Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-14

were apparently reluctant, we soon found
ourselves in 'gentlemen's place of resort
engaged in the lively game of the South, J
1T happened on that occasion that [
had no silver whatever with me, but,
thanks to the generosity of my firm, plenty
OF gold, and whenever a bet would he
made my friends would make the change
take down the S20-piece and give me
silver. Being quite lucky that night. the
result was when We quit the game. about l
o'clock, had all their silver and they had
all my gold. We sat around smoking and
telling stories for about half an hour when
fellow from some thrashing machine,
with light load on, came in and sug-
gested game of whist. Now. if there is \
game in this world l did enjoy it was
whist, and so we gladly accommodated the
gentleman and started in.
AS usual We soon got 10 PLAYING for 81
a game (seven points, and as the rancher
and L were partners, and the only signal
that could attract his attention would be a
belt over the head with an axe. whv. OF
course, we lost right along. Wei. we
played along at this rate until about $50
O'Clock. About that time observed three
men come in, who, taking chairs and draw.
ing them close up TO the table, soon became
very much interested in the game Soon
afterwards three or four more came in.
then great large man with red face and
no collar, and coat pockets sticking ont
went up and held an extended and whis.
pered conversation with the b2rkeeper
and | thought | saw the barkeeper point
over in our direction, hold up
three fingers and nod his head.
Then the big red-faced man
went to the back of the room where we
were sitting, locked and bolted the door.
Then he went and locked and bolted the
front door. My companions apparently
became quite nervous, and began to think,
myself, that all that whispering and lock.
ing and boiling of doors and evident ex.
citement of the red-faced man meant
something. So, pushing my chair back at
the end of game, said: We'll, boys
| shall have to bid you good night. |
have Just got twenty minutes TO catch nv
train'-wheu the Lord save me-if every
man in the room didn't draw pistol as
big as cannon, and the old man with the
red face pulled three pair of handouts
out Of his pocket, and in less time than |
am telling it We each had pair on our
wrists, and three or four men were going
through our pockets
Gentlemen" says the man with the
red face, /" want YOU to witness the
amount of money | take from each one OF
these counterfeiters, so you can be wit
nesses agin 'em on the trial.
"When he uttered the word counter.
feiterS' every drop of blood in my veins
seemed turned to ice-water, and when he
went down in my pocket, and drew out
fifty lead dollars, the water froze. | turned
my supplicating eyes to heaven, and almost
gave up the ghost.
1--WE were marched over to Yuba CITY
and jailed, of course. protested, but my
protests were in vain. IL was then nearly
time for my train to arrive. The moon,
with its full, round face, was climbing up
the eastern horizon, and as its rays shone
through the spaces made by the bars OF
my own cell, and when | heard the
train move on to Sacramento, |
thought what my employers would do
when they heard of the reason of my de-
lay. | no longer wondered at the number
of suicides in Jail, and while | did not
wish to initiate the ignominious death Sc
many have chosen under like circum-
stances, | did pray that an earthquake
might pile the Jail in ruins and | might
be buried under the pile.
"Of course | stayed there till morning
and then sent the following dispatch to my
house
MARYsvLLE, August 5, 1SS-.
Am in Jail. -"
" At noon l received the following an,
swer:
SACRAMENTO, August 3, 1SS-.
Stay there. - 4 Co,
" We'll, didn't stay. This dispatch wa.
only matter of aggravation, and the after.
noon train brought one of the members Of
the firm, who succeeded in identifying
me, which, together with the confessions Of
my friends, who were, in truth, counter
feiters, brought about my release. l very
often, when in San Francisco, go out to San
Quentin and visit the two young men, but
l have never played game of cards since,
or bet another dollar" BYsTANDER.