The herald., 1896-01-12
KENTUCKY FLATS CHRISTMAS


for crooked play might as we'll nail ur
the door. It's better than police raic
to keep down gambling"
Grant Crumley, the scientist who
shoots the active marble around the
roulette wheel at Nolan & Vetter's in
Cripple Creek, was explaining the va
rious enterprises to stranger in the
town; stranger Of inquiring mind
who craved information concerning
the rules of the game and the ethics OF
the profession.
Before the fire sat The Busted Pros.
peotor, thoughtfully regarding the
flames and in desultory, casual way
removing the mud from his right leg
girg with the inner sole Of his right
boot.
"The nearest ever came to doing a
crooked thing" broke in the pros
pector, his thoughts given cant by
Crumley's observation, "the nearest
ever came to doing crooked thing
WAS on account of over-playing myself.
The circumstances arose out of a
Christmas celebration. 1t was seven
years ago this coming mad merry yule-
tide that almost let go my integrity.
0oNch years dSO, CulIlh. Ou IeLAoH-
ber that year 1 WAS up in Kentucky
Flat in Summit county, Grant?"
"You see, it's 35 for on the numbers
planned Mr.. Crumley. The o and the
that? Yes, it was in '8S, the year Classy
the enlightenment of the visitor, sis
hn uh0 ha Lob fod
tunnel on the outside of Breeze
with the English syndicate to
foot. Then it showed. I reckon there
mountains as that snow. 1t fell until
then it slid off the mountains and filled
began on his tunnel. Every night he
how hard they'd worked. In four
agent of the syndicate to come up and
all timbered and braced, and around
It's quick work. the agent says, 'but
son a check for 1880 for the 105 feet
of construction and writes over to his
principals he's fixed for great work in
ready on the ground. When the thaw
in the air. Classy had tunneled only
seven feet into Breeze Hill and had
tim bered ninety-eight feet into the
snow."
'sl'hat is doubtless very interesting,
The Busted Prospector, with some
in railway folders for the last six
years. Pm holding the floor to relate
personal "reminiscences, and not to lis
ten to sfaded out, frayed yarns of
Classy or any other Thompson.
"The boys in Kentucky Flat, desiring
to properly observe Christmas as be-
come their opulent condition, shook
the hat and starts me off for Leadville
to get the necessaries for the occasion.
We had well-defined plan of celebra-
ton, which, however, cuts no figure
here, except so far as it involved the
expenditure Of the $500 raised by sub
scription.
"Ihe night I struck Leadville, just
to show 1 didn't hold myself higher
than the residents of Leadville, I went
into Richardson's and bought $50
worth of chips, all for the honor and
glory of Kentucky Flat. In one hour
and half 1 was standing up against
the stove thinking it over. I didn't
have enough money left to buy split.
and the essentials for the celebration
hadn't beon maid for
"While / was chewing on the situa-
ton by the stove, in comes 'Soapy'
Smith with stranger he called Doc
You know 'Soapy" He was the most
capable bunco man that ever came
over the divide. He had a record of
coming policeman out of his star.
The man with 'Soapy' was drunk and
clamorous for a game. He had his
pockets bulging with money. heard
afterward he'd sold his mine over in
Clear Greek, and came over to go into
the silver. 'Soapy' had his fangs in
deep. His scheme was not to rob the
man outright, but he had it fixed up
with the faro dealer to do the job
smooth and clean, and leave no place
open for future criticism. Smith just
borrowed money from his friend to get
into the game, and as fast as card
came out of the box the dealer grabbed
off 'Soapy's' stake, win or lose. They
played entirely with $50 bills.
doc had 'em wrapped up in
packages OF ten. I didn't know
there we're so many $50 notes
on earth as he flashed up, and I
yearned for one of the bundles; just
naturally sickened and pined for it.
He went on with the game, not winning
and not losing, same as drunks always
play. I invented a scheme to coax him
out and rob him. had a plan that
would have worked, but 1 discarded it.
/ could't turn crook, tough as my own
luck was. All the time this foolish
man was shoveling out money in $500
lots to 'Soapy,' and the dealer was
moving it away in his lap, it came so
swift. Presently the drunk says he'll
step out into the barroom for drink
Then I says to myself. Here's where
you get action and I followed him
through the swing door into the sa-
loon.
"He was holding on the bar, waiting
for the drink. I makes quick step to
him and whispers, Smith wants some
more money
"The doc makes kick about the
kind of luck his friend seemed to be
playing in, but goes down in his vest
for the stuff. He tossed out little
roll, which counted in nv room ovel
in the hotel. 1t was $468. The price oi
two bottles he and 'Soapy' Smith broke
somewhere was gone from one Of those