The Irish standard., 1895-01-19
4 WIFE AS a. MASGDT.
The Arts Of g Woman Against the
Skill Of Gambler.
dow . Mexican Csttleman Recovered
His Money In . Losing Game OF
Monte and Cleaned Out
the Dealer.

ssIt was In the state of Sinaloa, in
Mexico, where was in the employ OF
IN American dealer as q collector OF
bird skins" said Thorn Lougee, a tax
,dermist, to the New York Sun man,
that saw the charms Of lovely wom-
an exerted in rivalry to q gamblers
skill, and they won, as they always
ahould. was staying at the time In 9
little city called Tuxatapan, and
strolled into the principal gambling
place one evening to watch the players
at monte. There was a single large
low room, with bar at one end and
tables ranged about the wall for gam
bling. The place was lighted by can
dies, and was half-filled with Mexican
charros. with here and there an Ameri-
can mining man or some native visitor
from the capital city in London-made
clothes.
"Playing was slack, except at one Ia
bic, where a Mexican cattleman from
up-country, in full charro costume OF
sombrero with silver braid, jacket.
wide pantaloons with a row Of big sill
yer disks running down the outer sides
and bright ivory-handled revolvers at
his belt, was dropping his money at
monte. The dealer sat at the center of
the kidney-shaped table, with high
heaps of silver dollars at his elbow,
while the players sat round the outer
circumference. The cattleman was
sharp and watchful, so that the dealer
1 ~ Il fvi1 hut a
regular odds of the game caused the
stranger to lose slowly, until, with an
exclamation, he announced himself
broke and rose from his seat.
"sl3ut have three hundred dollars
1t the hotel he said; If you care to
wait, will go for it, and perhaps leave
that with you
cat the senor's pleasure responded
the dealer, showing his white teeth in
an affable smile beneath his black mus
tache.
1.-THE cattleman went out and the
game went languidly on until in ten
minutes he returned carrying in his
hand bag of Mexican dollars. He
was accompanied by his wife, a pretty
little darl1-eyed Spanish creature, in
Powered silk ball dress and mantilla.
At sight of her the dealer instantly
sprang up to offer her seat, but she
coquettishly declined the attention and,
sauntering carelessly along, jumped
upon an unoccupicd end OF the table
with one leg curled under her and the
other, displaying a daintily booted foot,
swinging toward the floor.
"Her husband seated himself oppo-
site the dealer and the game proceeded.
AS the stacks of silver dollars passed to
and fro, this time with no particular
advantage in luck TO either side, the
woman, apparently becoming more and
more Interested, leaned forward with
the palm of her hand on the table
eagerly watching the game. Her man
ner was frank and engaging, but from
where stood could sec that her eyes
were dividing the attention OF the
dealer, who perceptibly was losing in
terest in the game and displaying
less of the dexterity that in the begin
ming had characterized his handling OF
the cards.
''At last the ranchman was winning,
and the canvas bag in which he had
brought his three hundred dollars stake
was full to overlooking and triple rows
of dollar stacks lay at his right hand.
All other play was suspended as the
spectators crowded about the table to
watch with breathless excitement the
pame, which now was running as high
as one hundred dollars on the turn OF q
IN, hn
was decorous, and none present failed
in due manifestation of respect to the
presence of the pretty little dark wom-
an perched on the table, who was well
known in Tuxatapan as the wife of the
gaming caballero with the ivory-han-
died revolvers. From my position near
the wall, a little in the rear OF the ia
bic. | noticed that as in her intense in
kerest in the game she leaned toward
the dealer her mantilla upon the side
next him was slipping from her shout
der, which-she being Of Spanish nativ-
ity--was very charming piece OF liv-
ING statuary. Mechanically the dealer
lifted from between his feet a bag from
which he counted out two, hundred dol
slars to pay the cattleman's last win
ming. Without word the latter added
this to his stake already On the table,
making four hundred dollars to be lost
or won. AS the dealer shuffied the
cards the mantilla fell from her head
and shoulder, and she gathered it about
her with half-startled, half-coquettish
look of dismay as he turned the decid-
ing card without looking at it.
".I will again. said the ranchman,
and he began to pile the dollars again
on the cards.
..The dealer reached down to the can
vas bag and emptied it In counting out
-four hundred dollars. Then he passed
the bag across the table to his OPP
,ponent.
".The game is endedl The bank is
broke! Let me congratulate the senior
on his good fortune, he said, smiling
but behind the smile was the silent
anger Of man who realized how he
had been defeated, but must hold his
peace. &
- SSvxysA I, o..A = ,ro~<l <1oo oo<k1orno,@