.
The horseman then offered to compromise if we would return the
watch and money. Failing in this he fell to abusing the Judge for
granting us a continuance. This reached the ears of the Judge,
who was anything but pleased, and when I had an opportunity I told
the Judge that if he wanted I would stand trial for gambling, and
be fined; although I was aware that he had no jurisdiction in
gambling cases, but I presumed that he and the constable wanted to
make a piece for themselves.

The trial came off, and the Judge fined us thirty dollars apiece
for gambling. My friend paid the fines, and then I turned to the
Judge and demanded a warrant for the horseman, for gambling in the
State. He too was fined thirty dollars; and when he returned to
New Orleans, and told his story, the boys all gave him the laugh,
and told him he had better have staid at home, for we all told you
that you could never get a cent back from Devol.

When I reached New Orleans I hunted the horseman up, and he redeemed
his watch, giving me $200. This transaction made a man of him,
for afterwards I met him and he wanted to help me skin suckers,
and did make money. Many business men whom I have at first won
money from came to me afterwards and stood in with the game, so
that I was given an opportunity to get into games that I never
could have done without their influence.

THE POLICE SIGNAL.

They have a signal service on board the vessels running from New
Orleans to other points on the gulf, by which they can notify those
on shore what is wanted some time before the vessel reaches the
landing. If they run up the police flag, there will be twenty or
more police at the wharf when the vessel arrives. We would play
one vessel out to some point of landing, and then wait for another
to bring us back. We had played a boat over to Mobile at one time,
and was on our way back, when we got a fellow down in a game of
euchre. Several times during the progress of the game, remarks
had been made about good poker hands, so I ran the gentleman up
the old hand of four queens and an ace. He picked it up and said,
"I have a poker hand." I turned my head to spit, and in doing so
I purposely exposed (or tipped) my hand so he caught a glimpse of
it. I then said "How much will you bet?" He replied, "Fifty
dollars." I then raised him $100. My partner said, "Gentlemen,
as this is a game of bluff, I will raise you $1,000." I threw down
my hand, remarking, "