"You must take me for a d----d fool, sure enough; but you don't
look like you had any more sense than the law allows. I got that
salt out of the salt-bag, and I tasted it before I wrapped it up,
and I know it is salt, and that settles it."
"But, Devol, salt does turn to ashes when it is hot; and I will
bet you the drinks for the crowd that there is no salt in that
paper on the stove."
Then they had another big laugh at my expense, and I got mad. I
jumped up and said:
"I will bet you $500 that there is nothing in that paper but salt."
Picket jumped up also, saying:
"I will just go you once, anyway."
I put up my $500 with the barkeeper; but Picket did not have but
$350, and he wanted to bet that. I told him he could back out,
but I would not bet less than what I had up. Then he put up his
watch and chain for the other $150. One of the men that had been
enjoying the fun, said:
"I will bet you $100 that Mr. Picket wins the money."