The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-08-04
SHE BEAT HIM OUT.
A CLEVER soAoolMA'AMs ENcouN-
TER WITH A DESPERATE.


TER WITH A DESPERATE.
Black hart, the Notorious Highvayman Of
California, Once Met q Real American
Woman who Played q 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 co
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 25 miles, in the
Sierra Nevada mountains, is q deep can
yon, at the head Of which is beautiful fall
of water known as 1.-THE Maiden's Tears"
The Nevada City trail wound through the
canyon. Near the falls the trail lay across
"a fat, open space, with the stream on one
sido 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 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 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 lasso flung
from among the powders overhead settled
over the shoulders and arms Of the drowsy
guard, and in tho 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 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 obeycd. When they
were in line, Black Bart, holding srevolver
in one hand and the lasso in the other
stepped out from among the powders aud
came down to where the coach stood.
After binding the guard securely, he pro
lceeded to relieve the passengers of their
money and yaluables, tossing the plumber
into big sombrero that he had sat crown
down by the side of the road. In the peck
cts of one of the passengers he 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. 1t must be kinder awkward stand
in in that position. Pm 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
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. 1t was no
inconvenience at all"
| "You know mei" said Bart inquiringly.
i've heard you described SO often that
feel pretty well acquainted with you," re-
piled the schoolteacher.
The highwayman appeared to feel fiat
tered. II admire your spunk," he said.
Most women faint when they see me-"
II never saw 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, I'll bet you that I can beat you
one deal at stud poker. If don't, you may
kiss me. If l do, you must let this coach
and its passengers go on with their property
without further trouble. Will you do itY"
i The proposition staggered Bart for an in.
Y rts-.t, h--. h. -seavs"ad himself. -aA le.,esl.
ing heartily said:
WAL miss, you beat any woman ever
came across before. l never kiss woman
, unless she's willin, but il you want to take
them chances I'll play you, but reckon
1 you've givin me the best Of the bargain"
Il The woman promptly intimated that she
was really anxious to play for those stalk es,
and preparations were made for the game.
1t was agreed that the driver should deal
the cards, and Bart insisted that the half
dozen passengers should stand up in row
20 PAGES away, so that he might detect any
attempt ut treachery. The teacher seated
herself on 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 short distance from her
Word was given to start the game, and
the driver threw the first card to Bart face
down. The next card fell at the feet of the
J schoolteacher. Each player was now en-.
y 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.
4 The highwayman next caught the five spot
of hearts, and his face flushed and he
! smiled confidently, for the first card dealt
to him was liN spot, and he now held a
| pair. The teacher drew the deuce of dia-
: - L a.
, next card that fell before him proved to be
the five spot of clubs. He now had three
i 6ves, 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 Bart's pair of fiyes 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 was the teachers draw. She had n
pair of seven spots in sight
II 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 fives
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
Il ives." She turned up the roll" card, and
sure enough il was 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 her feet said: Gentlemen, I've lost n
mighty big stake. Come up here, one at a
time, AMI get what belongs to you out of
that hat"
The passengers joyfully obeyed the order.
Bart retained their firearms. In few mo-
ments the passengers were in the coach and
were going up the trail with dash.
When the story of the schoolteacher'
pluck was told at Nevada City, the citizens
i presented her with a handsome gold watch,
and the express company gave her check
4 for 81 600 The brave woman still lives in
a prosperous Nevada town, where she be-
came the wife of prominent lawyer.-St.
III .ouis Globe Democrat