hat kind of a game he was playing. He
told them it was the pawn-shop game. The lady wanted to know why
he called it pawn-shop? "Because I have two chances to your one,"
said High. They laughed, and were starting away, when they noticed
me turn up a corner on one of the cards. The lady nudged her
husband. I made a bet of $500, and won it. The gentleman dropped
the lady's arm, got out his money, and put up $100. High told him
that he would not bet less than $500; but the gentleman did not
want but $100 worth. Then his help-mate tempted him, saying, "It
is good." So the man hearkened unto the voice of his wife, put up
the $500, turned a card and lost. While High was putting away the
money, I grabbed up the right card and turned up the corner again.
Then I offered to bet him $1,000 that I could turn the winner.
While this was going on the lady was giving her better half a piece
of her mind. She was telling him that he was a fool; that he could
not see anything, and that she could turn the right card every
time. She got out her purse, took out $80 in gold, and asked him
how much money he had left. He told her $70. She said, "Give it
to me, and I will show you that a woman can beat a man every time."
I was counting out my money to put up, when the lady asked me if
I would not let her bet first. I said, "Certainly;" for I knew a
man never lost anything by being polite to the ladies, and in this
particular case I could see we were going to gain $150. High told
her he never bet with ladies, but if she would hand the money to
her husband he would bet with him. "Him!" says she, "He can't see
as well now as when he picked me out for a wife. No, no; he shan't
bet any of my money." "All right," says High. So she put up the
money. High put up the same amount, and she watched him as though
she was afraid he was not going to put up the full $150. After
mixing them up a little, High said, "Ready!" The woman took up
the card, turned it over, saw it, and then threw it down, instead
of giving it to her husband that he also could see. She then took
her husband's arm and said, "Come away; _my eyes are open_; if we
stay here that man will win you next, and I don't want to lose you
if you are a fool, and can't see as well now as when we were
married."

We had a good laugh, took something, and then High said, "George,
that woman's a game one; what do you say to giving her back the
gold?" "All right," says I. So he of