Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-08-02
SHE BEAT HIM OUT.
A CLEVER scHooLmAAm's ENcoUN-
TER WITH A DESPERATE.

Black Bart. the notorious hiEhwayman
acroas an American woman who turned the
tables on him very cleverlY Bart was &c
centric, and while holding up the coaches
In the sierras he did tho mest unusual
things
1t happened in the spring Of lSse North.
east Of Sacramento, about Is miles, in the
Sierra Nevada mountains, is a deep can-
yon. at the head OF which is a beautiful fall
OF water known as ''The MRiden's Tears"
The Nevada City trail wound through the
canyon. Near the falls tho trail lay across
n fat, 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 tine side Of the driver,
was doing 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 a young woman bound
for Nevada to teach school. She was good
looking and plucky. She had been teach
er four years in the mining districts Of the
west, and she wis thoroughly acquainted
with the customs Of the rough element In
the midst OF which she lived.
The coach had reached the center OF the
open space when the moose Of lasso flung
from among the bowlders overhead settled
over the shoulders and arms OF the drowsy
guard, and ia the twinkllug Of an eye be
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 a protest. The passenger, stuck
their heads through the couch doors just in
time 10 receive an invitation from thevoice
among the rocks to step down and line up
with their hands over their heads The
order WINS promptly obeyed. When they
were in line, Black Bart, holding revolver
in one hand and the lassO ia the other,
stepped out from among the powders and
came down 70 where the coach stood.
After binding the guard securely, he pro-
ceeded to relieve the passengers Of their
money and yaluables, tossing the plumber
into a big s0mbrero that he had sat crown
down by the side % the read Ia the peck
cts Of one Of the passengers be found pack
OF playing cards. He threw them with the
rest Of his plumber into his hat. When he
had finished searching the passengers, he
said:
You can put your hands down now. gen
tlemen II must be kinder awkward stand
ia 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 nahamed OF myself to put so pretty
woman as this lady is to so much trouble"
The LighwaymAn smiled apologetically
on the young schoolteacher. who aston
ished her fellow passengers by smiling back
at the robber and saying.
Don't worry yourself, Bart. 1t was no
Inconvenience at all
you know mel" said Bart inquiringly.
1--WE heard you described 80 often that
feel pretty well acquainted with you,n re-
piled the EchOOltencher.
The bighwayman appeared 10 feel fiat.
tered II admire your spunk," he said.
"Most women faint when they sce me"
81 never saw man yet that I'd faint
for,n replied the woman, 10 the horror OF
her fellow passengers, who were afraid she
would anger Bart and drive him to some
desperate end. a second or two later they
were stricken dumb with amazenent when
she said:
Bart, III bet you that | can beat you
one deal at stud poker. II ! don't, you may
kiss me, II ! do, you must let this coach
aud It's passengers 90 on with their property
without further trouble. VIII you do itfn
The proposition staggered Bart for an in
slant. but he recovered himself, and laugh
ing heartily Ntidi
"Waal, Miss you beat any woman ever
came across before I never kiss a woman
unless she's willin, but II you want TO take
them chances III play you, but | reckon
you've giyin me the best Of the bargain
The woman promptly intimated that she
was really anxious 70 play for those stakes,
and preparations were nude for the game
Il was agreed that the driver should dea'
the cards, and Bart insisted that the hal.
dozen passengers should stand up IN row
20 PAGES away 30 that lac might detect any
attempt at treachery. The teacher seated
herself on a mail pouch that Bart had
dragged out for that purpose, aud with his
rifle resting across his lap he settled him
self on one knee a short distance from her.
Word was given TO start the gnine, and
the driver threw the first card to Bart face
down, The next card fell ut the feet OF the
school;eachcr. Each player was now en-.
titled 70 four cards, TO be dealt faceup, and
Bart caught the ace OF clubs, while to the
teacher fell tho seven spot Of diamonds
The highwuyman next caught the i've spot
Of hearts. and his face flushed and be
smiled confidently. for tho first card dealt
10 him was a ESQ spot, and he now held
pair. The teacher drew the deuce OF dia-
mouls Bart showed his clation when tue
next card that fell before him proved to be
the Ave spot Of clubs. He now had three
fiyes, and lie was sure the game was his.
To the teacher fell the four spot VI spades.
Her luck was indeed wretehed hut she
didn't seem TO be- the least disconcertrd ms
she looked over at Bart's pair Of l.vcs and
then down at her seven spot h y The
last turn came, and the queen Of clubs fell
In front Of Bart, and the seven spot Of
spades was the teachers draw. She had
pair Of seven spots In sight.
Bart smiled. Your luck came late" he
said, Pm afraid you'll lose the kiss, for
here's another i've" lie turned up the
first card, and il gave him three fivcs
You did we'll, sir" said the teacher,
'but I've got another seven spot here, and
believe three OF these are better than your
nves." She turned up the "roll" card, and
sure enough IL was seven spot.
Bart was set back for IN instant, but
when he realized that he had been fairly
beaten he smiled, and helping the teacher
To her feet said; Gentlemen, I've lost a
mighty big stake. Come up here, one at a
time, and get what belongs to you out Of
| that hat"
The passengers ioyfully obeyed the order,
Bart retained their firearms In few mo-
ments the passengers were In the coach and
| were going uD the trail with "a danh.