Omaha daily bee., 1890-11-10

perceiving the meaning of the two valises
full OF guns W9
Mr.. William Dresser proceeded:
"Now, mate" by thiScndearing term
he was kind enough 70 designate the
writer)' I've got q pardner, which his
name is Jim Farley. .Jim's cute and up
to more tricks than l am, and twas he
that worked out this plant. It's Jest this
way: Wen we mark down railroad
camp go on ahead and strike the boys
jest before n ay-day, SOS to make sure
that they'll be out OF cash. We'll, Iopen
up the game, and some on 'cm drops. in
and hangs round, gloomy like Pres.
emily they lets me know ther' amt any
money in the camp. seq, cheerfully.
| that this don't make no differ. I'm
willing to meet the boys more'n half
way. Them as hasn't any rocks can
plank down their guns ut an agreed val
uation, and there we are-nothin' to
hinder the game. The BOYS don't need
a second askin' and | corrals all the guns
in the camp-seep By'n by payday
comes around, and then my pardner
takes up the runnin', sails into the: camp
and collars the shinplasters. Just here's
where the fine work comes in. Ef the
boys had their guns, ten to one they'd
fill my pardner full of lead, but I've
has time to clear out with his winnin's
before the crowd can get cool enough to
organize n lynchin' party. It's an all
fired combination, and works like a
charm"
So saying. Bill Dresser beamed upon
me as though he had been relating the
most praiseworthy and philanthropic of
actions and his eye so clearly expressed
con iidence in my admiration that really
felt embarrassed at being unable to en-
dorse the combination heartily and
| without prejudice. But he was not de-
pendent upon the cold charity of the
world for appreciation. The mere sight
of the two valises tickled him, and he
could not touch one with hisfoot without
| breaking into a gatiaw. Suddenly u
| thought struck and for a moment
sobered him. He put his hand upon my
knee, and dropping his voice "a little, OBJ
served feelingly:
| a big pile eft weren't for one thing. /
cau't stand off old ryel That's my weak
| point and its broken up no end o. prom
isin' plants. Some day"-here his
| gloom deepened-'I expect it'll lead to
| my passin' in my checks prematoorly.
Here he paused and fell into q refec-
tive mood, which did not interrupt.
The most striking point in this man
| was the placid unconsciOusness of abnor-
mality which marked his easy relation.
1t was evident that he did not regard
himself as in any respect singular, nor
| did he think his occupation one to be
ashamed of. Living wholly with those
| who did the same or worse, this was
natural enough, but law-abiding
| people commonly make the mis-
| inl IF hot 1nu Ia
| fully recognize their lawlessness. Hence
the false conceptions of black -browed,
saturnine desperadoes to be found in fic-
tion-creatures who are filed with re-
morse, rage and despair. Such charac-
| ters do not exist. Your real outlaw may
| no doubt be sullen and evil-tempered,
but he is quite as likely to be debonnair,
| genial and CHEEKY, and to go through
the world with light heart, caring only
for the paudits of men who hold the
same views with himself, and neither
comprehending nor troubling himself
about the condemnation of that respec-
table element of society which he ig-
nores or mildly despises. Bill Dresser
| was typical outlaw, and thoroughly
acclimated to his environments. He sim
cerely took pride in Jim Farley's> com
bination, and he saw no reason why an
ordinary, intelligent stranger should
not share his opinion. He was docid-
edly interesting study. and when, in an
swer to my questions, he avowed an in
innate knowledge of the game called
"three-card monte" and proceeded to
instruct me in the mysteries of the
Joker" the instruction became still
more novel and amusing. | do not
| think L was very apt scholar, FOR really
the only impression | carried away was
a conviction that whoever played three
card monte'in the hope and expectation
of winning money deserved to be put in
a lunatic asylum. Yet at the time, and
indeed long afterward, monte players so
infested the Central and the Union Pa
cific railroads, and victimized so many
passengers, that the companies found it
necessary to place warning placards in
every car, besides doing their utmost to
keep the gamblers off the lines. Bill
Dresser was quite proud of his sleight-
of-hand skill, but he did not try to in
duce me to bet. and | have sometimes
thought that he may have had n vague
feeling of disinclination to fleece one tC
whom he had revealed himself so fully.
AS he intimateda purpose to introduce
the Combination" at the Central Pacific
front, thought it my duty to inform the
superintendent of the plot, and~when
| +hi' bitooSi uPpipe.Nhou WIG S'olip iiO
was politely but firmly invited to go
somewhere else. [ did not meet him
again. What follows was gathered from
other sources and by scraps and frag-
ments. 1t seems that when he went
back to "Kill-Me Quick he found his
partner impatiently awaiting his return,
Farlev's immediate presence at the east
being required in the interest of some
other ''plant "-no doubt criminal-but
of what nature never learned. Before
leaving Bills ''pardner" had to de.
termine whether to let the joint capital
remain in Dresser's hands and be en-
ployed by him as usual in keeping the
gaming house in operation, or whether
the game should be closed during his
absence Prudence suggested the second
course; avarice supported the first Far
ley had no fear that his partner would
run away with the funds, and this fact
spoke rather strongly for Bill, since
there are not many of his kidney who
are above temptation and superior to
opportunity. What Farley did fear was
Bills addiction to ''old rye" for he was
always liable to get on what he called
'iamboree" aud if he did, the
funds would certainly,be lost. Dresser,
however swore so solemnly to shun the
flowing bowl, and represented so strongly