We were passengers with Captain J. M. White on board the steamer
_Katie_, bound for New Orleans, one night, and I had taken a look
over the boat, but there was nothing in sight. I was sitting in
the hall near the bar, drinking wine and enjoying myself, when a
fine looking gentleman came out of his room near by and asked me
if supper was over. I told him it was, and asked him to join me
in some wine, as he looked like he wanted something. He accepted
the invitation, and told me he was hungry. I called the porter
and told him to go to the pantry and get the gentleman a lunch,
which he did. He thanked me for my kindness, for he thought I
acted from pure motives (which I did), and then invited me to join
him in some wine. I accepted, for I thought his intentions were
honorable. While we were talking and drinking, I asked the barkeeper
if he had any of the tickets that the gentleman played the new game
with before supper. He said he had, and gave me some of them. I
began throwing. We bet the drinks, cigars, and drinks again. I
lost most of the time. My capper lost a bet of $500, when the
gentleman said: "Good gracious, man! where are your eyes? Can't
you see that the baby card has a spot on it?" My partner told him
he had not noticed the spot, so the man pointed it out to him.
Then he made me another bet, and won.
The gentleman then began to think he was smarter than the man who
had lost $500 and could not win it back until he told him about
the little spot. I saw he was worked up, so I asked him if he
wanted to win something before I quit, as I had no idea of betting
money on the game when I sat down; but I would bet him $100 he
could not turn the card with the baby on. He flashed his leather,
when I saw several large bills; but I pretended not to notice them,
and said, "Perhaps you had better not bet, for if you lose it might
distress you; but if I lose I will not mind it much, as my father
has five plantations." He did not like for me to think that the
loss of a paltry $100 would distress him, so he said, "I can afford
to bet you $2,000, win or lose." That made me mad, so I said, "I
will make it $5,000, if you like." He knew he would win; but he
was no hog, and did not want me to ask my old dad for money so
soon. My partner wanted him to make it $5,000, and offered to take
half, but I said, "No; one at a time, gentlemen." Then the fellow
put up, saying to my partner, "I thank you, but I am able to take
it myself." He turned the spotted fawn, and found that, if he was
not a hog, he was a sucker. I then told him I thought he was too
much excited, and invited him to join me in a drink; for I was
always very liberal about treating a man that had but little if
any money. He accepted the invitation, for now he knew I was a
gentleman, and that my motives were honorable. After taking our
drinks, he bid me good-night and walked away, and I thought I heard
him say, "I would have been better off if I had remained in bed
until morning." I thought myself that he "got up too soon."