Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-07-28
THE WIDOW
Ny
THOMAS b. r1oNTFoRT
scopyrisAt 1904. BY Daily story Pub. Co.,

| EGHSB, where women were plentlfui, she
would have considered herself fortunate
in the possession of single lover. Yet,
before she had been in Pigeon fiat a
mouth she had dozen admirers at her
feet, and had received at least half that
many proposals of marriage. In the
fiat, woman was q rare article, and the
men could not afford to be over-exacting
In their tastes regarding female charms.
Among the widows admirers was Blue
/ Thompson. He was a big, burly chap,
who had made his advent into the camp
! with a hurrah and flourish. He was
rot at all averse to having the impress
sion 60 abroad that he was bad man
from away back, and when it began to
be whispered about that he had record
as slayer Of men he did not trouble
himself to make denial.
It was not long after Thompson's ar
| rival at the fiat until he had things pretty
much his own way In the matter of maxi
/ ing love to the widow. His rivals we're
| only ordinary everyday citizens, who
| valued their lives as something worthy
/ of preservation, and who, therefore,
were inclined to be more or legs 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 q
decided preference for his company So
the Others reluctantly held aloof from
her, giving Thompson clear field.
- ~ 4xae az
the fiat there had, from the first. been
much betting on the result of the free
for-ali contest for the widows hand.
up to the time OF Thompsori's arrival
the betting had been at even money,
with nobody able to score as a favorite.
After he came, however, there was q
decided change He soon became q ia
vorite, and after time bets were offered
on him at odds OF ave to one, with no
takers.
Then, one day, there was 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, q
smiling face, and manners so gentle that
they were almost childlikes He had the
appearance Of a harmless, inoffensive
trampled under foot with impunity. In
the fat be was considered too insig-
nificant to merit more than q passing
notice.
Before Bob had been in the camp many
days 1t became apparent to every one
that he had been smitten by the widows
charms, and had joined her galaxy Of
admirers. Like the others, however; he
eyinced q wholesome regard for Blue
Tnompson's claims, and worshipped at
q safe distance He never presumed to
seek her society, and IL he ever addressed
her at all, 1t 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
her.
b Bob,s admiration OF the widow was
the source OF much amusement in the
fat People laughed at his presumption
In daring TO worship, even at distance,
woman who had half the camp at her
feet, and who could have Blue Thomp-
son any day, by simply saying the word.
Many jokes, regarding his love, werN
cracked at Bob's expense by the witty
ones at the fiat. Bob, himself, was not
uraaware of all these things, but he Htii-
etiy went his way, keeping his own cOun-
sci, and saying nothing.
One night, about 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 good deal Of betting
going on, In one way and another, and
good deal Of drinking, too. Thompson
was In the thick of IL all, but Bob sat
In corner, taking no part In any fit
After awhile, some one turned to Joe
and said:
"rIow IL the betting on the widow,
now?''
Nothing doing" Joe replied.
What's the ODDS on Thompson?''
"The same old thing-five to one--but
no takers
"Thordpson seems to have a sure
cinch Guess If 1t 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
III COURSE I've got sure clncn, ne
said, land 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 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, II 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
ing" he said to Thompson, "and it
seems like somebody ought to take your
bet"
why don't you take 1t, then?"
Thonpson asked, and q laugh went
around the room.
ME? oh, never gamble" Bob re-