The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-30

The other afternoon made pilgrimage
10 the grave Of Chunky Towles. 1t is hard
by the outskirts OF this village, in an old
family burial ground, wherein, surrounded
by less celebrated and more respectable OF
his kith and kin. the famous gambler lies
by the side of four brothers. placed in reRu-
lar sequence CT birth and death, for all the
world like a straight flush of spades. The
sun was slowly sinking behind an elbow OF
Short mountain, half raised. as it were, to
throw a last triumphant beam upon the
green mound of ono who had many time
thus held his best trump for the last, and
not sound could be heard except the mill
wheel on Charley's creek making mufhed
noise like the distant shutting of cards,
with An occasional pause and jerk. like the
rattle of stack Of chips. Upon broad,
upright tablet of marble. somewhat the
worse for age and exposure, and tilted back
little as chair might be when occupied
by a gentleman in the act of seeing another
Kentleman's raise, and raise him back
again, there appeared in letters bold, round
and open the simple legend
HERE
LIE THE REMAINS
OF
OLIVER TOWLES.
Born June 20, 1903, died March 8. 1856.
Aged 81 yrs, 8 m. and II dys.
The addition of another line, 'They
called him Chunky for luck" was only
needed to complete this history; for no
man was better known in his day, from
Pittsburg to NewO rleans. from Cincinnati
to Mobile, than Chunky Towles!
lnl n ofo ,11
had settled at an early period in Virginia,
albeit, undistinguished by alliance with the
house of Powhatten (the Towles being, as a
matter of fact, mostly blondesD Chunky
Iowles was not what would be considered
in the modern sense an educated man. He
disdained the small arts and airs of cult
ure, and in his very boyhood there arose q
dissonance between him and the school
master which he could never quite over
and passion for deciphering heiroglyphics,
particularly upon the backs of knaves, and
even of kings and queens. and was
we'll versed in the ancient Egyptian lore
OF Faro. Indeed, the whole literature
of the pictorial pasteboaras he held at his
fingers ends. and could flip Jack from
the bottom of the pack, or the middle. as
she case might require. as deftly as Mr..
Speaker Reedscan snatch democrat out OF
his seat. to make room for republican.
MOI LOO LaAls ltk0 liz OSoIuCA. AAguuA. duO
always prone to embonpoint, he possessed
aperson of admirable proportions before
his close application and sedentary habits
had augmented his adipose from the left t.
right In disregard of the perpendicula
lines; and to the date of dire tragedy
which darkened the later years of his life
his temper was Of the gayest.
There was nothing Of the John Oakhurs
about him. He got great deal OF fun on
of his work, and when it had to be done
be, like Ariel. did his spiritinR SO sweetl
! and SO neatly that its victims commonl
exclaimed. Let him do it again." He be
scame both wonder and teRro
20 his professional colleagues; TO
he was constantly performing acts Q
multiplied kindness and charity to tn
unseasoned and inexpert among his patrons
1t was his rule to ruin no man. be often
es the saying was in tnose days "wen
broke" himself. rather than drive custo
mer to the wal; and, a. often. he intelpose
g rescue very young, players from the toll
Gzayheard hsreaEo1ts, Who. in moments Q
0o0A1enee and sGasion. recalls, with