A short time after the occurrence narrated in the preceding story,
Canada Bill said to me, "George, don't you think we could make big
money on the wharf-boat at the mouth of the Red River, out of those
Texas boys that get off there to take the Red River boats?"
I replied, "Yes, there is plenty of money there, Bill. When do
you want to go up?"
I thought he wanted to stop off for a few days, as we had often
done before; but he said, "George, I am in poor health, and I want
to quit the river and settle down, and I want you to be with me."
I did not blame the old fellow, for many a time we would have some
pretty hard knocks and duckings in our business on the rivers and
railroads; but I was well and hearty--and then I was of a roving
disposition, and enjoyed the life I was leading--so I said: "Bill,
you go up there and take a rest just as long as you like; but for
me, I could not think of settling down on a wharf-boat, with nothing
but cow-boys to break the monotony. I'll stick to the old thing
as long as they will let me, or until I get married."
I did not think just then there was any possibility of my doing
the latter thing; but men don't always know just what they will
do, for I am married now, and have a dear old mother-in-law, too.
"Well, George, I don't like to leave you, but I will try her just
once, anyhow."
We separated. Bill went to the wharf-boat, and I began looking
for another partner. A few months after dissolving partnership
with my old friend Bill, I met a man from Red River who told me
that Bill was making big money up there. He said, "Why, that crazy
looking old fellow is running a corner grocery, livery stable, and
winning all the money and horses about the landing." I was not
sorry he was doing well--in fact, I was glad of it; and I resolved
that I would stop off on my next trip and see him. So in a few
days I was on my way up to the mouth of the Red River. When the
boat landed I started off, and there stood the old fellow, just as
natural as life. I would have known him among ten thousand. He
caught sight of me, and then he began to stretch those long thin
legs of his, and in an instant he had me by the hand, saying, "Why,
George! I'll be gol darned if I haint down-right glad to see you,
old boy. Come right up and let's take something."
We had a few drinks, talked over old times, and to tell the truth,
I was just as glad to see the old boy as he appeared to be to see
me. After we had drank enough to make us feel pretty good, Bill
said, "George, I've got some of the best critters in my barn that
there is in this part of the country, and I won most of 'em playing
the baby ticket."
As we had been together for about an hour and had got no further
than the bar, I proposed that we go to his stables and see the
horses, for I was always fond of good stock. As we went into the
stable, we saw a fellow sitting on a box just inside of the open
doors. He looked like a bull-driver, with his large whip, slouch
hat, pants in boots all covered with mud, and an old pipe in his
mouth. I did not take much notice of him, as I supposed he belonged
around there; and then I had come to look at Bill's fine horses.
While we were looking at the stock, some one called Bill, and he
excused himself for a few moments. In a short time Bill came back,
and I began asking him some questions about a horse I had been
looking at; but Bill did not appear to hear me, but said, "George,
did you notice that bull-driver sitting by the door as we came in
the stable?"
"Yes, I saw a fellow sitting there, but I supposed he belonged
around here, and I did not pay any attention to him."
"Why George! What do you think? That fellow is out there on the
box counting his money, and I'll be gol darned if he hasn't got
nigh on to $10,000, for I saw him counting over the big bills until
I couldn't stand it any longer, and I just came back here to get
you, for I know, George, that you can get it if any man can."
I replied, "Bill, I didn't think that old tramp had any money; but
if you saw it, all right. We will give him a whirl. How will be
play him?"
Bill then said, "Well, George, you go and get in with him, and when
you are all ready just give me the old sign, and I will come up
and try the old monte on him."
"All right," said I. So I found the fellow, and began my part of
the business. I inquired where he came from and all that, told
him I was a planter waiting for a boat, and invited him to take a
drink. While we were drinking, old Bill came up, rigged out just
as I had seen him so many times before; so if the fellow had noticed
him and I together when we went in the stable, he would not suspicion
that Bill was the same person.
We were just taking another drink when the old crazy looking fool
came up, so I said to the bull-driver, "What do you think of that
fellow coming up there? Let's have some fun with him."
"All right," said he.