have, you had
better keep it." That made him mad, and he pulled out his long
pocket-book and said, "I have got as much money as you." "Perhaps,"
said I, "you might cripple yourself if you lost much money." "No,"
said he; "I am no child. When I bet on a fair game like this, I
expect to either win or lose." He counted out the money, and I
saw he had the $100 he won from me and a little more left. I told
him I would bet him $1,100 that he could not turn the king; so he
put up. Just as he was about to turn the card, I looked at him
and said, "I will let you back out, and give you $100 to take down
your money and not turn." "No, no," said he; "not I." "Well," I
said, "let her go;" and over she went, but he lost this time.

He drew a long breath and sat down in a chair, and he looked like
a sick kitten. Then he got up and went to his room, and finally
came out. I thought there would be the d---l to pay. He called
me to one side, and said, "Did you think I was betting in earnest?"
"Oh, no," said I, "you were only betting in fun; but I was just
keeping in earnest." "Well," said he, "you are not going to keep
my money?" "Oh, yes." "I don't care what you do with those other
fellows' money, but I want mine," said he, "and I must have it."
"Well, you can not have a cent of it." I backed against the bar,
and told him he must be crazy if he thought I would give him a cent
back, as I never gave a sucker back his money. He then made a
motion to his hip; but I had old Betsy Jane in my coat pocket with
my hand on it, and my partner was there to assist in holding the
fort. He saw his bluff was no good, and he began to give me taffy;
saying he had just got that money as a reward for catching a man,
and that he had worked six months to get it, and that he had a
large family. I told him to go out among the passengers and tell
them that he had lost his money at a fair game, and then come to
my room and "knock at the back door, and they will not see you come
in." Well, he got among them all over the boat, and told them it
was a fair game, and he had not a word to say. He came to my room
and told me what he had done. I counted out $500 and gave it to
him, and told him that if he had not worked so hard for it he never
would have got a cent back. So he went off contented, and there
was no more squealing on the boat.

THE YOUNG MAN FROM NEW YORK.

During the war I took my gambling tools and started for Brownsville,
Te