The Springfield herald., 1913-01-31


kHkKZA6ZA still followed 1t Is carried
. 0IM&N under and in
SI//WNNS slant dread of police inter
VWWN ference.
Not long ago. however the cry of the
roulette man and the click of the ball could
be heard in the Hobbies of many of the 4
principal hotels. This was particularly true
of FL Paso Cripple Creek. Leadville. Gold
field, Butte, the Occur d'Alene and many
other sections. The practice prevailed to |
greater or less extent in the larger towns
Everybody has money In the early days of IN
a mining camp "
1t Of speculation The coun. "a
try had not been proven and hence "
find In new section resulted in great +
rush to that locality. Property changed \
hands at fabulous prices overnight The
ragged prospector OF today might be roll
ing In wealth tomorrow. 1t has happened
SO many times.
When there Is money to throw Mt the
birds. the gamblers. like many vultures.
assemble at the point to which 1t Is being cast
by the thoughtiess and mprovident .possessors.
Games were played where the stakes ran into
the millions man wealthy in the morning
sometimes had to borrow money to avoid going
to bed hungry at night
stockman In Colorado sat into" a poker
game In Denver and by midnight had not only
lost all the cash he had with him but had ex-
hausted large bank balance.
He owned. on the range in Colorado. the
trail strip Ono Mans Land" now extreme west
ern oklahoma). and in Texas ten thousand head
of cattle worth twenty dollars head. 4 total
Of 100000
He possessed land in three states and hand
some residence In Denver. He made bet Of
a thousand steers-worth twenty thousand dollars
and lost. He continued this until the herd OF
ten thousand head Of stock belonged to another
man. Day dawned. and he still playing.
Breakfast sent in from a restaurant main
taned at the end OF the gambling hall for Just
such people.
Now" he said to the who had his
cattle, you have the critters. but place to
keep them. l will play you my Texas ranch"
He lost that. Then followed the Colorado
ranch. finally the residence in Denver. together
with the furniture. his horses. his watch and
chain At eight o'clock at night-twenty-four
hours later-he was penness. and started for
the Rio Grande country OF Texas. where he found
employment hauling logs to sawml He had
lost more than quarter OF million dollars in
twenty-four hours
"Will you oblge me by taking of your shoes?"
asked road agent politely. while he held re-
volver menacingy in the face of a passenger
who stood up In line with others.
The hold-up man had stopped the stage going
into Leadville to collect toll" He had Just pur
chased the road. he said and needed the money.
He passed down the line and. by means OF, a.
passenger whom he forced into service gathered
up all the money and jewery. until he came to
the last man In the line. Then he asked the man
to take of his shoes. He found four thousand
dollars under the inner soles!
Several nights later the man who had been out
witted by the hold-up man was sitting in the
dealers chair Of faro game in the CLOUD City"
as Leadvlle is called Before him sat a man
who lost money steadily. The gambler 'raked
in tho money carelessly and with the utmost un-
The player lost something like five
thousand dollars and then pushed back his chair.
"All in?" asked the gambler. arching his
brows.
"Yep-you've cleaned me out"
Then we for that little incident the
other night. when you collected your road tax
from me-"
YES you'll"
The hold-up man knocked down half dozen
iolterers in his rush reach the door and escape
A wellkn6wn mining man. who was noted for
hts Judgment in knowing hole in the ground"
when he looked into 1t. had just made purchase
in Cripple Creek He had money. and he WILL
ing to spend 1t for anything that looked good.
After having tramped over the hills all Of one
day. he sat into" poker game in the lobby
of the principal hotel that night. and engaged in
friendly game with number of acquaintance.
They playing for twenty-five cents a cor
ner. While the game was In progress a ragged
prospector appeared and attempted to inject him.
self into the company. The mining man explain
ed that 1t was simply private game between
friends-outsiders. and particularly strangers.
were not wanted.
81 have money that has never been spent"
I'VE don't know you"
"Oh. that's 1t! Then let introduce my.
self"
There was no way to get rid of him apear.
emily. Then like inspiration. and in an an.
noyed manner the operator said:
How much money have your"
Eight hundred dollars"
sit down. and II show you how to play
poker"
In less than fifteen minutes the prospector
withdrew.
Shortly after he returned with thousand dol
lars more. This was interesting He lost 1t.
Then he lost diamond pin. following Il with a
watch and his "cayuse"
When he pushed back his chair the operator
asked:
Are you broke now"
Il have claim the HILL
What do you value it at?'
Zone hundred thousand dollars"
This staggered the mining man for moment
ANCIENT AND MOD.
No Doubt That the Pedal ExtremItie4 ma renrese