The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-04
GAMBLER AND GENTLEMAN.
He Calmly Listened to an Insult for
the Sake Of Sentiment.

the Sake Of Sentiment.
From the Neto York Tribune.
81 am believer, . said the colonel, fitting
his chair and resting his perfectly polished
boots on one of its rungs, ''in mans natural
goodness. l had the pleasure once Of know
ing an honest gambler. l liked him, too,
for he was a gentleman. The days of this
class OF gamblers are past, however, and
to-day they seem to be a scurvy lot.
Moore. when / knew him, was q Missis-
sippi river gambler. He Travelled, in fact
lived. on the big river steamboats,. He
never attempted 70 conceal the truth about
himself. It was simply gentlemen, am
gambler by occupation, and a good one. II
you care to have me play with you IL will
give me great pleasure. If you don't, 1t
doesn't make particle Of difference
az got to know Moore very well, and 1
soon discovered that when playing with tee
average man. luck beng equal, he would
win ninety nine times out Of a hundred. |
never touched cards, but used to like his
society. He was a wonderfully entertain
ing talker. On summer nights the steward
used to serve dinner on deck for those who
preferred to have il there. After dinner we
would go up 10 the hurricane deck, and
when Moore was on board he would bring out
his flute and play for US. When the moon
was Oul, duO uNE6T u bllu Dlu6 Nell over tue
water, or when the boat carrying the pas
sengers swept so close to the shore that il
brushed the dark willows on the bank, the
rising and falling notes that came from his
instrument were gentle music to the ear. l
never knew him to propose game at cards
He would play there until some ons sug-
gested a game, when he would take his in
strument apart and put it away in an
Indifferent manner.
xua had i'm f y,la MIC VIII
Satan seemed to throw every card to this
calm, self-composed man. There was a
cool, matter-of-fact way about him which
froze the ardor of every one else except a
young man about % years old. This player
was in i'll luck, but with flushed face and
feverish eve he made his bets furiously,
only to lose every time. 1t soon became
means. Moore must have noticed it. for he
ceased TO bet heavily against the younger
man. This angered tine other.
There was pot Of $500 once, and every
one had dropped out except Moore and the
young man. Moore had been playing his
hand like wonderful attenuation, passion
less, but sure No man except his opponent,
perhaps, could doubt that he held the win
ming band. Suddenly. when his rival bet
$50, Moore laid down his hand, saying, Il
won't bet. l have nothing. You played
that WELL
1.-THE young man reached out feverishly
for the pile of money, and then his hand lay
on the table.
"'That is not true, he said. You have a
good hand and you are afraid to play it
against me-
"Moore shot hot glance across the table
at him and two red spots flashed into his
cheeks.
~ lay down my hand, he said slowly
but With slight tremor in his voice.
"'And say added the other in a low
tone, that you are gambler, and there
fore q coward
"'Hush, said. laying my hand on the
young mans sieeve. You don't know what
you are saying. He is not coward by any
manner of means
The young man shook off my hand vehe-
mently.
"'He is a coward, be repeated, and
will answer for my words at the first land
ing
81 looked at Moore. | had seen him sit
on the hurricane deck, a revolver in hand,
|, and, as a waiter threw champagne bottles
over the rail, raise his arm swiftly and
shatter the falling glass with a bullet.
There were graver stories, too, by far about
his deadly aim in duels. He sat stiff and
motionless with a terrible fire in his eyes. /
was amazed by his next words.
90 Does the gamess4go on9" he asked,
quietly.
"'Not with you, said tho young man,
bending forward, the veins in his forehead
swelling. Not until l prove that you are
afraid to bet and, with a sudden motion he
thrust his hand across the table. and, Selling
Moore's hand, turned the cards face upward
on the table.
81 was on my feet at that instant to arrest
Moore's right arm, for l felt that he would
draw his revolver at the insult. But hush
fell over those around the table, and the
hot-beaded young man was gazing stupidity
at the cards before him. -Four aces lay
therein invincible hand, for straights
were not played. There was a blue tinge
in Moore's white lips and the young fellow
looked bewildered. The young fellow burst
into tears.
1--WE can't play together any more he
cried. You threw money into my pocket
because l was losing too much. l can't
take it. he said, rising from the chair.
"'You can said the gambler in an even
voice. 4 laid down my hand. The money
is yours. Besides he added with a little
shiver, I held out an ace on you
Every man at table knew that Moore
had lied. We all got up and left the young
man sitting there before his money. I
found Moore shortly afterward on deck.
looking into the darkly whirliug water
"'Give me your hand / said. What in
the world did you meanl You never
cheated at cards in your life
"'Tut, tut he answered with a little
laugh that was slightly harsh, 'he is only a
boy and loved his mother once