The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-05-28

was q character who had an existence
and q location at Deer Trail Col. Fine
possessed large amount of personality,
as, indeed, did many of the sturdy cow
men of the plains. He was the owner
of large herds of cattle, and, by the use
of the unlimited range afforded by Uncle
Sans vacant land, had only to take
care of what he had and watch himself
grow rich.
Besides his cattle business, he was al
so an expert gambler, and, as nearly
everybody in this western country in
dulged in this kind of pastime, he
found no difficulty in providing himself
with partners to his hearts content
There seemed to be method in his indul-
gence. for he nearly always pocketed the
stakes and increased his possessions
thereby.
In the conduct of his business he en-
ployed quite large number of cowboys
and with these, in one way and another,
he would manage to play until their
earnings were all exhausted, and at the
end of the season they would have no
thing TO show for their work.
Among the rest whom he employed
one spring for this kind OF work was
Pat Drake. Pat was fine-looking
young fellow, skilled in all the arts that
90 to make an expert cowboy, at home
in the saddle, and toying with II lariat
rs child would a plaything. Another
fact, not so well understood in camp,
was that he was very expert at cards,
and would play whenever he was invit-
ed with all the nonchalance with which
he engaged in every duty or pleasure
that fell to his lot.
The old mat Htson was another large
cattle owner who lived at Deer Tail. He
was formerly from Texas, and had q
large family comprising two daughters
and several sons. He was of the lawless
renegade sort who had always brought
odium on the whole fraternity of cow
boys and cattlemen, and his family par
took of these characteristics
One daughter, Nellie, though uncouth
and rude, as with her surroundings she
could not help being, was nevertheless
possessed of finer sensibilties, higher as
pirations, and more affectionate tenn
permanent than the rest.
Emmett had all along admired Nellie,
and it had generally been understood,
by the family and others who knew
them, that they would eventually unite
their destinies. But when Pat Drake,
with his handsome face and dashing
ways, came into the camp, it was easy
to be seen that he made an impression
upon the fair Nellie and was himself
smitten with her.
The reckless, happy-go-lucky Pat rode
the range faithfully during the day, and
was ready for any proposed amusement
in the evening. 1t not unfrequently
happened that by some coincidence he
met and spent a portion of the evening
with Nellie.
Though his services were valuable, he
was not long in seeing that he was not
liked by his employer, and was also
aware that the Hitson boys were far
from regarding him with favor.
An instructive feeling that Pat was
his equal, or some sort of reluctance, had
prevented Emmett from playing with
him. One evening after several months
service, however, they met ut the saloon
when Jesse Hitson was present After
significant wnks had passed between
him and Emmett, the latter invited Pat
to play, and they were soon seated and
playing in dead earnest. Emmett soon
became aware of the fact that he had
met no "tcnderfoot," but he was bound
to win, ut least, the amount he was ow-
ing Pat for his services. Pat, however,
steadily led the game and Emmett found
himself as steadily losing, at which he
began 10 play more recklessly, and en-
deavored by staggering TO intimidate
Pat. The latter kept perfectly cool,
however, and continued to pocket the
stakes. The amount of the winnings
had now reached several hundred dol
lars, and Emmett decided TO put stop
to it some way, and finally he angrily
exclaimed:
"You are cheating, Patr'
ut is lie!' said Pat quietly, and al
most in the same breath.
Both men grasped for their revolvers,
but Pat was surprised to hear Jesse Hit
son say, coolly:
Don't We pull your gun, Pat; I've got
the drop on ye."
For an instant Pats GOODNESS left him,
as he saw the fearful odds against him;
then everybody was startled by hearing
female voice saying:
"'Hide out Jesse Hitson, or will let
daylight through you! Give your gun
to the bartender and go through that
door quick" Then. almost in the same
breath, Nellie, for she it was, added:
'Pull your gun, Pat! / have got the
drop on both of them, and am going to
see fair play" Then, when she had
seen Jesse out of the door and Pats re-
volver in position, she said to Emmett:
Now, Fine Emmett, you put up or shut
up! Back out or go on and play just as
you choose, but if you do play, 1 will see
that it is done fair. In fact, 1 never
would have interfered but for some re-
marks overheard Jesse make, and
from which / concluded Pat would have
noschance against both of YOU"
There was something about backing
out, and that, too, in the presence of
Nellie, that Emmett could not bear, and
so he concluded to try his luck still fur
Their. His playing was of such spirit
less character, however, that Pat had a
complete victory. His winnings grew
considerably larger, and 200 head of