Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1906-03-16
In the Billiards Grip


thoroughbred He had seen better
days.
Colville was five miles from Fort
Yuma. Colonel McClentock used TO ig-
more the towns laws and go for tres
passers against his command himself.
He had had Tits with Joe Peters an.
had declared that he would some day
get him dead to rights. He thought
the day had come when n paymastev
was robbed, and the finger Of suspicion
pointed strongly TO the gambler. over
to Colville he went, with half a com
pnny at his back, and Peters had just
FIVE minutes to prepare himself. lie
made good by walking out to meet
the colonel and holding revolver TO
his head until he gave the order for the
soldiers to turn back. When the colo
mel had got back 10 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
tion and a strenuous life were begin
ming to tell. He was so financially well
fixed that he could have gone in any
direction. but he remained right there.
He 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 bliz-
zard. Ii began blowing and showing
soon after noon one day, and an hour
after dark the driver OF the up coach
rolled of his horse at the Black Bear
hotel and was carried into the barroonl
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 passeRgersr some one
asked.
There wasn't but one, and, God help
me, had to leave her in the coachv'
"A woman, and you left her behlndw
exclaimed Joe Peters as he came for
ward.
"But what could l. do?" whlmpered
the man.
His ears and nose and fingers ana
toes had been. frostbitten. and had he
had half a mile farther to go the cut.
ting winds would have had his life. If
he had abandoned the woman he had
at least reached some spot from which
help could be sent.
"Who Is the womanT' asked Peters
of the driver
"She's the colonel's wife. That 8
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 for
moment and then said to the land.
lord:
"Have the boy saddle my horse.
s-also want a couple of blankets and a
npttle OF brandy"
sWhat the devils afoot, Joer
eIiA going after the woman"
Tbere-yere vigorous protests from
the score of zen in the baroom. They
were not a seItisS lot, and chivalry was
not dead in their 6geast, but it was
one chance In hundred, sad tney dld
not feel like taking 1t. II reseueI
succeeded in forcing his way thf2ugll
the drifts 1t would be to find the wo
man frozen to death. They afgued
and protested, but Peters quietly weet
on with his preparations. When they
saw that he was determined to go mar
after man offered his company.
I'm game to try it alone" replied
Peters. "You know I've got little ac
count to settle with the colonel. Have
things ready to thaw us out when W,
turn up"
There's a man for you. and we are
lot of cursw announced on individual
as Peters rode away in the storm ant
darkness, and no man turned to resent
his words.
No one has ever told how the gam
bler's horse buffeted his way through
the drifts until the stage was finally
reached. What seemed impossible was
at last accomplished. The three stage
horses left behind had fallen stiff IL
their tracks and were hidden under the
snow, and the vehicle was simply ont
Of the many snow mounds.
''Is anybody In thereY was shouted
by the man on horseback.
Yes. but | am perishing 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 Mt the sight.
''The woman Is all right and will 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 can't be disturbed for day
| 49,. N..k A. l. l.