Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-04-13
WALHALLA, SOUTH CAROLINA


glittcring aud gorgcously furnished estnb-
vcsibulcs to the iuferna rcgious
where men are engaged in various games
of hazard.
The interior Of gambling house has
been too frequently described to need rcpe.
tition. The Faro Bank with its crowd of
bettcrs, tho Rouge ct Noir table with its
anxious circle, and groups of players at
other games of which WIS ignorant of The
name, were all busiy engaged as we Gu
tered. We had passed throuc,i. two ..y,rt--
ments, and reached 'n,rd, in which we're
but foar players, playing in pairs at differ
ent tables. rs wo cutercd we 81, down at
M unoccupicu table for momeut, when US
We d!d ~ we heard one of tho two men
...earest Us s,y to his opponent
"That's the last dollar. Luck is yours aud
mn cleaned out"
"But you wear good ring" said his
opponent. See will give you chance
FOR revenge. I'll back my ring against
yours on the next game. It's ring won
at play from kentucky boy who came to
New Orleans to see the sights" said he,
carclcssIy
How little did he know that those
words 80 tightly spoken had scaled his
doom
mo- said his oppoucut, rising. "rl
meet you Tomorrow night. won't pledge
my jcwcIry yet"
"As the player who wos sitting with his
back partially turned toward us mentioned
Kentucky 10 his conversation, SOW Thorn
listen with cagcrncss, aud as he twisted the
ring he offered to bet upon his finger, saw
the Kentuckinn turn deadly pale His
eyes glowed like fire for an lust mt, then his
ccuntenance again resumed its calm and
usual placid look--an1, to our amaznment,
he rose aud walked across the ap1rtmcnt to
the player, who had just been left by his
compnnion, coureously proposed to try u
hand or two with Lin it agreeable, if We
his friends, would excuse him for short
time. Of course we assentcd.
So did the gambler, who appeared ut
first somewhat surprised at the proposition,
but probably resolved to try his skill upon
the new conner.
The cards were dealt. and the game pro-
ccodcd. We were sufficiently near to see
that the piece Of gold which constituted the
first stake was won by our friends oppo-
nent; so, also, was The second. The third
on alternating winning aud losing, till at
last Thorn corclessiy observed:
"That's pretty ring yon offered to
bet while ngo, stranger. VIII you sell
h?"
"Wcll, as to that" said the other, otis
pretty enough and cost me cnough-for d
young fellow pledged it to me some three
years ago us a surl of note of haul,
which he promised to redeem with five
hundred dollars that nc owed mc--l dcOt
of honor, sir-but he never paid it, so [
retain the ring. M, stranger, | guess /
won't sell it"
"But the owner? Yon should have made
him pay FI7c huuor,d dollars is dear
price for such bantlc'
"Why as to that" said the player, rs he
gathered up his cards for the next haud,
che cou'dn't come to time very well. for he
paid tie d,bt o! nalurc,' as they say. the
same night, aud that cancelled my ohliga-
ton. All! the stakes mine there's al
ways luck in this ring, sir believe" said
he, as he drew the money towards him.
Suppose we try larger stake;" aud he
prepared to shuttle the cards again.
Gas you ike said Thorn.
"Wcll, what shall it he?" said his oppo.
ncnt, ;aDything from one to five hundfcd?"
and he threw bank note of that donom-
nation carelcssly, as if in brayado, upon the
table.
TO our surprise Thorn drew wallet
from his pocket, aud produced an equal
amonnt Of money. Then sweeping tic
cards which they had been using
from the table to the floor. he called for a
fresh pack, and passing them as the attcn .
dant brought them to him rapidly through
his hand, he gave them to his adversary,
remarking TO h;m MS he did so, to "mind
his deal this time" fixing upon Kim n
searching glance as he went through that
operation. The game was that known as
bluff or poker know not which; but at
any rate one op which the players bet upon
the cards they hold. Thorn and his oppo :.
ncnt having each glanced at their cards
commenced .hc game.
en- 60 you ono hundred" said Thorn,
commencing.
1.-Two hundred better than that" said his
opponent
"Anothcr hundred BETTER" continued
Thorn.
"lI IN! three hundred bcttcr!" said
the gambler, producing the notes from his
pocket book.
"Threc hundred more" said Thorn,
quietly.
The game was getting exciting to us as
spectators Three thousand dollars lay upon
tho table to be decided by tho cards held
by the players, each of whom seemed from
his bets to be confident of success, though
their countcnanccs betrayed not tho least
emotion.