Omaha daily bee., 1883-03-28
The Pleasures Of Faro.

Leadville Letter.
l was told the easiest way to learn
the secrets Of the ancient game of faro
was to sit down and play against 1t for
a few hours, during which time I could
get all the practical knowledge that
was necessary. I had not been play.
Ing very long when q thin, spare. look
ing man, well mufled up, came In and
looked around without saying a word.
Although In disguise, I recognized in
him the pastor of one Of our proml-
nent churches whom I knew we'll.
Apparently astonished at finding me
In such a wicked place, he quietly
beckoned me aside and expounded
eloquently on the evil effects Of gam.
bling, showing how 1t was rapidly
leading the young men of the country
TO misery and ruin.
"Are you not aware" he said to
me, ''thst your feet are rapidly taking
hold onhell2" Ireplied that Thought
that tropical country was expunged
from the revised statues, as it were,
and that when 1 died I would be able
to prove al alibi; furthermore, an fsi
as I could learn, my feet were Just al
present taking a tight hold ON a new
pair Of boots, and l could not under
stand what possible connection there
was between leather and birthstone.
If he ventured the remark that "tht
wicked stood in slippery places" BIZ
would have me foul, or, in othe,
words, hit me with a center shot, fol
it so happened that l stood on a street
corner that morning watching q pat
Of pretty girls crossing the mudd,
street, and while engaged In that de
lighlfal occupation my feet slipped
from under me and I fell fiat on my
face. Very fortunately I had ny
Immaculate gall with me and only tn
sidewalk was hurt.
Quoth the man of cloth: "Dissipa
tion always tells, for how come thes'
gray hairs on your youthful head?
pointing to some silver CLEANS In tn,
mass of raven black hair. "There'
where you're off,"I replied, 'for the,
cropped out while the owner was en-
gagged In the ponderous and herculesr
task of trying to beat the Chicag'
wheat market"
"Do you find this to be q proftabl,
business, 'bucking the tiger, a. 20,
call lt7" he meekly inquired.
"Can't say" l answered, las this
my first trial; but when you inter
rupted me I was just $36 ahead
enough to take my watch out o
SOAK and I only began with a pinl
lozenge."
"A pink l~ozenge!" he exclaimed Il
In utter astonishment. Tell I'M
how"
"Oh," says I, 'tt wal the size of
red chip (faro cheeky, and I put
down on the ace, and before tn
dealer discovered the deception tn,
ace won and I had the bankers vel
vet to play with. Luck stage
with me until $36 was placed to m
credit"
"Do tell" he ejsculated in q will
manner.
"Besldes," I continued, II care
fully avoided the splits (two card
together J"
'eThat's right, my boy" he r.
marked; "always avoid the splits an
you will grow up into a bright an
honorable manhood. Now as long
no one knows It's me, and al / q
kinder hard up, couldn't you stall
me with a few dollars, and I'll see II
can't crush the wicked game and bel
. the myrmidons Of SATAN"
: l accommodated him, and when
: left q pleasant smile wresthed his fac
, for luck was in his favor; a pile
; "chips" was stacked up before hir
and he was ''playing the queen oper
and "coppered the king" IN the mo
: approved style Of the art.