I learn that the climate there is more
salubrious, more conducive to long living, the citizens of Placer being
peculiarly excitable and careless with their fire-arms."
The sergeant had been listening with open mouth. "The hell you say!"
he finally ejaculated.
"The undented truth, every word of it. No wonder you are shocked. A
fine state of affairs, isn't it, when a plain-spoken, pleasant-mannered
gentleman, such as I surely am,--a university graduate, by all the
gods, the nephew of a United States Senator, and acknowledged to be the
greatest exponent of scientific poker in this territory,--should be
obliged to hastily change his chosen place of abode because of the
threat of an ignorant and depraved mob. Ever have a rope dangled in
front of your eyes, sergeant, and a gun-barrel biting into your cheek
at the same time? Accept my word for it, the experience is trying on
the nerves. Ran a perfectly square game too, and those ducks knew it;
but there 's no true sporting spirit left in this territory any more.
However, spilled milk is never worth sobbing over, and Fate always
contrives to play the final hand in any game, and stocks the cards to
win.
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