I was in the St. Charles bar-room one morning--having been up all
night playing the bank--when a good looking old fellow walked in
and called for a champagne cocktail. I turned to him and said,
"Have one with me; I drew $6,000 out of the Havana Lottery last
evening, and I would like you to join me." He accepted the
invitation; and while the barkeeper was mixing the drinks, I slipped
out some monte cards, and began playing them on the counter. I
told the old gentleman it was a kind of lottery I saw a man play,
and I wanted to learn it. He looked at the game, and turned the
card for fun, then for the drinks and cigars. Finally he said, "I
will bet you twenty-five dollars I can turn the card." I said,
"If I bet, it will not be less than $100." He got out his wallet,
and there was plenty of money in sight. I then pretended that I
wanted to back out, and I offered to treat to a bottle of wine.
He said, "No sir; I hold you to the bet." I then acted a little
huffy (as he thought), and offered to bet him $1,000. He put up
$1,000; and as I saw some left, I said, "Here is $500 more, and I
will bet but once." He put up the extra $500. I said to him, "You
know you must turn over the baby card the first time, or you lose."
"All right," he said, and at the same time he grabbed a card as
though he thought it would get away, and turned it over; but it
was not the baby, and I was $1,500 winner, and did not have to
divide with a capper, as I played the old sucker single-handed.
I invited him to take another drink, and then bid him good morning.
As I was going out, I rolled up a fifty-dollar bill into a little
ball, and shot it at the barkeeper. He caught it on the fly, and
put it in his pocket. I went to my room and slept until evening,
when I was up and ready for the bank again.