Bridgeton pioneer., 1893-08-10
SHE BEAT HyMOUT.
A CLEVER scHooLMA'AM,s E.NN8ki4a
TER WITH A DESPERATE.

| Woman Who, Played Game of goknr
With Him For Odd Stakes.
Black Bart, the notorious highwayman
bf 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 25 miles, in tina
Sierra Nevada mountains, is a deep cam
yon, at the head of which is beautiful fals
| OF water known as 'The Maiden's Tears
The Nevada City trail wound through tbs
canyon. Near the falls the trail lay across
D fiat, open space, with the stream on onS
side and piles of huge powders on the
| other.
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 a young woman bound
for Nevada to teach school. She was good
looking and plucky. 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 fn
the midst of which she lived.
The coach had reached the center of TIM
open space when the moose of lasso flung
from among the powders overhead settled
over the shoulders and arms of the drowss
guard, and in the twinkling of an eye hs
was hauled to the ground. At the same
time deep voice, calling from among the
Kc n L
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 voies
among the rocks to step down and line rap
with their hRlds over their heads. The
order was promptly obeyed. When they
were in line, Black Bart, holding a arevolver
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-
ceeded to- relieve the passengers of their
money and valuables, tossing the plundGr
into big sombrero that he had sat cfcwn
down by the side of the road. In the pock-
cts OF one of the passengers he found pack
of playing cards. He threw them with the
rest of his plunder 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 yorr
to so much trouble; but, you see, had to,
have money, and l thought that this would
be pretty good crowd to strike. Pm
kinder ashamed of myself to put SO pretty
a 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 no
inconvenience at all. !"
you know me?" said Bart inquiringIy.
I've heard you described so often that I
feel pretty well acquainted with you,n rer
piled the schoolteacher
The highwayman appeared to feel fiaEI
tered. II admire your spunk,n he said
Most women faint when they see men
Il never saw man yet that I'd faint
fol" 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, Tll bet you that 1 can beat Won
one deal at stud poker. If 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 ts'n
The proposition staggered Bart for an in
stant, but he recovered himself, and laugh
ing heartily said:
| "Waal, miss you beat any woman ever
| came across before. never kiss a woman
unless she's willin, but if you want to take
them chances I'll play you, but 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
| 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 at treachery. The teacher seated
herself on a 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
schoolteacher. Each player was now err
| 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
The highwayman next caught the five spot
of hearts, and his face flushed and be
smiled confidently, for the first card deals
| to him was five spot, and he now held a.
| pair. The teacher drew the deuce of dia--
| monds Bart showed his elation when the
| next card that fell before him proved to be
| 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 she
| didn't seem to be the least disconnected as
| she looked over at Bart's pair of fives 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 a
| pair of seven spots in sight
| Bart smiled. Your luck came late. )" he
said. Pm 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 well, sir' said the teacher.
but I've got another seven spot here, and
believe three of these are better than your
y