FICKLE GAMEY. 



Hear the sledges with the bells, 



Silver bells! 

 What a world of merriment their melody foretells! 



-Poe. 



Yes, I'm a tout. What of it? You don't have to 

 look at my teeth to learn that. My harness, my shoes 

 and my tile tell the tale. Perhaps they have seen 

 better days. So have I, but, as they say in the ring, 

 I am down on my luck. Made good money up the 

 line, got gay, went up like a rocket and came down 

 like a stick. Trifle seamy! Well, rather; but 

 good things will come again. Am on to one for 

 to-day, and for a fifty spot you can be in with it. 

 Furnish the long green and I will gather the tickets 

 and split what we win. Are you on? Did you 

 shake your head? Well, I never! Ten, did you 

 say? That will help at times, but not for this one. 

 It is too good for a nibble. A tenner will do for a 

 heat, but when you find a forty to one shot, hit it- 

 See ! Hit it hard. Let them know you are on earth 

 and stepping through the deep footing. Get busy; 

 dip deep in the roll, so you will know you are playing. 

 Lose a little, or win a strip of Broadway. Do you 

 bite? What, did you shake your head again? Well, 

 there are others. Oh; I thought you would thaw. 

 Twenty-five, did you say? No nonsense. Peel a 

 hundred off your roll, and when they cash in to-night 

 you will have something. I'm on ! Jump in the 

 band wagon and let them play. It will give both of 



