Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-04-04
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SAVED BY HIS MONKEY.
How a Mexican Gambler Won Back
His Money.

said the travelling man from Mexico,
was the way that Mexican came on
board the steamer at Vera Cruz growl-
ing at the monkey. He carried him in
his left arm against his breast and
looked at him as though he would like
to throw him overheard.
Everybody looked at the Mexican.
He was q bird. He wore one Of those
fluffy steeple hats Of drab fur trimmed
with spangle things which cost all the
way from twenty to a hundred, and his
tan suit flashed with silver braid. His
trousers fitted him like circus per-
formers tights, and the seams were
criss- ss-crossed with loops Of the dazzling
stuff all the way down around silver
buttons like the ones on his Jacket He
was cOrker.
"Of course, we began to make bets
on the side as to the value Of that suit
and hat, but he didn't pay any atten-
ton to us. He was putting cigarette
and growing at the monkey as he
strobe aft where the ladies were loung-
ing in their steamer chairs under the
awning.
"As some Of them spied the monk,
they began to cry, oh, look at the poor
little monkey!' The monkey peeping
out seemed glad to see them and as he
began to chatter the Mexican hauled
off and hit him a whack, calling him a
little animal, and saying he wished
either the monk or his aunt who gave
him the monkey was in purgartory.
"The monk, surprised at the slap,
darted from the Mexican's arm onto his
shoulder and lodging around the back
Of his head came up on the other side
with his tail around the don's neck,
chattering to beat the band. The don
evidently wasn't used to the monkey,
for he looked as though he were going
to choke, and madt a furious grab for
the monk.
"'You beast said the Mexican in an
undertone, I'd like to throw you over
board and then with an expression OF
relief he tied the monk to the rail.
"'Oh, the dear little thing said the
ladies, and several Of them rushed off
to get him some ginger snaps and cake
from the steward, while the don with
scornful look at the beast turned on his
heel and sauntered down to the other
end Of the ship.
"The ladies found the monkey so
cunning that some Of them suggested
buying him from the irate don, but the
don, with Mexican politeness, saluted
the ladies as he told them that he
would be only too glad to give them
the blooming monkey, but his aunt had
charged him with the beasts care to
be delivered to a granddaughter some
where down the coast in Chiapas, and
his sense Of honor compelled him to
fulfil his obligation. He could not part
with the money for love or gold.
"While the ladies played with the
monk, the Mexican found other amuse-
ment. He spied a game Of three-card
monte in the smoking room. a griz-
zled, moustached Mexican was dealing,
and there was big bull fighter from
old Spain, who had just finished sue
cessful season up at Mexico; several
other players and tall young Texan,
who took an occasional turn at deal
ing the cards.
1.-THE Texan, however, appeared to
be the only one who knew just when
to quit the game, and that was when
he scraped handful of dollars into his
hat and disappeared below. After that
he would ignore the table for an hour
or two and would only take a hand
when struck with sudden inspiration.
The grizzled, moustaced Mexican usu-
ally held the pack and slowly peeled
off the cards, while the others placed
their coin on one Of the three turned
face up on the table.
"The Mexican with the glad clothes
didn't seem to need any introduction
to the game. He just squatted down in
the first seat he saw vacant and put
his money down, and there he remain
ed, utterly oblivious to the monkey tied
up aft. Indeed, the monk would have
had a hard time Of it had 1t not been
for the ladies, who took such an inter-
est in his welfare as to feed 1t on cake
and ginger snaps.
"He silently kept putting his money
down on one Of the three cards. If
the corresponding card came out Of the
pack first his wager was doubled by
the dealer, and just as silently the don
drew the money over to his side Of the
table. If the card did not come out the
dealer took the don's money over to his
side, and so the game went on.
1.-THE cards were the Mexican kind
that look like valentines, and those fell
lows never stopped playing except
when they went for their meals.
Sometimes one seemed to have all the
money and then the other one had it.
It was a curious kind Of game.
"The night before we got to Fronte-
ra, the don's pile seemed to be getting
little low. Perhaps 1t had got low
before, but he always seemed to have
the wherewithal to replenish it, but
now it all went and he gave sigh of
relief as he drew his final dollar out Of
his pocket, lit a cigarette, and leaning
over the table, placed that dollar on
the middle of the card, naming it
quietly:
THE copa de oro.'
"'Voy,' said the dealer as he turned
up the cards in the pack, he repeated
in a low monotone: 'Cabello, diez de
palso, rey;' and then the don saw his
last dollar sliding over into the dealers
little pile.
1.-The don was broke. Nonchalantly