The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
A R DAYS IN N V
THEY DID NOT LACK VARIETY, EVEN
THOUGH THE CITY VAS SMALL.

lhiuAg
whore he passed part of his boyhood.
II was about 10 years old" he said. "whon1
entered tho general merchandise store of my
uncle, the building being on one of the principal
streets. My relative remarked to me ono day
that Il probably would fall to my lot to sec some
things now and then that 1t would DO well I
should not sec. The wisdom OF this advice was
impressed upon me some weeks lator, when .
soldier camc into the store TO buy some tobacco.
placed several pieces before him, noticing 40
the same time that he was u rough.looking fell
low. My uncle was away and 1 was alone.
While tho customer was handling the difercnt
pieces ! saw him slip two OF them into HE
pocket. He fumblcd the others for some min
utcs and then said he would not buy any that
day, but would call again.
"'Beforc you co. said l.. want you to pay
for those two pieces you put in your pocket
"'Do you accuse mo of stealing your tobaccor
he anRrily asked.
II was young and impulsivc, and answered.
"'Thnt's whit I'm saying; you've stolen two
pieces, and must pay for them or hand them
back and TO give emphasis to my words I sug.
gestively closed my fingers around a two-pound
weight.
"Wcll. / don't think there was n square inch
of floor in that store over which that soldier
failed TO drag mo, and 1 believe he hammered
down every nail with my head. after which
he walked Off with the tobacco.
"whcn my uncle returned / told him my story,
and insisted that he should bring the soldier TO
punishment. The old man surveyed my bat
tered countcnance and then remarked:
".Emory, you don't look quite SO pretty as you
did yesterday, but I think you know a little
more and that was the end of 1t. I compre-
hendcd then that 1t would have been wiser for
mo not to have seen the pilfering of the tobacco.
"Diagonally across from our store was the
leading gaming establishment OF the town. The
sidewalk was made of plank, and was about Q
foot and a half above the gutter. Usually ON
sunshiny days the habitues Of the place, when
little was going on inside. used to sit on these
planks and have sport with people as they
passed. On the first stroll I took the dozen men
sat quiet until 1 was opposite. when one of them
suddenly called: oh sayl' i stopped short and
looked around to see WI at was wanted. The
man who had uttered the words did not look 40
me. but, facing his friends, continuedi in declam-
atory tones:
can you see by the the dawn's early light
What 50 proudly we hailed at the twiiisht's iNo
cleaning. &C.
He swung his arms and continued to recito
the 'Star-Spanglcd Banner. while the rest
laughed, and i %blushing and chagTined. hur.
door OF our store looking at the men seated on
the planks across the street. swinging their
long he appeared, slouchins along. with gaping
mouth. staring eyes, and the looks of the most
changed by the 'idlers. and ali were alert for the
en, I, , At 18th, E EGh point il tor one eo of the
man stopped short and looked around
"- SSsy you y see n.o by the ed d1wn,s early light
He had got thus far in his defamation, %
companied, by appropriate gestures, when the
stranger whipped out two revolvers and levelled
dered, Sc lnS sEou on the e. poi Gan Of feg pulling liz sn the
%triggers; At that moment the party recognized
the tables on them; The whole group made a
them tunmblecd fat, on their faces and scrambled
on their hands and knees across the street. Ono
into. the store. and never stopped until he
reached the rear. where he crouched behind Q
put his pistols back. leaned against the side Of
the building. and shook with laughter. Then ho
beskoned to the men and called out:
1t was a long time before his victims recovs
cred from their fright and tried their joke on
THAT. same place. some time later, was the
days fortunes We're Won and lost in a few hours.
and sometimes fierce encounters took place.
together. and I'D then eome down 10 Denver and
lose 1t All in a single night. One afternoon a
buckskin suit was ragged. his shoes tied to his
fee, with strings. his hair long and struggling.
hnd b bee pt ABSENT nh for TWO y yea m0n He had dn bse mi i'm
the mountains. where he had toiled. half
s sea men. fS Snd hn ~iiS s snr@ets ann in s Setti mnla Ia-
gcthcr about 5000 worth of gold dust. He
Sauntered into the gaming place, sat down at ono
OF the tables. and when he arose. less than an
hour later, had lost every cent he had.
dered aimlcssly around the room for few min
utes. and then, without 4 word. passed out into
the storm and darkness. No one noticed or cared
for him. The next morning the vagrant saun-
tered into the place again. He was the picture
of woe and wretchcdness. but said nothing. Dur.
ing the day few were present, and he sat still
most OF the time. signing. but remaining speech.
less, When night came and, the men began
gathering. heeagerly watched the play, in which
he could take no part
This p%antominec continued for several days
grew nervous, He urgCd the man to brace up,
TO 80 back TO the mountains. get more gold. and
but the stranger shook his head. mut,crct %
himself, and gave the impression that his brain
the gaming was done was long and narrow. ihs
tables being placed, along the sides. When t
toned to % likSht u p"n and in ARRANGE ~u,S"' ,hm iit y r Syrr
mids Of gold on each table, ready for, The play.
e Tosm ~ 1os sU o. iar nppS sIs.fash ES"T t s'SI middle o''0'
Fatty one crisp evening; AS The attendant h,,
gan lighting The place and arranging he god
CON, Inc woebcgonc stranger shuiict through
the open door. Without spcnking he walked %
the stove, reached his thumb and forrinscr IN.
and Hung them into the front Of ,iI" Sroyr. 4
flash and puff instantly followed. lie rrlra'ct
attendant who was watching him demanded.
"'What are You doing thcrC :
The man snatchcd out a large bladder rom
under his ragged coat. l. was capable" 81 n.,ils
several pounds Of powder, npd ., w., i. .n ~
Jag lnHt me NlSlIOf lll taken 'Lf EEH-fN 'L't
flashed and exploded when iuus among tho
Goals through the little oprlius In tie r"'r
1--we lost everything and We UnA ~, N,t 20
to hell together. he answered, and a. h'i! %
he opened the door OF the stove and tt'..Dt! mo
bag and its contents inside.
The terrified attendant emitted nnr ll alh
was out OF the front door az a -.rsl '"hh'!.
Hatlcss and coatlCss. he dashed ru't 'h" street
for several blocks lrfnrc lr dar'. -a hgn -
and 10 see the csin6Iishn"t' ,,i ..,n y ~
everything remained a. IL Wa ,,N' ~. ,.f,,>iSHx
sound broke upon HI r. H. ,.".
back and pcepcd throu-A lh,.r.. hsi ~
far as he COuld sec. Wa ,'-' r.i ''I"Nl.s
suspicious, he Wake to tho -n" .h "Nnum.
incd the bag and its ,"uu'.l'- '',,'"Ss
looked like grains Of EUH'uN F. ~ ',''G -
discovered that tlcl wu'v 'n' ' Z" .nn' ~
few, pinchcs which The m1N '',. y, az ~"
ing been the only pow, ,y.n h r. 100 --'.il,
Then the attcndtr' nude" .r '"u,.rRt-
Every dollar OF ln't ,hOfN." I". 4" rl,"r, ~ !hs
tables had ynui-ltI. ll. lritEcV me- n'' ~
stranger ever apr,alr. 40 IrnNrT aga'A'