The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-03-31
THE ROMANCE OF FlR-TOP.

Up long, rOck-Walled Colorado
mountain road crept Il swaying, yellow
painted stage-coach. With heaving
chests the dappled leaders strained the
thick tugs, While the driver idly swung
his whip and shot streams of amber
at saucy chipmunlSs Two passengers
were walking They were tourist
from Boston and the manager OF the
Horseshoe Mining company, Horseshoe
stock being at low-water mark, the
manager showed every possible mark
of attention to his companion, who, il
appearances counted for anything, was
quite well-to-do. On the box with the
driver sat youthful person, with an
oldiSh face. surmOunted by Il pocket
hat Something in his manner denoted
an acquaintance with the vicissitudeS
of life in all it's aspects. The driver
looked at him curiously and cracked
his whip.
Ever in hold-up, partner?"
"Yes''
~1Tho't 50. Ever helt up by a wo-
man! sa~~a
''Tho't not. wuz onct. Want ter
hear bout it,"
The passenger looked sharply UP and
said: rs it true story?'
Dye s'pose I could stuff you?"
Il think not
That's what lowed
All right, then. Pitch in," exclaimed
che other.
See that bend up thar whar tn road
slips round benin tn mount'n?"
Yes
THAT ar's tn place.
What were the circumstances?
"They wuz a pile r circumstances.
Member Dick Brandt"
Where did he ive?"
Fir Top"
II was never in Fir Top.
You will be soon. Dick Brand wuZ
a wunner. Keep tn hotel II Tir Top.
Gould drink mo- whisky than any other
man in tn country. An gamble! Gam
bled is clo'es away onct. Some Teller
gin i'm a hoss-blanket ter wear home.
What You 'spOSe he wanted ter Go
them"
Don't know What was it?''
Wanted ter bet tn hoss-blanket
agin' quart T Ticker. Dick Brand had
two darters, Linda an Bet Linda
marr'd tn fo'man Of TIL Royal Flush
here las spring
We'll, Dick gambled an drunk,
drunk an gambled his time away
Doc Martin come ter town, fer tn
boys all liked Linda an Bet, SO when
ever Dick wrN losin', they'd make tn
squeezers run his way while.
When Doc Martin struck tn diggin's
he put on lots of side 18th his stove-pipe
hat an yaller gloves. First time e
seen Linda, e smirked lot an purity
soon 'twuz goin' tn rouns that tn Doc
wuz lovin' Brands gal. Linda wanted
none T. his love, an she tOle i'm so.
Bin a white man, he'd r let her be
then. But Q want. So what dyer
s'pose e done?"
7Dont know. What was it?'
''Say! Is them ar fellers back thar in
sight yit?'
Yes. They're just this side the
bend"
whoa, thar, you devils. Hor up yer
heads, will yer, an stan steddy. Why,
Doc Martin got playin' poker 18th Dick
Brand. Martin wuz dandy 18th tn
cards, an won all + tn pore fools
dust Dick wrz wild ter git is money
back, of co'se, an asst Martin ter wait
tel e could go out an borry some stuff
from somer tn boys. Martin then up
an smiled a Chinee smile an pulled a
roll r bills outen is inside coat-pocket.
Jest a roun' thousan' dollars. He
slapped tn bundle down on tn table
an'-say, amt you fellers tired'r
waikiki? Vas, I s'posed you WIZ.
Cline in, an be darned quick bout it,
fer I'm goin ter rattle down this slope
like tornader tearin' up Kansas
farms. Air you ready? G'lang ye sons
r Belzebub. Say, pardner wharf
bouts wuz at when bit it off?'
You we're saying that Martin put up
his cash."
"Sure. rikkolect now. Well, Dick
Jumped up like a vile bronx when he
seen tn pile. More money'u he'd laid
eyes on sence TIL railroad WIZ built UP
ter Sunset Martin tOle i'm eff he'd
make out morgedge on tn hotel fel
one thousan' dollars, payable in a
years time, 18th intrust at 8 per cent
he'd stack tn col thOusan' agin tn
,dockyment
Brand done it like tn loon that e
wuz. Martin knowed a lot r lawyer
.doin's, an e drawed up tn paper, an
couple of his crOny's from down tn
valley that wuz thar signed fer wit
ness.
Then tn cards wuz dealt. Martin
discarded three, Dick jest tuck one
An, by gum, pardner, III eat tn of
leader eff Dick didn't lose.'
What did Martin have?"
-Four aces. Dick had full house
an Martin done tn dealin'.'
'Of course he fixed the cards, bu1
why did he act as if he wanted to draw
his opponent on when it was simple
showdown"
Jest fer straight deviltry. Soon as
e had pore Dick foored, e showed
what e wuz leadin' fer. Plunked tn
cash down on tn morgedge an Offered
Dick both fer his gal Linda. In case
Brand refused, e wuz ter be sol outer
house an home
dick uz clean white an true ter his
gals, even f e did play fool at gamblin'
Tole Martin ter go somers down 'bou1
Mexico-that amt the place he said
but it's in tn neighborhood Shuck il