Idaho semi-weekly world., 1893-11-21
SHE BEAT HIM OUT.
A CLEVER scHoOLMA'AM's ENcouN-
TER WITH a DESPERATE.

Black Bart. the Notorious Hiehwayman Of /
California, Onco Met . Real American
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 ec-
centric, and while holding up the coaches
in the Sierras he did the most unusual
things.
1t happened in the spring Of 1872. North
east Of Sacramento, about % miles. In tho
Sierra Nevada mountains, is 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
q fiat, 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 doing In the heat Of the sun, and the
driver was struggling to keep hiseyes open.
Inside the coach were seven passengers,
among whom was yonng woman bound
for Nevada to teach school. She was good
looking and plucky. She had been a 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 g Iasso flung
from among the bowlders overhead settled
3 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
4 time a 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
1 with their hands over their heads. The
order was promptly obeyed. When they
were in line, Black Bart, holding arevolver
in one hand and the lasso in the other,
stepped out from among the bowlders and
came down to where the coach stood
i After binding the guard securely, he pro-
ceeded to relieve the passengers Of their
money and valuables, tossing the plumber
into big sombrero that he had sat crown
down by the side of the road. In the pock-
cts of one of the passengers he found a pack
of playing cards. He threw them with the
rest OF his plunder into his hat. When be
, had finished searching the passengers, he
said:
'You can put your hands down now, gen
tlemen. 1t must be kinder awkw stand
in in that position Pm sorry to put you
to SO much trouble; but, you see, l had te
have money, and thought that this would
be a pretty good crowd to strike I'm
kinder ashamed of myself to put SO pretty
) woman as this 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. It was nt
Inconvenience at all.
, "You know mes" said Bart inquiringly.
'Pve heard you described SO often that
feel pretty well acquainted with you," re
piled the schoolteacher
The highwayman appeared to feel fiat
4 tered. Il admire your spunk," he said
i, Most women faint when they see me-"
1 II never saw man yet that I'd fain
. for" replied the woman, to the horror o
=, her fellow passengers, who were afraid sh
d would anger Bart and drive him to SOM
desperate end. A second or two later the
!, were stricken dumb with Amusement whel
!, she said:
: "Bart, I'll bet you that | can beat 20,
e one deal at stud poker II don't, you ma
:. kiss me. If do you must let this coac
!. and it's passengers go on with their propert
- without further trouble. Will you do it?
The proposition staggered Bart for an ir
u slant, but he recovered himself, and laugh
6 ing heartily said
y "Waal, miss, you beat any woman eve
Ia came across before. l never kiss woma
, unless she's willin, but If you want to tax
them chances I'll play you, but recko
you've givin me the best of the bargain"
The woman promptly Intimated that sh
was really anxious to play for those stake
and preparations were made for the gani
/ 1t was agreed that the driver should dcf
n the cards, and Bart insisted that the ha
z dozen passengers should stand up in ro
s. 20 PAGES away, so that he might detect an
attempt ut treachery. The teacher seIte
v herself ON a mail pouch that Bart ha
: dragged out for that purpose, and with Ii
:, rifle resting across his lap he settled hin
=" self on one knee short distance from her
i Word was given to start the game, IN
e. the driver threw the first card to Bart fax
q down. The next card fell at the feet OF ii
l. schoolteacher. Each player was now el
h titled to four cards, to be dealt face up, III
10 Bart caught the ace of clubs. while to Il
,t teacher fell the seven spot of diamond
!, The highwayman next caught the five spt
~ of hearts, and his face flushed and
~ smiled confidently, for the first card dea
to him was IL five spot, and he now held
pair. The teacher drew the deuce of di
mouds. Bart showed his elation when Il
IN next card that fell before him proved to
is the five spot of clubs He now had thr
a fives, and he was sure the game was hi
n. To the teacher fell the four spot of spade
90 Her luck was indeed wretehed, but 81
didn't seem tc be the least disconnected
= she looked over at Bart's pair of fives ar
lo then down at her seven spot high. tt
% last turn came, and the queen of clubs fe
m in front of Bart, and the seven spot
spades was the teachers draw. She had
pair of seven spots in sight.
Bart smiled "Your luck came late"
~ said. Pm afraid you'll lose the kiss, f
no here's another FIVE" He turned up Il
%, first card, and it gave him three fives.
You did we'll, sir" said the teache
a' but rve got another seven spot here, al
Is believe three of these are better than yol
Is, fives." She turned up the roll" card, al
a sure enough it was seven spot,
at Bart was set back for an instant, b.
ol- when he realized that he had been fair
beaten he smiled, and helping the teach
to her feet said: Gentlemen, I've lost
mighty big stake. Come up here, one at
il time, and get what belongs to you out
Id. that hat"
The passengers ioyfully obeyed the ords