"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 furt