Year: 1877

ing the subject which I resolved to speak to
him about. -,


"Sometimes," he replied, looking rather
sharply at me. "But why do you ask T'.'....


"Excuse the liberty


"Certainly." .. ..........


"Well, observed that you sat down with
those fellows yesterday, who have managed
to clean out everybody they have played with
since We left New Orleans"


Indeed !"


ayes, and in one or two instances, unless
am greatly mistaken, the loss has been very
serious to the victims" 81"


81 suppose they take the chances"


"Undoubtedly but these professional play
ers always have the advantage, and are sure
to win in the end, either by fair means or oy
foul. Don't you think SOP


"Well, yer, I suppose you are right" " he said:


"For my part" I continued, IL am careful
to avoid such persons. They are sure to get
all my money"


"You are very right, and one ought to be
cautious, as you say, in dealing with such
people," .


AS he said this, he quietly resumed his
book, and thus put an end to the conversa-
ton. a. "


I did not feel exactly satisfied with the re.
suit of my brief interview, but concluded
that at all events he had got q hint of what
he might expect if he continued to play cards
with that trio of sharpers. felt a sense OF
relief at having done what / conceived to be
nv duty. There was, as [ said before, sort
of fascination in his youth and remarkably
handsome face, which drew me toward the
young man, and I watched him closely du'
ring the day. In the afternoon | was serious
" disappointed to see him again seated at
the card table with the same set of whom
had spoken 80 decidedly in the early morning.


drew toward the table and looked on at
the game. knew it we'll enough to under
stand what was being done, and it only re-
quired half an eye of an outside observer to
detect the most glaring acts of cheating on
the part of the three confederates. Still the
young man did not seem to observe their
game; he was either very obtuse or very in.
different While the three men exchanged
intelligent glances with each other and won
his money rapidly, he kept his eyes upon his
cards, and studied their possible combinations


l felt positively enraged to see this down
right swinding, and was angry with the young
man, that, after be had been 80 plainly eau.
toned, he permitted these men to cheat him
out Of his money, with scarcely an effort to
protect himself. Once or twice, however, he
did surprise them by promptly taking advan-
tage of chance offering in the game, and,
by adopting shrewd play, he won their
money and gathered the bank bills quietly to
his own side. On these occasions the men
looked somewhat surprised at his shrewdness,
which was at variance with his usual manner
of playing.


IcarefGlly watched the play throughout,
and when the young man got up from the ta-
bic, he had evidently lost large sum, which,
however. did not seem to disconcert him very
much. He must either have plenty Of mon
ey to throw away, or else he yet hoped to win
back his money before we arrived at Cairo.
But he is playing with fire and will burn his
fingers.


At midnight that night, while most of the
S s2z 3 S4s Esef there rose the aaf


Every one hurried on his clothes and rush
PoSoAS
ensued A fire had broken out among the
cotton bales on the freight deck, and it bade
fair to envelop the boat in flames before 1t
could be extinguished.


There was the usual CONSERVATION and ex-
element among the passengers, and especial
ly with the women and children, though, as
is always the case, there were some notable ex-
ceptions.


1 particularly observed the young man of
whom have spoken. He was cool and reso.
Lutte, and heading party of the passengers
whom he had organized, and supplied with
buckets, he directed their efforts to such good
purpose that he had succeeded in checking the
fire almost entirely at the particular point
where he had attacked it, He was person
who seemed hardly calculated to meet an
emergency of this character, but in fact he
proved to be the most efficient of all the passen-
gers on this occasion. ......


A few hours served to put matters once
more to rights The crew were detailed to
extra service, and even the evidences of the
fire were rapidly obliterated. The boat was
once more threading her course in the mid
channel, and the late fire only served as theme
for conversation, old travellers telling OF some
similar experiences.


When l was listening to one of these sto-
ries, I saw one Of the three sharpers walk
over to where the young man had again seat
ed himself with book, and evidently judg-
ing from his manner, he was inviting him to
sit down once more with them to game OF
cards. He seemed to assent, and my cheek
burned with indignation. I determined to
speak once more to him, and hastily rising,
l intercepted his steps as he prepared to pass
over to the gambling table.


excuse me" said.


"Certainly but what for ?" he asked.


Il know that where my words are kindly
meant you will not repeat them," | said, half
interrogatively.


"Certainly not"


"Well, then, you are simply being swindled
by those sharpers, yonder, and | cannot pa
tiently look on and see it without friendly
warning"


"Thank you" he said, "you can be actua-
ted by but one motive" and he extended his
hand to me in acknowledgment.


"You are correct in that"


"Well will be more viglant" he said, but
at the same time he went directly aud joined
! the trio.


turned away in disgust.


But there is a fascination in these games
which draws one in spite of oneself, so soon
after found myself near the table, and watch
ing the course of the game. Young Hudson,
for had now learned his name, lost at almost
every turn of the cards, and his pocket-book
was manifestly growing lighter and lighter
while each of the trio now aud then took out
their own we'll filled ones, to add to their con-
tents the bills of which they were so rapidly