We had been playing monte one night on the steamer _Southern Belle_,
out from New Orleans, and had closed up. My partner was sitting
out on the guards, and I was in the hall near the bar, when I saw
a gentleman coming down the cabin toward me. I stepped up and
ordered a drink, and as the man came up I invited him to join me.
He accepted, and we entered into conversation. I proposed a game
of euchre to pass the time; he assented, and we sat down. He
proposed to play for ten dollars a game, as it would be more
interesting. I said, "All right." I found him one of the best
players I had ever met. He beat me two straight games, and I saw
I could not beat him on the square, so I began to complain of my
bad luck, and said the deck was unlucky to me. He proposed that
we get another, so I told the barkeeper to bring us a new deck of
cards, which he did, and when he put them on the table I saw they
were my old friends. At this time my partner came up to the table
and remarked: "You gentlemen seem to be enjoying yourselves." I
replied, "We have played four games, and it's a stand-off." He
then said, "If you were playing poker, I would like to take a hand."
The gentleman said, "That will suit me, if you are satisfied." I
said, "All right," and I invited my partner to sit in, which he
did. We bought fifty checks each at a dollar apiece, and commenced
playing. There were a great many of the passengers around the
table, so we played on the square until everybody went to bed and
left us alone; then I ran him up three large jacks, and gave my
partner three queens, and guarded both hands so that nothing could
drop in. Our friend was on my left, and had up a big blind; my
partner just saw his blind. I exposed my hand and said, "That is
too good a pot to lose, so I will raise you gentlemen $150." Our
friend put up, and my partner said, "I believe you are both bluffing;
I see that and raise you $100." I did not want to drive our friend
out, so I raised $100. He put up, and we came to a draw. They
both took two cards, and I stood pat with a nine-spot high. It
was my partner's first bet; he hesitated, and finally bet but fifty
dollars. I gave them one of those old "go-your-money" laughs, and
said, "Boys, I have you both," and I put up $500. Our friend saw
it and raised back $500. My partner looked at his hand, and after
a while said, "I will call." I then bet $1,000 cold. They both
called, and we showed down. The three queens just beat the three
jacks, and I said, "I was trying to win that pot on a bluff." Our
friend remarked it was not safe to bluff when such hands were out
against you. I said, "That is so, but I thought you were both
bluffing." We had something to drink, and started in again. I
ran up two hands, giving our friend three aces, and taking four
tens myself. I did not give my partner anything, as I wanted him
to do the tipping. The betting began, and it was pretty lively.
When we came to the draw, our friend took two cards and I took one,
remarking at the same time, "If I can fill this flush, good evening
to you fellows." The betting was lively, and finally came to a
call. We showed down, and I took in $4,700. Our friend was no
kicker, but was as game a man as I ever met. He got up, laughed,
and said, "Gentlemen, let's take a drink, and I will go to bed."
He bade us good-night and went to his room. I learned during our
play that he was a large cattle buyer from Texas. We got a nice
slice of his cattle money; but I must say that he could hold his
own with anyone in a square game of poker; but with two old sharks,
and a deck of marked cards, there is no man that can win much money,
as his bluffs don't go.