Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-07-28
The WIDOW
BY
THOMAS B. MoNTFORT


= HE widow was neither pretty. nor
particularly attractive, and back
East. where women were plentiful she
would have considered herself fortunate
in the possession of a single lover. Yet,
before she had been in Pigeon fiat a
month she had a dozen admirers at her
feet, and had received at least half that
many proposals of marriage. In the
Hat, woman was a rare article, and the
men could not afford to be oyer-eXacting
in their tastes regardingf female charms.
Among the widows admirers was Blue
Thompson He was big, bury chap,
who hal made his advent ilto the camp
with hGrrah and a flourish. He was
Hot at all averse to having tie impress
sion go abroad that he was bad man
from away back, and when it began to
be whispered about that he had a record
as a slayer of men he did not trouble
himself to make denial.
1t was not long after Thompson's ar
rival at the fiat until he had things pretty
much his own way in the matter of MAX
ing love to the widow. His rivals were
only ordinary everyday citizens who
valued their lives as something worthy
of preservation, and who, therefore,
were inclined to be more or less timid
in the face of danger. None of them pos
sessed desire to run counter TO man
who had acquired the unpleasant habit
of shooting his fellow men on the slight
est provocation. Moreover, the widow
was rather taken with Thompson's big
ness and bOldness, and she showed d
decided preference for his company. So
the others reluctantly held aloof from
her, giving Thompson clear field.
In the saloons and gambling halls at
the fiat there had. from the first, been
much betting on the result of the free
for-all contest for the widows hand.
Up to the time of Thompson's arrival
the betting had been at even money,
with nobody able to score as faVorite.
After he came, however, there was a
decided change. He soon became fa-
yorite. and after a time bets were offered
on him at odds of five to one, with no
takers.
Then. one day. there was a new ar
rival in the camp. 1t was little, sparely
built man. who answered to the name
of Bob George. He had a soft voice, a
smiling face, and manners so gentle that
they were almost childlike. He had the
appearance of harmless, inoffensive
sort of being. who could be run over and
trampled under foot with impunity. In
the fiat he was considered too insig-
nificant To merit more than a passing
notice.
Before Bob had been in the camp many
days it became apparent to every one
that he had been smitten by the widows S
charms and had joined her galaxy of
admirers Like the others however, he
evinced a wholesome regard for Blue
Thompson's claims, and worshipped at
a safe distance He never presumed to
seek her society, and If he ever addressed
her at all, it was in the most distant
manner. But the way his eyes followed
her, and the way he spoke of her to
others, was proof positive that he loved
1er.
Bob's admiration of the widow was
the source of much amusement in the
fiat. People laughed at his presumption
in daring to worship, even at distance,
woman who had hSlf the camp at her
feet, and who could have Blue Thomp-
son any day. by simply saying the word.
Many Jokes, regarding his love, were
cracked at Bobs expense by the witty
ones at the fiat Bob, himself, was not
unaware of all these things, but he qui-
etly went his way, keeping his own coun-
sci, and saying nothing.
One night, about a month after Bob's
arrival at the fiat, there was large
| crowd collected down at ''Joe's Place" "
Bob was there. and so was Blue Thomp-
son. There was a good deal Of betting
| going on, in one way and another, and a
good deal of drinking, too. Thompson
was in the thick of it all, but Bob sat
in corner, taking no part in any of it.
After awhile some one turned to Joe
and said:
How is the betting on the widow,
now?"
Nothing doing" Joe replied.
| Whats the odds on thompson"
"The same old thing five to one-but
10 takers"
Thompson seems to have sure
cinch Guess if it was ten to one there
wouldn't be anybody fool enough to go
| against him"
Thompson, who had been standing
with his back to the speakers, turned
around and brought his fist down on the
| bar.
"Of course, I've got sure cinch," he
said, ''and to prove that | know what
I'm talking about, I'll tell you what I'll
do. I've got $4,000 that says I'll marry
the widow. and l stand ready to put it
up against any mans $500 who says |
won't"
He glared around on the crowd, as if
| inviting somebody to take him up, if any
one dared. But everybody was silent
A minute passed then Bob George arose
and walked over to the bar.
That's pretty big odds you're offer