ten o'clock
But before the remainder of us proceeded to our destinations two of the boys discovered a splendid opening for a monte game , in which we could easily recoup all our expenses for the trip . I was the only dissenter to the programme , not even knowing the game ; but under the pressure which was brought to bear I finally yielded , and became banker for my friends . The results are easily told . The second night there was heavy play , and before ten o'clock the monte bank closed for want of funds , it having been tapped for its last dollar . The next morning I took stage for Dallas , where I arrived with less than twenty dollars , and spent the most miserable Christmas day of my life . I had written George Edwards from Denver that I expected to go to Missouri , and asked him to take my horses and go out to the little ranch and brand my calves . There was no occasion now to contradict my advice of that letter , neither would I go near the Edwards ranch , yet I hungered for that land scrip and roundly cursed myself for being a fool .