Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-10-09
SHE BEAT HIM OUT.
A CLEVER scHooLMA'AM'S ENcouN-
 TER WITH A DESPERADo.


 Woman Who Played Game of Poker With Him For Odd Stakes.
 Black Bart, the notorious hiGhwayman of California, once during his career came across an American woman who turned the tables on him very cleverly. Bart was cc- centric, and while holding up the coaches in the Sierras he did the most unusual things.
 It happened in the spring of 1872. North east of Sacramento, about D miles, in the Sierra Nevada mountains, is n deep can yon, at the head of which is a beautiful fall of water known as The Maiden's Tears" The Nevada City trail wound through the canyon. Near the falls the trail lay across n flat, open space, with the stream on one side and piles of huge powders on the other.
 A coach was crossing the open space. The
 guard, on the seat by the side of the driver,
 was dozing in the heat of the sun, and the
 driver was struggling to keep his eyes open.
 Inside the coach were seven passengers, among whom was young woman bound for Nevada to teach school. She was good
 looking and plucky. She had been n teach CT four years in the mining districts of the
 west, and she was thoroughly acquainted with the customs of the rough element in l
 The coach had reached the center of the | open space when the moose of n lasso flung from among the powders overhead settled over the shoulders and arms of the drowsy
 guard, and in the twinkling of an eye he was hauled to the ground. At the same time deep voice, calling from among the
 rocks, ordered the driver to stop the horses
 and hold up his hands. The driver obeyed
 without protest. The passengers stuck ! their heads through the coach doors just in time to receive an invitation from the voice
 among the rocks to step down and line up
 with their hands over their heads. The | order was promptly obeyed. When they
 were in line, Black Bart, holding a revolver 1 in one hand and the lasso in the other, | stepped out from among the powders and
 came down to where the coach stood. After binding the guard securely, he pro | ccedCd to relieve the passengers of their | money and valuables, tossing the plunder ! into big sumbrero that he had sat crown down by the side of the road. In the pock- l cts of one of the passengers he found pack
 of playing cards. He threw them with the 1 rest of his plunder into his hat. When he | had finished searching the passengers, he said:
 | You can put your hands down now, gen tlemen. It must be kinder awkward stand | in in that position I'm sorry to put you
 to SO much trouble; but, you see, had to
 have money, and thought that this would | be pretty good crowd to strike. I'm | kinder ashamed of myself to put so pretty n woman as this lady is to so much trouble" The highwaymau smiled apologetiCally on the young schuolteacher, who aston | ished her fellow passengers by smiling back at the robber and saving:
 Don't worry yourself, Bart. It was no l inconvenience at all
 You know met" said Bart inquiringly. I've heard you described so often that
 feel pretty well acquainted with you,' re ! piled the schooltcacher.
 The highwayman appearrd -0 fee flat | tered. "I admir-. yOIr sunk" he said.
 Most women f;iiuC when they see me"
 "I never saw q man yet that I'd faint | fur,n replied the woman, to the horror of | her fellow passengers, who were afraid she i would anger Bart and drive him 10 some | desperate eEd. A second or two later they l were stricken dumb with amusement when | she su,,i:
 Bart. I'll bet you that l can beat you
 one deal lt stud poker. If don't, you may ] kiss me. If d", you must let this coach
 and it's pas.cucrrs % on with their property 1 without further trouble. Will you do itr" The proposition staggered Bart for an in l >tnut, but he recovered himself, and laugh | ing heartily said:
 "W;tal miss you beat any woman l ever l came across before. l never kiss a woman l | them chances I'll play you, but l reckon
 you've givin me the best of the bargain" The woman promptly intimated that she
 was really anxious to play for those stakes, and preparations were made for the game. | It was agreed that the driver should deal l the cards, and Bart insisted that the half | dozen passengers should stand up in q row
 70 paces away, so that he might detect any
 attempt at trcachery. The teacher seated l herself on n mail pouch that Bart had | dragged out for that purpose, and with his 1 rifle resting across his lap he settled him | self on one knee short distance from her Word was given to start the game, ana ! the driver threw the first card to Bart face down. The next card fell ut the feet of tle
 schoolteachcr. Each player was now en 1 titled to four cards, to be dealt face up, and | Bart caught the ace of clubs, while to the | teacher fell the seven spot of diamonds. ! The highwaymar next caught the five spot
 of hearts, and his face flushed and he | smiled confidently, for the first card dealt l to him was five spot, and he now held n
 pair The teacher drew the deuce of dia
 munds. Bart showed his elation when the ! next card that fell before him proved to be | the five spot of clubs. He now had three i lives, and he was sure the game was his | To the teacher fell the four spot of spades | Her luck was indeed wrctChed, but she
 didn't seem tC be the least diSconcerted a4 l she looked over at Bart $ pair of lives and
 then down at her seven spot high. The | last turn came, and the queen of clubs fell | in front of Bart, and the seven spot of | spades wnS hc teachers draw. She had a
 pair of seven spots in Sis Int.
 Bart smiled Your luck came late" he
 said I'm afraid you'll lose the kiss, for
 here's another five" He turned up the
 first card, and it gave him three lives
 "NOu did we'll, sir" said the teacher
 but I've got another seven spot here, and
 l believe three of these are better than your | fircs." She turned up the roll" card, and
 sure enough it was q seven spot.
 Bart was set back for an instant, but
 when he realized that he had been fairly
 beaten he smiled, and helping the teacher ! to Ter feet said: "Gentlemen, I've lost q
 mighty big stake. Come up here, one at n
 time, and get what belongs to you out of ! that hat"
 l The passengers jOyfully obeyed the order
 Ba,t retained their firearms. In a few mo
 Ilrnts the passengers were in the coach and l were going up the trail with dash.
 When the story of the schoolteacher', l pluck was told at Nevada City, the citizens 1 presented her with n handsome gold watch
 and the express company gave her a check ! for $l.OO. The brave woman still lives in l A prosperous Nevada town, where she be
 came the wife oi prominent lawyer.-SL i Louis Globe Dem 'Irat
 ONE OF TOM CoRWIN's FRANKS.
 How He Rid His Sister of the Attentions