Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1906-03-01
In the Billiards Grip

thoroughbred. lie had seen better
days
Colville was five miles from Fort
Yuma. Colonel McC lentock used to ig-
more the towns laws and go for tres
passers against his command himself
He had had tilts with Joe Peters and
had declared that ne would some day
get him dead to rights. He thought
the day had come when paymaster
was robbed and the finger Of suspicion
pointed strongly to the gambler. Over
to Colville he went, with half com
pany ut his back, and Peters had just
five minutes to prepare himself. He
made good by walking out to meet
the colonel and holding n revolver to
his head until he gave the order for the
soldiers to turn back. When the colo
mel had got back to his parade ground
he took the biggest kind Of an oath that
he wouldn't die until he had got even
for the humiliation.
When fall came 1t was known that
Joe Peters was out Of health Dissipa-
ton and a strenuous life were begin
fixed that he could have gone In any
direction, but he remained right there.
lie had the cough of consumptive on
him and men had begun to notice that
his grip was growing weaker when
winter, which had been holding Off in
wonderful way, set in with biz
zard. 1t began blowing and showing
soon after noon one day, and an hour
after dark the driver of the up coach
rolled off his horse at the Black Bear
hotel and was carried into the barroom
more dead than alive. He reported
that he had been compelled to abandon
his coach In Panther pass, five miles
below. He had cut loose one Of the
leaders and had been three hours max
ing his way into Colville against the
gale and the drifts.
And the passengers" some one
asked.
There WASH but one, and, God help
me. l had to leave her In the coach"
"a woman, and you left her behind"
exclaimed Joe Peters as he came for
ward.
But what could l do?" whimpered
the man.
His ears and nose and fingers and
toes had been frostbitten, and had he
had half II mile farther TO go the cut.
ting winds would have had his life. II
he had abandoned the woman he had
ut least reached some spot from which
help could be sent.
"Who is the woman?' asked Peters
OF the driver.
'She's the colonels wife That's
what makes It so bad. Nobody can get
through to the fort in this storm. Ev-
cry cut will be blocked five feet deep,'
Peters rose up and walked about Nv
moment and then said to the laaJ
lord; -
Have the boy saddle my horse'
also want Il couple OF blankets and
bottle Of brandy"
What the DEVILS afoot. JoeT'
Pm going after the woman"
There were vigorous protests from
the score of men In the baroom. They
were not Il selfish lot. and chivalry was
not dead In their breast, but it was
one chance In hundred, and they did
not feel like taking It. If rescuer
succeeded in forcing his way through
the drifts 1t would be to find the wo-
man frozen to death. They argued
and protested. but Peters quietly went
on with his preparations. When they
saw that he was determined to go man
after man offered his company.
I'm game to try 1t alone" replied
Peters you know I've got little ac-
count to settle with the colonel. Have
things ready to thaw us out when we
turn up"
There's man for you, and we are
a lot of ours" announced on individual
darkness, and no man turned to resent
his words.
No one has ever told how the gam
blcr's horse bufTeted his way through
the drifts until the stage was finally
reached. What seemed impossible was
Mt last accomplished The three stage
horses left behind had fallen stiff in
their tracks and were hidden under the
snow. and the vehicle was simply one
of the many snow mounds.
lis anybody in there" was shouted
by the man on horseback,
yes. but | am perishlng with the
cold"
Drink half this bottle of brandy and
then wrap these blankets around you.
Now give me your hand, and get you
ON the saddle in front of me. No more
talk now
Two hours down to the stalled coach,
two hours back TO Colville, and the
thermometer had gone down twelve de-
grees in that time. There were men
who swore In admiration. and there
were others who turned away with
tears in their eyes at the sight
The woman is MI right and VIII be
clipper IN a day or two" said the doc.
tor. but Joe Peters has played his last
hand. It's the most cruel thing | ever
saw. He tan't be disturbed for day
or two, but after that YOU want 10 form
In line and 20 softly in and bid him
goodby."
Three days later the colonel came
down from the fort TO find his wife M
and about ana playing nurse TO the