Morris tribune., 1903-03-21
! SETH AND DAN

''P'r'aps, though" he added
glancing around inquiringly, ''yol
fellows never heard of him. "
A withered old miner from Neva
da county limited that 'mebbe hi
was related to the Bill Cox who was
hanged at Red Dog in 1861"
This the Mariposa man disputed
on the ground that Seth during hi:
lifetime was too square man tc
have even been a thirty-eighth cous.
in to the chap who had come to such
an ignominious end at Red Dog.
"Why, sho," he went on, turning
from the Nevada man to the four
other 'bysranders, ''Seth was as
square a man as | ever met in Cali
fornia. He would fight if necessary
and would drink as much as the
next man, and what more was want
ed in those days?
E'But that amt what [ was going
to tell you about. You see, Seth had
one fault, and that was stubborn
ness of the cussedest kind. All one
had to do was to take stand on
anything, and Seth would as nat
urally take hitch on the contrary
side and outhold your hand some
how, even if you had all trumps.
''Seth was marshal Of Indian
Gulch, up our way, as far back as
1862, and, being so stubborn, he
carried things pretty much his own
way. If they didn't go his way,
they we're not likely to go any way.
"Now, sho, just to give you an
idea of how stubborn Seth was I'll
tell you of a little incident He
had a discussion with miner about
turkey buzzards, and just because
the miner said they we're sinking
things Seth maintained that they
were second to nothing in the poul-
try line Well, the miner thought
he'd take fall out Of Seth and the
next day brought him turkey buz-
zard and dared him to eat it-yes,
wagered him $40 on it. Did he win ?
Why, sho!
''Seth ate the buzzard, and as he
was picking the bones inquired if
there was anybody else around who
was anxious to pay him for eating
one of the most delicious morsels in
the world. That was Seth all over.
He'd never give in on anything he
undertook, sho!" And the Maripo-
sa man reflled his glass.
Gone day." he resumed briskly
just as the Nevada man was about
to say something, ga new miner,
who said he hailed from Chinese
Camp, ambled into the Gulch and
made himself quite popular before
night, treating everybody time and
again at Red Ryan's saloon. AS
Marshal Seth thought it his duty to
make the acquaintance Of the
strange pilgrim who was so well
heeled apparently with dust, it was
not long before Seth and the new
conner, who said his name was Dan
Fletcher, were bucking against each
other at poker.
'tNow, sho, that was all right, but
Dan, while they were playing, began
to tell how he had made the pilgrim
age all the way from Poor Shoat to
Angels and cleaned out every poker
sharp on the road. Seth in his bull
headed way said he reckoned if he
had met Dan on that journey Dan
would have had to take to the will
derness for want of clothes, he
would have been so cleaned out.
"Then there was hurricane OF
an argument, and finally Seth boast
ed that he'd put everything he had
up against all Dan had and play
poker until one or t'other was bust
ed. Dan jumped at the offer, and
arrangements were made.
''The game was to be played in a
room at John Hansen's hotel, and
each mans wealth was represented
by twenty-five twenty dollar pieces,
which they used as chips. Seth, as
marshal, proclaimed holiday in
town until he had cleaned Dan out,
then he promised big hurrah. The
whole town was gathered around
Hansen's place, and at intervals Of
an hour signs were hung out as to
the game. One time it would be
Seth is a hundred ahead and at an
other Even game, with Dams ante
up There was lots of betting on
the result. Red Ryan wagered his
saloon against claim that Seth
would win. And, sho, all the time
Seth and Dan sat there Tipping
their cards like machines and not
anything outside Of the
game.
"About 10 o'clock that night Dan
was out $500, and when some Of the
boys took up supper for the players
for thew hadn't eaten ANYTHING,