, 1884-04-05
SANDY TAKES A TAP.

The speakers were Gerard c., of
Mobile, and the writer; the time, last
August, and the place, the coffee"
saloon at the Hot Springs, where in
addition to the other attractions, a
"mOnte" game was gong on. Its
exponent was ashort, stout Mexican,
with a skin colOred like the rind of a
railway refreshment room ham and
about as greasy. He was forever
smoking little short stubs Of cigar
cites, all the smoke of which he
somehow swallowed without its
seeming to impair his digestion, as
he munched a sandwich between the
pufis. His handkerchief was thrown
acrCss his knees, and he 5,eafJ in hA
shirt-sleeves from very thin and
strange-looking pack Of Spanish
cards, as ours are too thick for the
purpose. These he held face upward
and pulled them off the pack one at
time, without exposing even so
much as the edge Of the card below
the one in sight No chips were
used. The silver dollars were tempt
ingly displayed in a wooden rack.
The Mexican flaunted his wealth in
vain, as the few lOungcrs around his
table seemed to be looking on out Of
mere idle curiosity. Now and then
some flung down a quarter. If they
won they pocketed the stakes and
did not play second time. If fhcy
lost they trust their hands in their
pockets and sauntcred over to the
more cOngenial excitement Of faro.
4 couple Of those Cossacks Of theRio
Grandc, otherwise cowboys, strolled
over to the stud poker game, with
the pleasant remark: "D-n them
greasers, anyhow"
"Still this was the great California
game in 49," said G.. 81 have seen
manya big stake made or lost at it,"
"What was the biggest single bet
you ever saw made?"
"SiXtcen thousand dollars. I'll
tell you how it happened. There
was a little gambler in Frisco who
used to deal it; Sandy Jackson was
his name. lie came, # Pm not mis-
taken, from somewhere in New En-
gland. George Walton, the banker,
wandered into his place 4 little full
one night and after looking around
rather unsteldily fora moment, laid
his hand on Slndy's shoulder and
said:
Sandy, how much in the bank
to-night?p
"The other players turned to look
ut the newcomers handsome, intel
ligent hut rather dissipatcd-looking
face. Sandy took stock Of his pile.
1t had been lucky night for him.
~ thousand ounces he replied
(sIG,O0O)
"'WiIl you take a tap, Sandy"
asked the banker.
"Sandy seemed to study fora mo-
mcnt. lie was evidently a little
staggered at the reckless proposition.
The lights shonc full on his peaked,
Old-manish features (hc WAS barely
turned Of twenty,) countless freck-
les, sandy hair and little twinkling
fcrrcts eyes. lie fixed his guzc on
hc.windOw so innOccntly that his
eyes seemed to pierce the panes and
the darkness beyond to seek some
far-away object; his hands opened
and shut neryOusly. Suddenly the
lines about his mouth tightcncd; he
leaned back in his chair, and turn
ing his face TO look up at Walton ut
tered the one word, Yes
"Thc banker seemed q little sur
prised; he evidently did not think
his offer would be accepted. Still he
was too proud and too game a man
to weaken now. SO he walked over
to a side table, and drawing a blank
cheque from his pocket-bOok, filled
it for the amount named, scribbled
his name at the bottom and tossed it
over to Sandy with the remark:
Is that all right?
"Sandy glanced at it, All right,
/ guess he muttered. Does it go"
"Thc banker nodded. The gamb-
lcrs at the other tables stopped play
ing and clustered around this one to
see the result. In Monte the first
card shown is for the dealer, the sec
Ond for the player, Sandy turned
up twO-the first was a queen the
second a nine. Whichever came
first now would win. Sandy placed
them next each other a few inches
apart. The room was as still us
death.
"Sandy gave a quick glance around
the gallery and then began to pull
away the cards one by one. He was
as white ASA ghost, but otherwise
betrayed no emotion, nor would any
one have supposed that all he had in
the world was at stake.
"The excitement grew intense as
card after card was removed and not
nine nor a face card showed itself.
Ten, deuce, eight, four, ace, Ska
dozen or more cards had been shown
when Sandy paused; the cards be-
meath the one he was pulling had
thin layer Of color along its edge-it
must be a face card; but was 1t
queen, or jack or king?
"Sandy paused, and taking his
handkerchief out Of his pocket,
passed it lightly over his~face and
tlien replaced it. Again he pressed
his finger against the bottom card,