The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-09-24
Z
THE MISSISSIPPI GAMBLER.

Tn teh you Of / circumstance thu
happened when / first went on th
river. We were running in the New
Orleans and Little Rock trade, AM
were on our way Southwith 9 cargl
of cotton and cabin full Of people
Among the passengers was clerical
looking young man who rarely
spoke to any one, bnt spent hi
time, apparently, in reading anc
meditation. It was@ on a Sunday
morning that he came aboard, and
two or three hours later, when the
tables were off the floor and the
cabin Strengthened up, he entered
the ladies cabin and, laying an open
Bible before him, requested all to
come forward and take seats, as be
desired to offer few remarks ap-
propriate to the day and the occa.
sion. Then he gave out a familiar
hymn, led the singing, made q brist
prayer and preached sermon.
For the rest of the day moysl at
mosphers seemed to pervade the
cabin. and the usual games were
dispensed with, but on the lower
deck the rafting of dice, and the
sound attending the handling of
cards were still to be heard. During
the afternoon be strolled below, and
stood fora time watching the gam
blers in silence. Then he went out
on the after guards and spent an
hour or two looking at some blood
ed race horses which were on their
way to New Orleans to take in the
spring meeting. As though for
pastime, he opened conversation
with their keepers and questioned
them about their blood and speed,
evidently taking great interest in
the animals, though regretting the
fact that they were race horses. He
said gambling was wicked and
racing was only game of chance.
"The next morning the faro game
was renewed in the cabin, the bar
keeper was kept busy serving drinks
and the rafting of coins indicated
that large sums of money were
changing hands. In addition to
the players the table was surround
ed by number of spectators, and
among them the clerical-looking
man already mentioned. He stood
looking at the game for few mo-
ments, and then observed, in a
meek tone, that he didn't see how
men could be so worldly as to gam
bic for money. For his part, he
had a Christian mother, who had
taught him that games of chance
were wicked, and. turning away, he
began to stroll up and down the
cabin, apparently in deep medita-
ton. Presently he was joined by
a 'capper,' who endeavored to per-
suade him to try his luck.
a"For time he resisted, but he
finally consented to leave a ten,
just for the novelty of the thing,
and, beside he was in need of money
with which to pay off debt on his
church, and the end might, in a
measure, justify the means. The
dealer handed him a stack of chips,
when he remarked in an Indifferent
way that he might as we'll lose them
on one card as. another, and he
went the pile on the ace. He won.
and as the dealer paid the bet he
appeared grieved, and said it ap-
peared like putting his hand into
mans pocket to take his money
that way, SO he thought he'd leave
the chips where they were, but for
fear he might win again, he'd just
"copper" When the turn was made,
and his pile was doubled, he looked
almost heartbroken, and sighed
sadly. Then he removed the cop
per, and, changing to another card,
told the dealer to go ahead. He
won again, and the next time he
put on the copper and made anoth-
er winning, and continued to win
until he had about broke the bank.
Then he arose and said he guessed
he'd quit. The dealer and cappers
urged him to continue, and refused
to cash his chips; he pulled out a
bowie-knife and calmly remarked
that he tho't they had better. He
had Christian mother, and she
had taught him it was sin to kill.
AS he pushed the roll If hills into