I looked at that young
wife and mother, the less I felt like eating. So at last I got up
and left the table. I went to my room, got the little velvet box,
wrapped it up, and carried it back. They were just leaving the
table when I returned. I called the chambermaid, and told her the
lady had left a package, and for her to take it to her room. After
it was gone I felt better, and I eat a square meal. The gentleman
came and thanked me, and wanted my address; but as I never had any
one to send me money lost at gambling, I told him not to mind the
address; for I knew if I did not give it, I would not expect
anything, and therefore would not be disappointed.

THE MONTE KING.

After getting well of the fever in New Orleans, I took a trip up
the river on one of the Vicksburg packets. On this trip I met a
man by the name of Rollins, who was the first man I ever saw playing
three-card monte. Seeing I was pretty smart, he proposed a
partnership. We commenced depredations on the packets. He did
the playing, and I was the capper. I represented a planter's son
traveling for my health. The first party that we fell on to was
a nigger trader, who had forty-five big black coons on board, taking
them to New Orleans to sell. We found him an easy victim, and
downed him for $4,100 and four of his niggers. We were afraid to
win any more from him on account of a squeal, but he acted very
honorably and made out a bill of sale.

Well, here I was a slave-holder with plenty of money. My partner
was one of the best that I ever worked with, except Canada Bill,
whom I shall speak of later.

We sold our slaves at one of the yards for $4,400; they averaged
$1,100 apiece, and in twenty minutes after I saw one of them put
on the block and bring $1,700. We knocked about the city, spending
our money freely; riding to the lake, eating big suppers with the
girls; and all were friends, for we would not allow any person to
spend a cent, and the flowing champagne was a great luxury in those
days.

The next trip we took was on a Red River packet. We went as far
as Shreveport and back on the same boat; and on the trip, clear of
expenses, we were $6,000 winners, as it was no more trouble to win
$1,000 then than $1 now.

Well, the gamblers began to get a little jealous of us, and at the
same time we lost heavily at their games when we played, as we were
both good suckers at any game except our own. One night one of
them struck my part