Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1907-09-12
A LIFE
AT STAKE

|
train!
AS ! unceremoniously threw open
the door Of the adobe shack. in which
Col. b. and his "outfit" we're engrossed
In q game OF draw, / was greeted with
q string of epithets, the rain that
blew In with me moistening the
"dainty" toys Of the COW punchers.
I was soon interested In my cards,
Poker always did interest me. wheth'
or II was played on the green cloth
of q fiashily fitted gambling joint. or,
90 on that night on bunch OF sheep
skins thrown Unfortunately on the
floor, with the boys squatting In q
circle, our spurred boots doubled up
under US.
was not destined to win fortune,
nor was anyone else on this particular
OCCASION, for we were jerked away
from dreams OF filling q straight
'open In the middle" by splashing
of horses hoofs In the marshy ground
without.
Just as rudely as I had entered the
sheriff and three boys from the town
pushed through the doors. They
brought with them the news OF two
nervy- galloots holding up the limited
an hour before, cracking the express
safe and stripping Pullman passengers
Of watches, bank rolls and other
| trinkets.
"And they headed this way" said
the sheriff.
Cards. chips and money were left
In a conglomerate mass a. the boys
jumped to their feet and started for
the corral after their bfunchos.
II thought you'd like to be In on
the sport" commented the sheriff,
smilIngly. Wen be with you in
jiffy, JIM" shouted back the colonel.
whose so years didn't deter him from
Joining q man hunt
We were of at a gallop IL minutes
later. The advantage was all with
IN. There wasn't q man In the posse
who couldn't md every hole in the
prairie in a blizzard, and little thing
like q rainstorm and o starless night
was trlfling.
The bandits horses were all IN when
We came up with them. They had
sense enough to realize the game was
Nd. One of them did get kind Of OBJ
streperous, and the sheriff cooled him
down by chipping a chunk on his right
ear.
We headed back to the ranch house.
The sheriff had grabbed the sack Of
Doodle and only the formality Of TAX
ing the coyotes to jail remained. II
was the colonel who suggested It, and
| think the sight Of the poker para.
phernalia gave him the inspiration.
Even the sheriff caught the fever and
consented, and the captives jumped
at the unexpected chance. The bandit
with the punctured ear was urged by
his partner to play the hand with
life or death for both 40 the stake.
The boys picked me out to oppose
him.
II was to be the best two Of three.
and the colonel dealt the cards. ]
caught q pat flush on the first. and
forced Mr.. Robber to lay down his
hand. His color didn't change mite,
nor did his pal seem unduly nervous.
They were certainly game pair, even
II they did surrender.
In the second deal ] was beaten on
the draw. and began to get nervous.
though wouldn't have hesitated to
help string up the duo. It's pesky
business playing a man for his life
when your own 10 not In danger. ]
could feel the cold sweat on my fore
head as the cards were tossed to me
for the third and last deal.
The boys leaned over US In breath
less interest. Even the deputy hold
ing the other robber crept up close,
AZ did the prisoner. The man In
front OF me was the coolest In the
crowd. caught two aces In the deal,
and I began to pity my opponent. On
the draw I got q third ace, but I
couldn't tell from the robbers impas-
.ive face whether he held deuces or
The best there was in the deck.
Lay down." shouted the sheriff
It's your last chance. His command
was directed to the bandit Slowly, de-
liberately, he placed the cards In n
row on the floor. He held four kings.
you win!" ! shouted, exultantly,
throwing down my three aces.
Good morning. gentlemen. II was
real kind Of you." said the robber gent
with sweeping bow. Touching his
dazed partner on the arm, he preceded
him from the house.
II was o sheepish-looking crowd that
stood in q circle for half o minute.
We came to as the sound Of galloping
horses reached our ears. The sheriff
started for the door. Jerking his gun
from his hostler.
Hold on, JIM" shouted the colonel.
you agreed to the game, and you
A.. A.. H.,