pied both of the
superintendents aboard, so of course I made up my mind that there
would be no playing on that train. To make the matter doubly sure,
one of them came to me and said, "George, do not play any on our
trains."

"Certainly not, gentlemen, and you can rest assured of that" (while
you are aboard), I said to myself.

We had not traveled far when the news came that a freight train
was ditched a short distance up the road. Our train stopped, and
the superintendents went to the wreck of the engine. Then I saw
my chance and got up a foot race among the passengers. Meanwhile
Billy opened up on a log as the contestants were getting ready to
run. A crowd soon collected around Billy's booth, and he garnered
in 1,200 good dollars and some fine gold watches. Up came the
engine, and when the superintendents heard of it, they said, "We
might have known that Devol would fix up some plan to get these
suckers' money."

Thus it was that I was always blamed for all the devilment that
was done. I really believe if a horse had been stolen the verdict
would have been: Devol did it.

FORTY MILES AN HOUR.

The train was going out of Louisville.

The rate of speed was forty miles an hour.

Ten Owen County yahoos had been beaten at three-card monte.

They pulled at long black bottles. The vacuum made by the loss of
their money, they filled with whisky.

"Boys, let's have our money and watches back, or kill that gambler,"
shouted one of them.

Owen County boys are rough, and tough.

It's a word and a blow, and the blow first.

When in crowd together, Owen County boys are as brave as a warrior;
single-handed and alone, they are as cowardly as a sick kitten.

Canada Bill was not well, so I had been doing the playing.

Bill did the capping; and as he lost, their suspicion did not light
on him.

I suddenly had an idea. I rushed back into the hind sleeper, and
gave the porter a five-dollar bill. "Tell them the door is locked,
and I have the key," were my words.

I was none too quick. The train was going at forty miles an hour,
and was sixteen minutes behind time. La Grange was only three
miles off, and well I knew that if I got off there I would have to
give up.

Did I want to give up my hard-earned money? Never! Lowering my
body carefully at a clear spot in the road, I jumped, took chances,
broke no bones, rolled over in the dirt, and heard a shower of
bullets whizzing past my ears from the fast r