I beat a man at poker out of $1,200 on the steamer _Wild Wagoner_.
After he quit playing he asked me where I would get off. I told
at the mouth of Red River. When I left the boat I saw my friend
had concluded to stop at the same place. It was not long before
an officer called on me to take a walk with him, and we said, "We
will go up and see the Judge." When we arrived at his Honor's
place of business, I found that my twelve-hundred-dollar friend
was there before me. The Judge spoke to him before he did to me,
and said, "How did this man swindle you out of your money?" "We
were playing poker, your Honor." "Do you call playing poker
swindling?" said the Judge. "Well, your Honor, he must have swindled
me; for every time I had a good hand he would beat it," said he.
"If that is all the evidence you have, the case is closed, the
defendant is dismissed, and you will be held for the costs," said
his Honor. I told the Judge I would pay the costs if he would let
the fellow go. He accepted the proposition, and that night I had
the honor of playing in the same game with the Judge, and I played
a square game for once in my life, for fear I would have another
friend who would want to see me at his Honor's office.