The record-union., 1897-08-14
WILD AND wOOLLY.
The Westerner Played a Dead
Sure Game

~ SdUII UIL UIuSCUldT nedN1ly
armed and resolute, walked down the
road between Teton City and Canyon
Greek one afternoon, carrying in his
hand a singletree and a piece of rope.
It was an accident that the combina-
ton was just what it was, but later
events proved it to be a fortunate one
for him. He was stopped by a man in
a blackboard who asked the distance to
Trapper Seymour's ranch and wanted
to know if there were any mountain
sheep to be shot in that neighborhood.
Guess you come a pretty good ways,
didn't you?" said the mountaineer af-
ter he had given the desired informa-
ton
Clear from the East. Going to do
some hunting"
Maybe you don't mind sayin' what
town in the East mister" the other OBJ
served with gathering interest.
The stranger drew himself up rather
proudly. Il came from Chicago" said
he.
The man with the singletree gazed
into his face earnestly. You mean
tiously.
You bet! The big town of the
world
Mister" said the other man, "git out.
Git out here on solid ground a minute.
I ben lookin' fer some man from Chi
cago fer three year You don't know
how glad I am to see you. 1 was up
there three year ago an a man bet me
$62 couldn't open a lock he found in
the road, an / lost"
That's bad the stranger remarked
compaSsionately as he stepped out on
the roadway.
Not so almighty bad as 1t might be.
I've allays considered that the money
was out at intrust to the population
of Chicago. Do you know anything
about singletrees? ?"
The visiting member said he did not,
whereupon the mountaineer expressed
sorrow. 81 thought maybe you did"
said he. you see, it's speshul un-
fortunit, because you bein' from Chi
cago I hold it my duty to entertain
you with a little quiet bet concernin'
this article. I propose to bet you that
you can't stand with foot on each end
an lean back'a ards over yer shoulder
an tie this yere rope to it in the mid
easy thing"
THANK you," said the other, ''but I
don't think 1 care to bet"
Mister" said the other earnestly,
toying with his belt, what you may
like in the way of bettin' I don't know
an [ don't keer You say you don't
know nothin' about singletrees. Neither
did I know nothin' about locks. An
yet I was sporty. 1 shall expect as
much from YOU The size of the bet
is to be So which is a fair intrust on
$62 fer the time. Put up the money
in my hands as stakeholder an git
action on the singletree."
The other looked hopelessly about.
His rifle was in the blackboard and
the mountaineer held an inordinately
large firearm "ThfS is highway rob-
berry, he said.
Mister, it seems to me I said some
thing like that that time in Chicago.
But it amt. It's a kindly desire to
mix business with the entertainment
of the stranger. just put $40 into my
hand an proceed with the business of
the day. Blame it all, I'll be liberal.
I'll let you take off your coat in tryin'
the trick
With deep meanings Of grief the
stranger producedthe amount of money
which had been specified. Il don't care
to monkey with your Internal rope,
he said but just wait until I get to
Seymour's. From what 1 hear of him
he'll have a little to say about this.
T understand he's an honest man, and
TIL appeal to him.
IF I was you, mister, I wouldn't be
overparticular talkin' about the matter
to Seymour You see, he was with me
that time in Chicago, and when L lost
S62 on that lock he invested S139 on a
quiet game which he's always been
eXpectin' some way to win back. He's
over on the other side of the mountain
right now watchin' there fer sporty Chi
cago people who would be willin', like
you. to bet a little money just to pass
the time, if spoke to proper about it.
Chicago Record.