I said to my friend: "That old fool will lose all his money before he gets to Texas, and I may as well have it as any one else."
He replied: "Yes; and I'm going to have some of it myself."
He then insisted on making a bet. I told him to make a good big one, as the old fellow was getting too drunk to handle his cards, and he might fall over and stop the game.
My friend then ordered the drinks, thinking, no doubt, that if he would treat, old Jack would bet more liberally with him.
When the bystanders saw Jack take another of those big drams, some of them remarked:
"Those gamblers have that old fellow so drunk they will win all of his money before they let him go. It's a shame, and we ought to stop it."
My friend offered to bet $500, when old Jack said:
"Boys, I'm drinking, and I don't care, fur my spunk's up, and I'd just's soon bet her all the first bet; them tarnal fellers guzzled me out of $1,000 in Cincinnater, and I wants ter get even." So saying he pulled out his big roll, slammed it down on the table, and said:
"Thar's my pile, and you fellars darn't cover her."
I whispered to my friend, telling him that now was the time. Then
I asked Jack how much he had in the roll. He said: