Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1891-02-21

L.
the canyon to replenish his purse. The
astonishinR amount of dust that Mills
had brought back to the camp with him
after IN absence Of but one week ex-
cited considerabls comment among his
associates, and when he returned to his
claim he was followed by . couple Of
men. hired spies Of q man who repre-
scnted q syndicate Of English capi-
talists, and a. . result he was offered
5000, 900 for q thrce-quarter interest in
the claim. Mills Immediately accepted
tho offer, and the mine became known
as the Glittertng Placer, at one time
the richest placer mine In the California
diggings. -,
mining camp did not suit Mills, and he
returned to San Francisco and entered
upon a career that had never before and
never has since been equaled for ex-
travagance. He INDUCED his passion for
gambling to its widest extreme. and
his losses during the two years that he
was enjoying an income from the mine
are estimated at between $500, 900. 900
and S40O. .0OO,0 900.
One night, after q week Of dissipa-
ton, Mills was in Charles Maunce's sa-
loon, on Market street, at the bar drink
ing. About midnight the party, consist
ing of half n dozen wealthy mine own
ers, got to shaking dice for small stakes
As they drank the stakes began to in
crease. until finally they were throwing
out the cubes against corners Of $40. .0OO
Mills luck was remarkably good. and
there was not turn Of the dice that he
didn't win.
In the party was member OF the
Glittering Placer Mining Company by
the name of Glaister, who had lost
heavily during the night. At last, as
the dice turned against him and Mills
raked in $4,000 of his money, he be-
came desperate and said:
mills, let's play for q stake that's
worth something. You're in luck to-
night and will probably win, but I'm
going to force grin out Of the devil If
! can You own a quarter interest in
the Glittering Placer mine. own a
quarter interest in the same mine. I'll
stake my interest against yours on two
this place a richer man or mighty
sight poorer one"
Mills was in q mood to be favorably
impressed by the proposition, and as
| his luck was good he was confident Of
doubling his interest in the mine. ''It's
a CO." said he, ''and we'll draw cuts to
| see who has the first throw" Tho
throw fell to Mills, who caught up the
box and recklcssly threw the five cubes
out on the bar. They turned up -four
aces and a tray. Mills smiled, and his
friends patted him on the shoulder.
As white as sheet, Glaister picked
up she box and with nervous jerk
turned the dice on the bar. An instant
they spun about, and Glaister hung owe,
the whirling cubes breathlessly. Al
last they settled down. and to the aston
ishment of the spectators five aces were
up Glaister fell to the floor like {
dead man when he saw the result
while Mills wandered into a corner anc
sat down in a daze.
A few days later the transfer Of stocl
was made and Mills entered upon de
bauch that only ended when his money
was exhausted. All efforts of his friend.
to put him on his feet again failed; hi
brain was touched, and for years he ha!
been harmless and worthless beggar
with mania for throwing dice.-St
| Louis Globe Democrat