and gambler as the
other man.

When two persons bet, one _must_ lose; and there is no law in this
country to compel a man to bet his money or jewelry on anything.
So my advice is, don't you do it.

A COLD DECK.

I was aboard the _Sultana_, bound for Louisville, and got into a
five-handed game of poker. When we landed at the mouth of the
Cumberland, two of our party got off to take a boat for Nashville;
that left our game three-handed. For fear that another would get
away, I thought I must get my work in without further delay; so I
excused myself for a few moments and went to the bar. I got a deck
just like the one we were using, and "run up" three hands, giving
one three aces, one three kings, and myself four trays. We played
a short time after my return, and on my deal I called their attention
to something, and at the same time came up with the "cold deck."
The betting was lively. I let them do the raising, and I did the
calling until it came to the draw. They each took two cards, and
I took one, saying "If I fill this flush, I will make you squeal."
I knew they both had "full hands," and they just slashed their
money on the table until there was over $4,000 up. Then I made a
"raise" of $1,200, and they both "called." "Gentlemen, I said, "I
suppose you have me beat; I have only two pair." "Oh!" says one,
"I have a king full;" and the other one said, "I have an ace full."
"Well, boys, I can down both hands, for I have two pair of trays."
The game came to a close, for there was no more money on the other
side.

CAUGHT A SLEEPER.

I was playing poker once on the steamer _General Quitman_. The
party were all full of grape juice. Along about morning the game
was reduced to single-handed, and that man I was playing with was
fast asleep, so I picked up the deck and took four aces and four
kings out, with an odd card to each. I gave him the kings and I
took the aces. I gave him a hunch, and told him to wake up and
look at his hand. He partly raised his hand, but laid it down
again and I knew he had not seen it. I gave him a push and shook
him up pretty lively, and he opened his eyes. I said: "Come, look
at your hand, or I will quit." He got a glimpse of it, and I never
saw such a change in a man's countenance. He made a dive for his
money and said: "I will bet you $100, for I want to show you I am
not asleep." I told him I thought he was "bluffing." I said in a
joking way: "I will raise you