The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-08-24
STORIES or THE DAY.
Tales Told Of Tom King. the Female Horse
Thief Of OkiahOma.

Thief of oklahoma.
Every child in Oklahoma has heard Of
Tom King, the female horse thief. Her
recent disappearance, coupled with the
story that she has given up her outlaw
life and gone east, has caused scores of
tales to be told abont her. Here is one
of them:
. Ii a barroom at Caddo in the Indian
Territory last spring a rough gang had
been gathering all the evening. The
town people were timid, and they silent
~ allowed the loud mouthed strangers,
with the red dust on their faces and big
pistols IN their belts, to have the right
of way.
Let make it a jack pot" roarec. a
big, red faced man, with q terrific scar
across his face and an evil eye in his
head.
I'm with you" quietly arquiesced a
heavy set fellow, who wore = new SON.
brero and never let his eyes stray from
the door, while at every sudden shift OF
the crowd his hands instinctively sought
his pistol.
Are you in, pard?' asked a third
pay tly W III Ouly III CSC, VI LIZ lOuL a
one, evidently a stranger to the other
three players. The latter was small and
dudish, with a queer expression about
the eyes and a peculiarly shaped mouth.
Bet your life I'm with you" said
the little as he threw in a big hand
full of silver. Four pistols came out ST.
simultaneously and We're placed at the
y;rbt hand Of each N1aypr
Cant open" was repeated laconical-
y for a half dozen deals, and then the
fellow with one eye opened for $40.
The rest saw him and raised. Chips ran
out and money took their place. The
| crowd gathered about the table.
my money is all gone said the
dudish fellow with the queer eye, "but
I've got two good horses outside. III
stake EN-, if you agree"
''Trot EN- ill.,, said the other. The
crOwd'u see that you get a square deal,
stranger"
The crowd be---,' smiled the dap
per youth. "Ill see to that myself
He went to the door and whistled,
and two splendid ponies trotted up and
were led in. Their master again sat
down and called the other players
hands.
Three kings, pair OF deuccs, said
the scar faced man DIS be reached for
the money.
THAT beats my three jacks snarled
the heavy set man with the new hat
and the restless eyes as he threw down
his hand in disgust.
ITS all mine, then" said the dudish
chap smiling. Eve four SKIES" and he
reached for the pile of chips and money.
-Four skies amt in it with four
queens" growled the one eyed man. He
snarled like a wolf over a big meal as
he tucked the bundle Of money out of
sight, and rising took the ponies outside
and tied them. Then he returned and
lined up to the bar, growing, every
body liquor"
All responded except the dudish stran-
gor, 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
dartcl to the door, q string Of Oaths
upon his lips, and began blazing away.
A ringing laugh 1loated back and a shril
voice exclaimed:
"Tou'vo got my money, Bitter Creek
but you don't get Tom Kings horse. "
The idlers all went back into thel1
corners at these names. Bitter Creel
was the most noted of the Dalton out
laws. The heavy set man was Bill Dial
ton himself, and the scar faced man wa
y Bill Doolan. The fleeing Tom King wa
the most noted female horse thief tn
Indian country ever produced. Some
times in mems clothes and sometimes a
a girl she fitted about, and the MAJ
shals were never able to catch or hol'
her. The outlaws returned to the bar
. and with many bitter oaths drank to tn
health Of Tom King.-New York Her
> aid.
The Gum Swamp Parson.
4 The Prince of Wales is one persO,