e a good subject; so I
sat down and opened up conversation. I told him I was a miner from
Colorado; that I had some of the richest mines in the country, and
that I was on my way to Washington to take out a patent on a crushing
machine that I had invented. He became very much interested, and
I learned that he was from the State of Michigan, and was very well
fixed in this world's goods. I gave him some big talk about the
mining business, telling him I often took out $1,000 a day--and
much more of the same sort. He did not let me do all the blowing,
but gave me to understand that, while he was not taking out of
mother earth $1,000 per day, he was--and had been for many years--
getting out of the ground quite a number of thousands.

While we were telling each other how much money we had accumulated
for a rainy day, a cow-boy came up and took the seat just in front
of us, and in a few moments he turned around and said, "Be you
gentlemen going to New York?"

The old gentleman said, "I am, but this gentleman is going to
Washington City."

"I be going to New York with my steers, for them fellars in Chicago
won't pay my price, and some of them beat me out of $2,000 in less
than no time," said the cow-boy.

I then told him to turn his seat over and tell us how they got his
money.

He got up, turned his seat, and said, "They had some kind of a game
that they bet on; I got to pranking with it, and I just lost $2,000
afore you could say Jack Robinson."

"It must have been seven-up, or some game of cards," said I.

"It wasn't no seven-up, for I reckon as how I can play seven-up
with any of the boys."

"Well, tell us about the game," said the old gentleman.

The cow-boy then took out an old dirty rag, which I suppose he
called a handkerchief, unfolded it, and produced three cards,
saying, "Them thar fellows gave me these ar cards, and I'm going
to larn that ar game, so as when I get back to Texas I can beat
all the boys."

I told him to show us how they could bet on three cards. Then he
bent them up and began throwing them on the seat beside him, saying
at the same time, "I'm not as good at it as those Chicago chaps,
but I'm going to practice, and when I get down in Texas I'll get
even on our boys."

I asked him if they got all his money.

"Oh, no, I just got loads of money; and then when I sell them thar
steers in New York, I reckon I will have some more. Now you see
this card has got an old man on it, and yo