The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-05-25

hands on which Jimmy had won the most
money had been set up for him to lose, moth
ing having saved him but phenomenal luck
IN the outcome of his freak-draws.
One thing was certain, Jimmy had their
money in his pocket, more than eight hundred
dollars of it, and the only thing left to be done
was to get of the boat with it. Atkins said
the colored walters had told him Jimmy
couldn't never get away wild dat money, no
how" and he judged that the cattle mems
plan was simply to keep a mans money if
they won it; but if a man won theirs, they
would take it away from him by some means
or other. 1t was this part of their program
that had given the cattle men such an evil
reputation.
Fearing some such conclusion to the pres
ent adventure, Atkins pleaded with Jimmy
not to go on to Helena, but to leave the boat
when Atkins left it. Jimmy had done all he
came to do. He had played the game. He
had won their money, All he had to do now
was towalk ashore with his winnings, and take
another boat down to Helena. To all this
Jimmy agreed.
But the cattle men had other plans.
Knowing that Jimmy's friend was to leave
the boat at the first landing they would make
after supper, they said nothing about resum-
ing the game, but talked about seeing the two
off, and wishing them good luck, and so forth.
Keeping up this friendly talk and passing
round the cigars, they suggested that the
whole party should take look at the boats
cargo, which was on the lower deck, of course.
Once down there in the darkness, with no
one but few colored roustabouts lolling
round the stove near the stern, the cattle men
quickly threw off the mask of friendship,
Chippy Heinz drawing knife and barring
the way back to the upper deck.
"You may as well cough up that stuff you
won from us, young feller," began the spokes-
man of the party. eve was all of us watching
your little tricks, but we didn't say nothing
afore strangers in the cabin. You're dirty
card-sharper and you've been stacking the
cards on us right along. Now, you just hand
over that wad of our good money, and we
won't say nothing about it,
In spite of Jimmy's indignant protests,
they supported one another in their assertions
that they had seen him cheating.
eff you don't hand over that money pretty
quick" said Fatty, coming close up to Jimmy,
"weu take, it from you, and some of your
hide with it."
The man with the knife, pushing Atkins
back, stepped close up to Jimmy's side, and
brandished the blade in his face, asking him if
the light was good enough for him to see what
that was.
"Looks to me like it was made in Ger
many" was all the response he got. We
sell that kind at the store"
Atkins was thoroughly frightened and
begged his friend to settle with the gentle
men" at once, but Jimmy only laughed.
off they want my money, let them go
through my clothes for it." he said. eff
they think I'm a cheat, let them be thieves.
Then we'll be square"
Just then the bell rang for Tommy Atkins
landing, and one of the cattle men told
him to stay RICH where he was while another
went to his stateroom and fetched his grip
and overcoat. Atkins was so thoroughly
frightened that it was not necessary to tell
him twice not to speak above whisper, nor
to dare to give look or sign of warning, but
to walk right off the boat, and straight up the
levee and to stay there until the boat pulled
out. Then two of them escorted him to the
gang-plank only few seconds before it was
pulled in. A moment later and the pine torch
was doused and Tommy was in the darkness
on the bank
Alone with Jimmy, the men found him as
insolent as ever, and open in the expression OF
his opinion that they were lot of buffers.
eco ahead with your rat-killing," was all
they could get out of him in response to their
threats. you'll never get a cent out of me
unless you take it from my dead body"
Evidently exasperated by his repeatedly
calling them buffers, and telling them he
didn't care what they talked about doing, but
to go ahead and do something, they finally
held hurried consultation and one of them
left the group for minute or two, returning
with rope.
Before Jimmy knew what they were about
they had his arms tied behind him, and were
hustling him toward the side of the boat, be.
hind the big piles of cotton bales, where il
was so dark they could hardly see one another
After getting him alongside the walking beam
of the engine, which swung slowly up and
down for about fifteen feet at the side of the
boat, they stopped to tell him some of the
dreadful things they had done to other mer
whom they had caught cheating, and advised
him to "quit his fooling" and settle up, there
being five of them against him, and no one
near but few colored roustabouts, who knew
better than to interfere with white folks. Il
he did not hand over that money within five
minutes, they would tie him up to the walking
beam of the engine and leave it to pull the Life
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