The young one then turned to me and asked if I would hold the money.
I told him that I did not like to hold stakes, for one or the other
must lose when two men bet, but if they had a thorough understanding,
and would promise not to quarrel, I would hold the money.
The sucker replied: "I guess I understand what I'm about, and all
you have to do is to give the money to the one who wins it."
"All right," says I; "but I know the loser is not as well satisfied
as the winner, and I want you gentlemen to have a fair understanding.
Put up your money, and I will hand it over to the one who is the
lucky man."
He counted out what he thought was $3,500, but I saw it was $3,800,
for I was not a bit excited, although I did not like to hold stakes.
Bill put up $3,500, for he heard me tell the young man he had put
up that amount. After Bill had mixed them up and said he was ready,
the sucker made a dive and nabbed the card with the mark on it,
but it was not the winner. I asked him if I should give up the
money (just as if I did not know anything about the game).