The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-08-01
\ CLEVER SCH0OLMAAM
How She Drew Out in a Game
With Black Bart, the
Highwayman.
'avinQ tho Property and Value-
bles of a Stage Load Of
Passengers
Coolest Woman tho bandit RIVER Meta
Tale Of Early Days In the Far
West,

Black Bart, the notorious highwaymal
Of California, once during his career came
across an American woman who turned tn,
tables on him very cleverly. Bart was &c
centric, and while holding up the coache.
in the Sicrras he did the most uuusua
things.
1t happened in the spring of 1872. North
east Of Sacramento, about rs miles, in the
Sierra Nevada mountains, is n deep can
yon, at the head of which is Il beautiful fall
of water known IA 1.-THE Maiden's Tears
The Nevada City trail wound through the
canyon. Near the falls the trail lay across
a 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 doziug in the heat of the sun, and the
drive was struggling to keep his eyes open.
Inside the coach We're seven passengers,
among whom was y young m bound
for Nevada to teach school. She was good
looking and plueky. She had been \ teach
er four years in the mining districts of the
west, and she was 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 a 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 Il 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 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 oheyed. When they
were in line, Black Bart, holding revolver
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-
ceedcd to relieve the passengers OF their
money and valuables, tossing the plumber
into a big sombrcro that he had sat crown
down by the side of the road. In the peck
cts Of one of the passengers he found u pack
of playing cards. He threw them with the
rest of his plumber into his hat. When he
had finished searching tho passengers, he
said:
"You can put your hands down now, gen
tlelnen. 1t 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 q pretty good crowd to strike. Pm
kinder ashamed of myself to put go pretty
a woman asthis lady is to SO much trouble"
The highwayman 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 me?" said Bart inauiringly.
'I've heard you described so often that l
feel pretty well acquainted with you,' re-
piled the schoolteacher.
The h~ighwayman appeared to feel fiat
tered. Il admire you spunk," he said.
"Most women faint when they see me-"
II never saw a man yet that I'd faint
for" replied the woman, to 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 amazement when
she said:
Bart, Ill bet you that I can beat you
n deal at stud poker. If l don't, you may
kiss me. If / do, you must let this coach
and its passengers go on with their property
without further trouble. Will you do it,"
The proposition staggered Bart for an in
slant, but he recovered himself, and laugh
ing heartily said:
WAL, miss, you beat any woman | ever
came across before. never kiss Il woman
unless she's willin, but if you want to take
them chances Il play you, but | reckon
you've givin me the best of the bargain
The woman promptly intimated that she
was really anxious to plFN for those stakes,
and preparations were made for the game.
1t was agreed that the driver should deal
the cards, ai1 Bart insisted that the half
dozen passengers should stand up in a row
90 PAGES away, so that he might detect any
attempt at treachery. The teacher seated
herself on q mail pouch that Bart had
dragged out for that purpose, and with his
rifle resting across his lap he settled him
self on one knee Il short distance from her.
Word was given to start the gnme, and
the driver threw the first card to Bart face
down. The next card fell at the feet Of the
schoolteacher. Each player was now en-.
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,
u 81 illiII iiIAJ CdLGIb tut 1ltc SDDt
of hearts, and his face flushed and he
smiled confidently, for the first card dealt
to him was a five spot, and he now held n
pair. The teacher drew the deuce of die
monds. Bart bowed his citation when the
next card that fell before him proved to be
the five spot of clubs. He now had three
1ives, and he was sure the game was his.
To the teacher fell the four spot of spades.
Her luck was indeed wretched, but she
didn't seem to be the least Disconnected as
she looked over at Barts pair of fivcs and
then down at her seven spot high. The
last turn came, and the queen OF clubs fell
i'll front of Bart, and the seven spot of
spades was the teachers draw. She had a
pair Of seven spots III sight.
Bart smiled. Your luck came late" he
said. Ppm afraid you'll lose the kiss, for
here's another five" He turned M the
trst card, and 1t gave him three fyes.
You did well, sir" said the teacher.
but I've got another seven spot here, and
/ believe three of these are better than your
fHcs." She turned up the 'roll' card, and
sure enough it was u seven spot.
Bart was set pack for an instant. but
when he realized that he had been fairly
beaten he smiled, and helping the teacher
to her feet said: "Gentlemcn, Tvc lost n
mighty big stake. Come up here, one at n
time, and get what belongs to YOU out of
that hat"
The passengers ~joyfully obcyed the order,
Bart retained their firearms. In IL few mo
ments tLc passengers We're i'll the coach and
We're going up the trail with a dash.
When the story of the schoolteacher,s