The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-27
(seattle observation-disclosures,

(Seattle Post.lntelligence.)
Some of the squarest men I've ever
known I've met across a poker table,"
said Colonel Kirby OF Butte. as he sig
nailed a waiter to approach the table
where he and his friends we're seated
in the grill DON Of the New Washing
ton. However. because I've met
some true sportsmen I've not been led
into the error OF relaxing my vigilance
when playing with strangers. I'm as
wary as a scared cat; don't make any
mistake about that.
Let me play poker with a man and
IN tell you presently whether l want
MIN for my friend. There is nothing
like poker to bring IL mans true ma
ture to the surface.
You've seen the play Deep Pur-
rle?" You remember the train rob
Der in the play who has turned square
and who hated those eastern crooks at
hrst sight. | car understand that
character. AS I sat looking at the
stage my memory went back over tho
trail for a few Years and it seemed to
me that man was familiar to me.
The Eel that I'm going to relate
occurred up near the snow line in the
Little Belt mountains in Montana.
Here's a little souvenir of that trip.
It's a 500 bill. m of the first issue
Of the Treasure State National Bank
OF Helena. I've v spent it and so
long as l can look the landlord in the
fact with calm insolence / shall keep
il.
II was engaged ny some eastern
capitalists to look after some legal
business in connection with a mining
prospect in the Little Belt mountains
ana it became necessary for me to
visit the mine latc in the winter. Two
men engaged to drive a tunnel Mt $40
a foot lad worked a neat swindlc on
tine fasteners.
Instead Of driving the tunnel into
the mountain side they had shoveled
through the deep snow, set timbers
and had made the finished product
LOOK like a real mine. They had taken
q representative of the company to i'm.
Nestigatc the work and, with the
neaNN snow on the ground, he had
failed to detect the fraud. The swim
oilers had collected $4,000 and had dis
appeared.
1T didn', take long to inspect the
tunnel and ! started to go out by way
of White Sulphur Springs. where I in
1ended to remain a week or two to
play a little poker with friends of
mine who were at the hotel.
YOU know how these mountain.
storms come upon you. Ono minute
.he SKY is blue and water is dripping
from the rocks. Suddenly a biting
WIND whoops down a canyon and the
sun is yelled by 81 film of fine snow
Whirlcd miles high.
Within half an hour after the
storm struck mo the trail disappeared
ana the snow from the mountain side
was driven against my face until I
couldn't see nay hand in front of me.
NV horse turned its head away from
the wind and started down the frozen
pea OF the creek. | let the animal go
ana Wnen it began to grow dark l was
sure enough lost. 1t occurred to me
that 1t would be we'll to- find a shelter
ed spot behind a ock where could
roll up in my blankets for the night.
u was thinking how nice and white
my bones would look in the spring
When saw the faint glimmer of a
nsht that shone from Il cabin window
during a lull in the wind, far AZ the
mountain side and across the CANYON.
I let a Yell out of me that would have
raspcd The nerves of a deaf and dumb
asylum. M by way Of emphasis shook
the loads out of my six shooter.
Almost Immediately the light dis
appeared. This made me so sore that
ior n neXt five minutes | cursed the
INHABITANTS of the canyon so earnest
~ and loudly that my voice could be
$3.50" '"'i ''iSS tIpLIli TIC stale.
For Il lost babe i'm the woods I was
sure talkatirc. Suddenly d man step
ped from behind a bowldcr. He wore
II six shooter and = cartridge belt and
was muffled 20 the eyes.
Where is the rest of the process
sion" he asked calmly.
This is all there is of u.s. I
answered. And unless snugglc up to
a tire pretty soon I'm going to he shy
81 few odds and ends. such as fingers.
nose and toes
~ thought I heard a regiment
down here said the stranger. You
don't mean to tell me YOU are the sole
author of all this tumultuous Ian.
guage?'
1t isn't original with me- ! re-
piled. However, I'd like to find some
place where my horse can warm his
feet. AS for me, ] would be charmed
to remain ont here all night and con.
verse with YOU
The stranger chuckled to himself
and led the way up the mountain side.
where put my horse in "a shack and
entered his cabin. 1t appeared to me
that the stranger was bitten by an un-
usual curiosity as to my identity and
my business in the mountains. How
ever. l told my story and he appear
ed to accept it.
Il stayed in his cabin that night.
and the next day. and when / wanted
to start on III trail he persuaded me
to remain until h snow had settled
on the trail.
You're safe here from pursuit.
said he. looking at me closely. This
is a long way off the regular trails
'Ilave YOU got the notion that
somebody is trying to run me for con-
sress: ] asked, somewhat puzzled.
Not exactly that he said. i was
thinking Of that train hold.up at
Bearmouth. Strange as it may seem.
the description of the man who stuck