see the sights" said he carelessly
How little did he know that those words 81
lightly spoken. had sealed his doom.
"NoT said his opponent, rising "Ill NEE
you tomorrow night. | wort pledge IN.