The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-01-27
woMANs AAF All AowhNrct.
Pitted Against the Gamblers Skill II
Easily Carried the Day.

4
Easily Carried the Day.
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 Longee, taxi.
dermist, to New York Sun man, that
saw the charms of lovely woman ex.
erted in rivalry to gamblers skill
and they won. as they always do Il
was staying at the time in the 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 rang
ed about the wall for gambling The
place vas lighted by candles, and was
half filled with Mexican charros, with
here and there an American mining
man or some native visitor from the
capital city in a London-made suit Of
clothes.
"Playing was slack, except at one
table, where Mexican cattle man from
up country, in full charro costume of
sombrero with silver braid, Jacket, wide
pantaloons, with a row of big silver
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 around the outer
circumference. The cattle man was
sharp and watchful, 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 5000 at the hotel he
said If you care to wait, l will &c
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.
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
dark-eyed Spanish creature, In lowered
silk ball dress and mantilla. At sight
of her the dealer instantly sprang up
to offer her seat, but she coquettishly
carelessly along, jumped upon an un-
occupied end of the table, with one leg
curled under her, and the other dis
playing a daintily booted foot, swing
ing toward the floor.
Her husband seated himself opposite
the dealer and the game proceeded.
AS the stacks of silver passed to and
fro, this time with no particular luck
or advantage to either side, the wom-
an, apparently becoming more and
mere 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 l could see that her eyes
were dividing the attention of the deal
er, who perceptibly was losing interest
in the game, and displaying less of the
deXterity that in the beginning had
characterized his handling of the cards.
"At last the ranchman was winning
and the canvass bag in which he had
brought his three hundred dollar stake
was full to overfiowing, and triple rows
of dollar stacks lay at his right hand.
All other play was suspended, as the
spectators crowded around the table
to watch with breathless excitement
the game, which was now running as
high as 500 on the turn of a card
The conversation in the room was dec
orous, and none present failed in due
manifestation of respect to the presence
of the pretty little dark woman perch
on the table, who was well known in
TuXapana as the wife of the gaming
caballero with the ivory handled re-
volvers. From my position near the
wall, a little in the rear of the table,
[ noticed that as in her intent interest
in the game she leaned toward the
dealer her mantilla upon the side next
nim was slipping from her shoulder,
which--she being of Spanish nativity
was q very charming piece of living
statuary Mechanically the dealer lift
ed up from between his feet bag
from which he counted out 5000 to pay
the cattleman's last winning. Without
a word the cattleman added this to his
stake already ON the table, making S4OC
10 be lost or won. AS the dealer shut
lied the cards, the mantilly fell from
ner head and shoulder, and she gath
cred it about her with half-startled,
nalf-coquettish air of dismay as he
turned the deciding card without look
ing at it.
~ win again. said the ranchman,
and he began to pile the dollars again
the cards.
"The dealer reached down to tho
canvass bag and emptied it in counting
out $500. Then he passed the bag
across The table to mis- opponent.
"'The game is ended! The banks
brokel Let me congratulate the senor
en- his good fortune he said, smiling.
but behind his smile was the silent
anger OF a man who realized now tnal
ne had been defeated, but must holu
mis- peace.
Without word the cattleman
swept the silver dollars on the table
lnto the bag and passed 1t to a wild
looking vaquero who was standing be.
hind him. Ten dollars he handed tc
The bartender to be expended in treat,
Ing the crowd. The little woman, hel
eyes dancing with triumph, hoped
down from the taAla and thon with