The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-11
Rambling ON De
mississippi.

Way back in the fifties." said an old
timer, II saw a three-card monte
game on a steamer running from st.
Louis to New Orleans that I have never
forgotten. At Bonneville a noted gambler
named Rollins got on board. The clerk
recognized him, and laughed at him
You might as well go right back to
Shore he told him. You can't work any
such trick as yours on the people on this
boat They are too sharp to go agains5
your game
I'll bet you the drinks for the crowd
that l clean up 500 before We get TO Ar
row Rock. answered Rollins.
''As Arrow Rock was only fifteen miles
from Boonvine, the clerk thought 1t was
a good bet, and he took it.
Rollins spread his layout, and covered
the table with gold pieces. Then he be-
gan shutfiing and shift ing the cards. Soma
doctor from down the river was among
the crowd around the table.
You are crazy he tod Rollias. Il
can pick any one of those cards up every
time
Well I'll bet you $1O0 I am not as
crazy as L look, said Rollins. and that
you can't pick out the deuce.
I haven't got 500. but I'll bet you
$50 that 1 cam said the doctor.
All right, anything for bet said
Rollins, and the cards were shifted. after
the money had been put UP.
"Of course, the doctor picked up the
wrong card, and he lest.
Rollins had q partner in the crowd,
and this partner got hold of the doctor,
who was anxious for revenge.
How did you come to let him fool
you that time?' asked the capper.
Don't know confessed the doctor.
You were too confident said the
stranger. You let your eye get away
from the card for a second. and he Shift
ed them. But l have been UP against
the game. and you can beat him and get
even if you will just keep your eye on the
card all the time. II you can get $50
more I will put up $50 with it, and We'll
break him up.
THE doctor was very anxious TO get
even, for he could not afford to lose the
money. So he went 10 his wife and per-
suaded her to give him fifty 81 gold pieces
that she had saved up. and went back To
where Rollins was haranguing the crowd.
The capper met HIM on the way and gave
him his $50, with a farewell injunction to
keep his eye on the card all the time.
''Well, the doctor lost again. Then he
broke down and begged Rollins 20 give
him back part of the money. He pleaded
that he had a wife and three children,
and that the money he had lost was ali
that he had. Rollins, however. laughed
at him.
My friend, you are in easy circum-
stances he said. You say you have
wife and three children. My dear SIR,
have a wife and eight children, and
have got to do something to make Nv
ing for them. If l throw away all the
money that / make, what are they going
to do for bread and meat? l can't do
IT,
Just then the boat whistted for Arrow
Rock, and Rollins called to the clerk to
pay his bet The clerk did so, and thea
Rollins threw $40 gold piece on the bar
and told the man behind it to call the
crowd up. Then he got off the boat.
This fellow Rollins was one of the
most noted of the old time river gam
blers. He told me once that he was
never beaten at the game but once, and
that was by a preacher.
81 got aboard he said, and spread
my layout In the crowd was preach
err. who appeared to be interestei. Final-
ly he said he could pick out the card
that I called. told him I'd bet him
hundred he could 81. He declared
that he was not betting man, but no
knew he could do the trick Then l got
reckless, and told him I'd give him fifty
II he would. And he did. Then found