f them took the train and came back to Amite that night, and
in the morning when I came to breakfast there they were. I could
not help laughing at them. After breakfast they went to the
magistrate, and swore out a warrant for my arrest, and the constable
came over to the hotel looking for me, but I had skipped out. I
walked down the railroad and kept hid until they were satisfied I
had gone. They left orders if I showed up to have me arrested,
and telegraph them. I took the first train and went to the city.
They came in on the evening train. The next day they found out I
was in the city, and then I was arrested and brought before the
recorder's Court, when the Judge asked me if I had an attorney.
I told him I could plead my own case. I soon convinced him that
the gambling was done in another parish, and I was discharged.
They then took a train and went back, got the warrant they had out
for me, and brought an officer with them. The officer stepped up
to me and said: "I have a warrant for you." "All right; but we
can't leave here until night. Let us pass away the time until the
train leaves." There was a big crowd followed us to get a look at
the notorious Devol, and the officer kept pulling out the warrant
and showing it to the throng. He was getting pretty full of whisky,
when I saw a thief in the crowd. I gave him the wink, and in less
than five minutes he had the warrant. I got one of my friends to
ask the officer to show him the warrant. He dove down in his
pocket, but could not find it; so I told him he must have the paper,
or I would not go with him. It sobered him up, and the last time
I saw him he was with the two fellows going to the train to get
fresh papers. I went up myself to see what they could do with me.
I took a train and passed them coming down. They went into the
city, and found that I had left for Amite that morning, and that
they had missed me. When I got there I took the Judge and Prosecutor
out, and we had several drinks; then we went to a shoe shop, and
ordered two pairs of boots for them, and took the size of their
heads, and sent to New Orleans for hats. When they came back, and
the case was called, the Judge heard their story, and then mine,
and decided it was nothing but a case of gambling, and that he
would have to fine us each five dollars and costs. We paid our
fines, and they all took the train that day but myself. I stayed
a day or two, and had a fishing game, as i