The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-08-02
A FRONTIER INCIDENT.
The Outcome Of a Poker Game
Among Bad Men.
How Noted Female Horsethief Demon
strated Her Proficiency In Her Spe-
clal Line of Business - A
Very Hard Crowd.

A queer crowd sat in barroom at
Caddo, in Indian territory, a few
months ago. They had drifted to-
gether in a dingy little barroom, one
half of which was set apart for gam
bling. A rough gang had been gather
ing all evening, says the Chicago Times,
and the town people were timid and
silently allowed the loud-mouthed
strangers, with the red dust on their
faces and big pistols in their belts, to
have the right of way.
Lets make it jack pot" roared a
big, red-faced man, with a terrific
scar across his face and an evil eye in
his head.
"I'm with you," quietly acquiesced a
heavy-set fellow, who wore new SOM
brero and never let his eye stray from
the door, while at every sudden shift
of the crowd his hands instinctively
sought his pistol.
care you in, pard?" asked third
player, with only one eye, of the fourth
party, evidently a stranger to the
other three players. The latter was
small, dudish, with a queer expression
about the eyes and peculiar shaped
mouth.
"Bet your life I'm with you" said
the latter, as he planled in big hand.
full of silver. Then four pistols came
out simultaneously and were placed at
the right hand of each player.
Cant open," was repeated laconic.
ally for "a half dozen deals and then the
fellow with one eye stayed in for ten
dollars. The rest saw him and raised
the ante. Chips ran out and money
took their place. The crowd gathered
about the table and a fortune, was soor
in sight.
"My money is all gone" finally ejac.
ulated the dudish fellow with the
queer eye, "but I've got two good
horses outside. I'll stake 'em, If you
agree"
"Trot 'em in," said the others, with a
knowing grin of delight. "The
crowdll see that you get square deal
stranger"
"The crowd be id" smiled the dap.
per youth. "I'll see to that myself.
He went to the door and whistled, and
soon two splendid ponies trotted up
and were led In, standing quietly by
the table, while their master again sat
down and called the other players
hands.
Three kings, pair of deuce2," said the
scar-faced man, as he reached for the
money.
'"That beats my three iaclts," snarled
the heavy-set man with the new hat
and the restless eyes, he threw down
his hand in disgust.
cts all mine then" suavely smiled
the dudish chap. GIVE four SKIES" and
he reached for the pile of money.
'Four skies ant in it with four
queens" Growled the one-eyed man.
He snarled like a wolf over big meal
as he tucked that bundle of money out
of sight, and, rising, took the ponies
outside and tied them. Then he re-
turned and lined up to the bar with:
Everybody liquor"
All responded except the dudish
stranger, and he moved toward the
door. No one noticed him glide out
and he drew a bee line for his lost
pony, mounted and raced away with a
loud chatter. Mr.. One-Eye dashed
down his liquor and darted to the door
way, a string of oaths upon his lips,
and began blazing away. A ringing
laugh foated back and shrill voice
exclaimed
you've got my money Bitter Creek,
but you don't get Tom Kings horse"
The oilers all skunk back into their
corners at these names. Bitter Creek
is the most noted of the Dalton out
laws The heavy-set man was Bill
Dalton himself, and the scar-faced
chap was Bill Doolan.
Tom King is the most noted female
horse thief the Indian country ever
produced. Sometimes in mems clothes
and sometimes as girl she fits about
and the officers are never able to catch
and hold her. The outlaws returned
to the bar and, with many bitter oaths
drank to the health of "brave Ton
King"