Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-11-04
On a Mississippi
Steamboat
By r. A. mitchell.

boat passed out as the ordinary means
Of travel certain social status passed
out with them. Both these methods OF
transportation fostered something that
no longer exists--the society Of travel
A number Of persons would start ON d
journey In stagecoach, and the fact
that they were fellow travellers made
them at once acquaintances, often
friends and i'm certain Instances lovers.
AS to the steamboat. while the greater
number on one of them prevented this
automatic soclability, 1t was unique
institution.
In the front part of the main saloon
OF Mississippi steamboat was little
boxlike structure, In which liquors
were served. Passing aft. one would
see numerous tables, some of which
were occupied by card players with
stacks of chips or coins before them.
At meaitimes. these tables were placed
together, forming one long table. ana
shortly before "a meal was announced
male passengers would line them walt
ing to secure seats. In the stern or
the boat was the ladies' cabin. When
dinner was ready the captain went
into this cabin. bowed tremendously
to the ladies, offered his arm to one.
escorted her to a seat at the table. fol
lowed by the other ladies and the men
travelling with them. When they were
seated u colored man swung huge
brass bell, and the first stroke of the
oil
who had been waiting to plunge into
seat.
One day gentleman In a variegated
waistcoat worn by men or that DAY
and long skirted coat with large
rolling velvet collar stood among the
men waiting for the signal to be seat
ed. A moment before it came he turn
ed and stepped into his stateroom to
| leave his hat there. AS be emerged
| the bell rang, and man dropped into
| his seat. The act was Migrant
breach of courtesy, for the gentleman
had been waiting some time behind
| the chair. and the other must certainly
| have been aware of the fact.
| Conscious of some one standing De
hind him. the seat stealer turned ana
| looked up into a severe countenance
| bending over him. But there was
something more severe than the face
| a glittering bowie knife. whose blade
was pointed down Mt small bald spot
on top OF the interloper's head. The
fellow dived under the table and eff,
| fectet an exit on the other side.
After dinner young man about
twenty-one years of age approached
the man who had poised the bowie
knife and said;
Colonel Sinclair, believer
AT yo' service, subj
Il was especially gratified at your
recovery Of your seat ut table. The
man who proposed to dispossess you
took $4,000 out of me at cards this
morning"
IL was looking ovah the game. sub.
IL think he rs a blackleg."
"One of the worst He Is disgrace
to his calling | observed his manipu
lations of the cya'ds. and | must con
TESS that they were such as no respect
able gambler would use
MY name Is Hartleigh. sir. | an
on my way to New Orleans to be mar
ried shall leave the boat at the frs'
stop and return to my home in Mem
phis. The money the man took from
me was intended to start home.
must now break my engagement"
Il would not do that. sub" repiiet
the colonel, thoughtfully feeling ht
chin. Then, pulling roll of bills from
his pocket, he added: Ask him TO yo
revenge, sub. will observe the gam
and will engage that he plays faiah. "
Hartleigh accepted the offer. ant
during the afternoon he and the gam
bier took possession OF table ant
were soon absorbed in game Pres
entity Colonel Sinclair approached tn
table and stood opposite the latter
looking down upon him with coli
stare. That look the gambler mus
have interpreted MS an order not oni
, TO play fair but to see to 1t that hi
victim won back the money he ha
lost In the morning. At any rate. b
| IiabS va WIS 'A- W. y f'a"
- hands. by which he lost money steat
lily, and did not seem a bit reluctan
=. TT seeing his funds passing into Hart
leigh's possession.
All the while Colonel Sinclair stoo
= smoking u cigar. poising himself tirs
= on one leg, then ON the other. Afte
his first look at the gambler he SCENE
to be only Interested in the game, br
. occasionally the gambler would dai
I a glance up at his imperturbahe coGl
tenance and after doing SO would maxi
= | another big bet on IA small hand.
Finally young Hartlcigh counted th
y pile OF bills and coin before hin
showed over small sum and said:
We're quits. I'm even and will
= draw from the game"
The gambler cast a timid glance 1
the colonel us If for instruction. the
y put the amount returned In his poke
Il Hartleigh and the colonel strolied ol
- on ia the guard. When they We're III
y observed Hartleigh seized his benefa
X tors hand.
colonel" he said. you must after
my wedding"
~ shall be very hanpv, sub, TO a