says I, tappin' the table with the finger of
authority.

"'I got you,' says he, and slams his roll upon the table. 'There's
eight hundred dollars.'

"'Well,' says I, 'I shall descend upon it in two flies, not
counting odd chips. Shall we cut?'

"He shoved out a deck. I cut a four-spot. It come to me all of a
sudden how futeel is human endeavors, how fleetin' is man's hopes,
for we was playin' it high man wins. And then he cut a
three-specker, and talked unwisely. Then he cut a king, and a soft
smile lighted his face. I cut an ace. He looked at it, reached
up, and took down a sign:

ACE IS ALWAYS
HIGH IN THIS HOUSE.

--a sign he'd made with his own fair hands, and he says to me, 'You
don't mind if I keep this as a sooveneer of the joyful occasion, do
you? You can have the rest of the place, for I move after two
beats like that.'

"So then the crowd was uproarious, and I treated several times for
Mrs. Scraggs and several times for myself, divided the money
square, wrapped her half in a parcel with 'God Bless our Home'
marked on it and sent it around to her.

"It then occurred to me I weren't dressed according to my
prosperity. So I cut the boys and ambled around to Eichenstein's
to get some clothes.

"Old Eichy clasped his hands with innocent glee.

"'I have got id!' says he, clawing out some black duds. 'You
remember dat 'biscobal mineesder who beat der sheriff to der drain?
Dat is der close he orter t' und didn't bay for--dey fid you like a
finger in der mud.'

"I tried to explain to Eichy that I didn't need no minister
clothes, but he was shocked at the idea, so I bought 'em and put
'em on.

"It next occurred to me that with a new soot of clothes and money
in my pocket I'd orter travel and see a little of the world once
more, so I gathers the boys and four members of the Dogtown band,
and we went eight miles to the station in good shape. It made the
people look to see us marchin' in.

"'Gimme a ticket,' says I to the station man.

"'Where are you going to?' says he.

"If there's one thing I can't put up with it's impudence from a
railroad man.

"'What in the hereafter business is that of yours?' says I. 'You
gimme a ticket, quick, or there'll be a wreckin' train due at this
spot.'

"'Well, how can I tell what to do?' says he. 'Pay me for the
ticket, and you get it.'

"'Sir!' says I. 'Do you mean to insinooate that I can't or won't
pay for a dirty little railroad ticket? T