es and let them
fill. It would have brought a smile to a dead man to have seen
them bet, for they put up all the money they had, and one of them
went to the office, and bringing out a valise, said, as he laid it
on the table, "There is $18,000 in that valise, and I raise all of
you that much." What to do I did not know. I was in a quandary,
when, quick as thought, a plan flashed upon me. I jumped up, and
rushing to the office, got all the small bills they had--mostly
ones and twos--and securing a piece of brown paper, wrapped these
bills around it, which made an enormous roll. There was a five
hundred-dollar bill on the outside, and, putting a strip of paper
around it, I marked it $20,000. Then rushing up, I said, "Boys,
I have at last raised the money;" and as I was about to put it on
the table to call the bet, the owner of the valise snatched it off,
saying, "That was only for a bluff." So I deemed it best to show
down for what money we had up, as I knew all the rest were up all
they had, and I have always made it a rule never to bet a man more
than he had, to run him out, but always to give every man a chance
for his money.

Turning to the fellow with the valise, I said, "I will bet you
$1,000 on a side bet that my hand beats yours." He counted out
the money and put it up, and there was nothing to do but show hands;
but in the draw I took in another nine, which made four, and a five
spot. That broke up the game, as that was all the money, except
what the man with the valise and I had, and he got cold, for the
money he was playing with belonged to the Government. He was a
paymaster, and had I won his money I should undoubtedly have got
into trouble again. Paymasters in the army were among the best
suckers we ever had, and I fear we never shall have such fat plucking
again.

"PRANKIN'" WITH A NEW GAME.

I had a partner at one time by the name of Tripp, and he was one
of the smartest gamblers I ever worked with. He would play any
and all games of chance, and would play them as high as any man in
the country, and come as near winning all the time at most of them.
He was a good, clever fellow.

He and I were on the Michigan Southern Railroad at one time. Tripp
was to do the playing with the three cards, and I was to be on the
look-out. I began my part of the business; and in looking around,
I saw an old gentleman that I thought might be well fixed in money
matters; and if he was, I judged he would b