ing to $10,000, against the
old gent's pile.

I would bet with him if I was the old gent, for he had but $4,600.

The money was put up. The card was turned. The old gent lost.

The cow-boy bet another man $200 and won, then asked him for a dram
out of his bottle.

I had an idea that my wife wanted me to come back and see her in
the Texas sleeper. I would return as soon as I learned how her
headache was.

A station was reached. I got off. Looking after the receding
train, I saw two men drop off; they walked back to the station.
McGawley, Rattlesnake Jack, and myself waited for the next train
to New Orleans, with $4,800 more than we had a few hours previous.

We were on the train going in to New Orleans. Old Jack occupied
a seat just behind a lady and gentleman.

The lady had something lying in her lap about the size of an infant,
covered with a shawl. Whatever it was, she was very careful of it.

McGawley and I were seated across the aisle, near by.

Jack was telling the lady and gentleman some very interesting story.
He showed them three tickets. He threw them over each other on
the seat beside him.

The lady gave the gentleman some money, which he laid over on the
seat where Jack was throwing the tickets. He reached over and
turned one of the tickets.

Jack put the money in his pocket.

The lady gave the gentleman more money.

He laid it in the same place as before. He turned one of the
tickets the same as before.

Jack put the money in his pocket the same as before.

The lady talked to the gentleman in very angry tones. She talked
to Jack very pleasantly. She took out more money and offered to
lay it on the seat where the gentleman had laid the money before.

Jack would not let a lady put money down.

The lady uncovered the something she had lying in her lap. She
showed it to Jack. They talked about it. She got up and called
me over to hold it.

Jack gave me $100 to hold. He threw the tickets.

The lady reached over and turned one of them. She threw up both
hands and said: "Mercy on me! What shall I do? I have lost my
dear Tommy."

I handed Jack the $100 and the twelve-pound Tommy.

The passengers all roared with laughter.

The lady scolded her hubby very badly. She cried, sobbed, and
wrung her hands, saying: "I have lost my Tommy! Oh, my dear Tommy,
Tommy; I will never see you any more!"

Jack could stand it no longer. He handed his Thomas cat over to
the lady.