Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-08-10
SHE BEAT HIM OFT
A ClsVEF sCtOoLMA'AM,s FNco,;n
TER WITH A DESPERATE.

Vi CallIorna, once during his career co,,,o
across an American woman who tnrnod A.
'aoies on nm very cleverly. Bart was &c.
centric and while holding up the coaches
IN the Slerras he did the most unusnai
things. N''''''''
IL happened in the spring of 1872. North
east OF Sacramento, about % miles. in the
sierra Nevada mountains, is a deem can
yon' at the head of which is beautiful fall
OF water known rs THE Maiden,s Tears ;,
Inc Nevada City trail wound through the
canyon. Near the falls the trail Law across
nat, open space, with the stream on one
slde and piles of huge powders on the
other. VIZ
y 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
qrlver was strr ggling to keep his ewes OPEN
inside the coach were seven passengers.
among whom vas young woman bound
Tor Nevada to leach school. She was good
looking and plucky. She had been a teach
er Tour years In the mining districts of the
west, and she was thoroughly acquainted
WIN the customs of the rough element in
the midst of which she lived
The coach h ad reached the center of tho
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 eve 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 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 obeyed. 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
Alter binding the guard securely, he pro.
ceeded to relieve the passengers of Their
money and valuables, tossing the plundel
into big sombrero that he had sat crown
down by the side of the road. In the peck
cts of one of the passengers lie found pack
of playing cards. He threw them with the
rest of his plEnder 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. I'm sorry TO put YOU
to so mucl trouble; but, you see, had to
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 Is this lady is to so much trouble ~
The highwayman smiled apologetically
on the young schoolteacher, who aston
ished her fellow passengers by smiling bacI,
at the robber and saying:
Don't worry yourself, Bart. 1t was ne
Inconvenience at all"
You know me-" said Bart inquiringlv
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. Il admire your spunk," he said
Most women faint when they see me-"
Il never saw a man yet that I'd faint
| for, 3" replied the woman, to the horror OF
her fellow passengers, who We're afraid she
would anger Bart and drive him to some
desperate end. A second or two later they
were stricken dumb with amazement wher
she said:
"Bart, III bet you that l can beat you
one deal a. stud poker. i, = 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 p
The proposition staggered Bart for an in
slant, but he recovered himself, and laugh
| ing heartily said:
WAL, miss, you beat any woman l ever
| came across before. l never kiss a woman
unless she's willin, but if you want to take
| them chances I'll play you, but l reckon
you've givin me the best of the bargain"
The woman promptly intimated that she
was really anxious to play for those stakes
and preparations were made for the game
| It was agreed that the driver should dea
| the cards. and Bart insisted that the hall
dozen passengers should stand up in row
| 90 PAGES away, so that he might detect any
attempt At treachery. The teacher seated
| herself On mail pouch that Bart haC
| dragged out for that purpose, and with hi:
rife rest ng across his lap he settled him
self on one knee a short distance from her.
| Word was given to start the game, anC
| the driver threw the first card to Bart face
| down. The next card fell at the feet of tn,
| schoolteacher Each player was now en-
| titled to four cards, to be dealt face up, anc
| Bart caught the ace of clubs, while to tn,
| teacher fell the seven spot of diamonds
| The highwayman next caught the five spo
| of hearts, and his face flushed and h,
| smiled confidently, for the first card dealt
| to him was five spot, and he now held {
| pair The teacher drew the deuce of dia
| monds Bart showed his citation when thu
| next card that fell before him proved to b.
| the five spot of clubs. He now had three
| fives, and he was sure the game was his
To the teacher fell the four spot of spades
| Her luck was indeed wretched, but sh,
didn't seem to be the least disconnected a
| she looked over at Bart's pair of fives ant
then down at her seven spot high. TIL
last turn came, and the queen of clubs fel
in front of Bart, and the seven spot o
spades was the teachers draw. She had ;
pair of seven spots in sight.
Bart smiled. Your luck came late" h,
said. I'm afraid you'll lose the kiss, TO
here's another FIVE" He turned up tn
first card, and it gave him three fives.
"You did well, sir" said the teacher
"but I've got another seven spot here, ant
I believe three of these are better than you
fives." She turned up the ''roll' card, anC
sure enough it was seven spot
Bart was set back for an instant, bu
when ne realized that he had been fairl.
| baater he smiled and helping the teache