The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1895-03-01
A WIFE AS A MASCOT.
The Arts Of q Woman Against the
Skill Of a Gambler.
How . Mexican CattIeman Re CO vered
His Money In q Losing Game of
Monte and Cleaned Out
the Dealer.

1T was in the state of Sinaloa, in
Mexico, where l was in the employ OF
an American dealer as a collector of
bird Skins said Thorn Lougee, Il tax
idermist. to the New York Sun man,
that l saw the charms of lovely wom-
an exerted in rivalry to a gamblers
skill, and they won, as they always
should. L was staying at the time in a
little city called TuXatapan, and /
strolled into the principal gambling
place one evening to- watch the players
at monte. There Il 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
.lothes.
playing was slack, except at one ta-
BILE, where a Mexican cattleman from
up-country, in full charro costume of
sombrero with silver braid, Jacket,
wide pantalOons with row of big sill
yer disks running down the outer sides
and bright ivory y-handled revolvers at
his belt, was dropping his money at
monte. Tne dealer sat at the center of
heaps of silver dollars at his elbow,
while the players sat round the outer
circumference. The cattlcman was
sharp and Yatchful, so that the dealer
had no opportunity to do tricks, but the
regular odds of the game caused the
stranger To- lose slowly, until, with an
exclamation, he announced himself
broke and rose from his seat.
But have three hundred dollars
at the hotel he said; if you care to
wait, | will go for it, and perhaps leave
that with you
AT the senor's pleasure responded
the dealer, showing his white teeth in
an affable smile beneath his black mus
tache.
The cattleman went out and the
game went languidly on until in ten
minutes he returned carrying in his
hand a bag of Mexican dollars He
was accompanied by his wife, a pretty
little dark-eyed Spanish creature, i'll
lowered 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 unoccupied end of the table
with one leg curled under her and the
other, displaying 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
- .,
ner was frank and engaging, but from
where | stood | could see 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 overfiowing and triple rows
of dollar stacks lay at his right hand
All other play was suspended aS tn"
spectators crowded about the table I"
watch with breathlesS excitement the
game. which now was running aS high
as one hundred dollars on the turn of Il
card The conversation in the room
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 Ian
died revolvers. From my position near
the wall, little in the rear of the ta-
BILE | noticed that as in her intense IN
terest in the game she leaned toward
the dealer her mantilla upon the side
next him was slipping from her sh"ul-
der. which-she being of Spanish nativ-
itv-was very charming piece of liv-
inc statuary. Mechanically the dealer
lifted from between his feet a bag from
which he counted out two hundred dol
lars to pay the cattleman's last win
ming. Without a word the latter added
this to his stake already on the table.
making four hundred dollars to hc lost
or won. As the dealer shuffied the
cards the mantilla fell from her head
and shoulder, and she gathered II about
her with half-startled. half-coquettish
look of dismay he turned the decid-
ing card without looking at it.
IL 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 ended! 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
Without a word the cattlcman
swept the silver dollars on the table
into the bag and passed it to wild
looking vaquero who was standing be-
hind him. Ten dollars he passed to the
bartender to be expended in treating
the crowd. The little woman, her eyes
dancing with triumph, hopped down
from the table, and then, with her lean
ing affectionately on his arm, the cat
tleman bowed to the dealer and the
spectators, said: 'Buenos nocheS, SEN
ors' and passed out of the room into
the street, followed by his cowboy at
tendant, carrying the two canvas bags,
in which were over fifteen hundred
dollars"
FEY tufa In NeW