A HIGH STAKE.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 11, 15 December 1877, Page 2

A HIGH STAKE.

The Mexicans celebrate Wit untitle by throe days of festival, when all sorts of games of chance take place—monte, roulette, cards, dice, etc. A recent traveller in Mexico tells the following amusing anecdote of a scene at a roulette table:—

On a Whitsunday, the firnt clerk of a considerable German house, L , whose name I do not state, as I am afraid the present respected head of the firm might not be pleased at it, went in to nis principal who was engaged in dressing, and asked for a fancga—that is to say, a sum of one thousand piasters from "his owing salary.

" Most willingly, my dear B !" the principal replied; " but I must ask yon to fetch the money yourself, as the cashier is away. Here are the keys of the cash-box, in which you will find" bags of counted piasters." The young man did as he was told, and shortly after arrived with his bug of money at San Augustin, whore he selected the most elegant of the gambling houses, He went up to a roulette tablo and asked the banker, while looking at hiui intently, and placing the bag on the given cloth :

" Will you accept my stake on No. 3.1 ?"

•• 'Con muehklmo gusto, otbeJiero," the banker answered, without knowing exactly what the l>ag contained : but a Mexican would fuel ashamed to decline n wnaer.

I The ball was set rolling and No. ,'i.i ; won. A slight pallor crossed the banker's | face, for he believed, like all present, th.u I young B 's bag contained a fane.a, and as the stake must be paid thirtv-fiv,-I fold, this made no slight amoost Tho bag was opened, however, for t'.s? puipose of verification ; but who can describe tLc consternation of tho banker and the amazement of all present when it was found that it was full of gold, 1,000 ounces instead of 31,000, or altogethrr 16,000 piasters ! A perfect tempest broke out among the public. The must astounded of all, however, was young B himsalf, who was unable to sj>eak through fright. The banker declared his inability to pay so fabulous a sum ; but, as is always the case on such occasions, the public took part against him. It was found out that he was not the proprietor of the bank, but that a rich Mexican house supplied the funds, and was consequently responsible for the losses of its agents.

After lengthened tumultuary scenes, which collected the whole town, tho banker was sentenced by popular justice to pay Mr. B the fairly gained sum of 560,000 pesos. All the ready money in the house was handed over, and bills given for the residue. Richly loaded and accompanied by a large body of friends, who acted as his escort, young B returned to Mexico. From the moment of winning, B became a riddle to all his acquaintances. Instead of participating in the merriment of his friends, he remained silent and thoughtful; at times he even appeared affected by a species of melancholly. On reaching home he rushed into his principal's room. " Mr. L -," he cried breathlessly, " I have brought you your proporty; here are 560,000 pesos which I won with

your money." It was now L 'a turn to Ims astounded, until B—— had explained to him how, on this morning, he had taken a bag out of the cash-box, which he supposed to contain one thousand piasters. It was not till the bag was opened that- he discovered, to his terror, that he had taken one thousand gold ounces instead. "As I should not have been able to repay if I had lost, ; I have no right to keep my winnings ' " Much affected by the young m.in's honesty, L clasped him to his breast. Three days later two circulars wero distributed in the city. The first informed the mercantile world that Mr. B had joined the firm of L as partner. The second announced to friends and acquaintances the betrothal of Miss L to Mr. B , and invited them to breakfast.