The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1913-01-31

0I III Paso, Cripple Creek, Leadvllle, Gold
field. Butte, the Occur d'Alene, and many
other sections. The practice prevailed to a
greater or less extent In the larger towns
Everybody has money in the early days OF Am
mining camp
It was an era Of speculation. The coun O,
try had not been proven" and hence ~
find In q new section resulted in great
rush 70 that locality Property changed
hands at fabulous prices overnight The
ragged prospector of today might be roll
Ing in wealth tomorrow. 1t has happened
20 many times
When there is money to throw at the
birds. the gamblers, like so many vultures
assemble at the point to which it is being cast
0y the thoughtless and impr0vident possessors..
Games were played where the stakes ran into
the millions. man wealthy in the morning
sometimes had to borrow money to avoid going
70 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 neu-
trial strip emo Mans Land" now extreme west
ern Oklahoma). and in Texas ten thousand head
of cattle worth twenty dollars a head. or a total
of 100000
He possessed land in three states and a hand
some residence In Denver. He made a bet of
thousand steers worth twenty thousand dollars
and lost. He continued this until the herd OF
belonged anOLQ0F
man. Day dawned. and he was still playing
Breakfast was sent In from a restaurant main
tanned at the end of the gambling hall for just
such people,
Now" he said to the men who had won his
cattle, you have the critters, but no place to
Keep them. 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 wentyfour
hours later he was penniless, and started for
the Rio Grande country of Texas, where he found
employment hauling logs to sawmill He had
lost more than a quarter of million dollars in
twenty-four hours!
Will you obge me BY taking OF your shoes?'
asked road agent politely, while ne held re-
vover menacingly in the face of passenger
who stood up in line with others.
The hold-up man had stopped the stage going
into Leadyille 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 jewelry, until he came to
the last man in the line. Then he asked the man
to take off 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 Leadyile is called Before him sat man
who lost money steadily. The gambler "raked
In the money carelessly and with the utmost I'M
concern. The player lost something like 1--WE
thousand dollars and then pushed back his chair.
All in?' asked the gambler, arching his
brows,
rYehyou'ye cleaned me out"
Then we are even for that little incident the
other night. when you collected your road tax
from me"
81.
yes. you!"
The holdup man knocked down half a dozen
ioiterers In his rush to reach the door and escape
welLknown mining man, who was noted for
his judgment in knowing hole in the ground
when he looked into it, had just made a purchase
ia Cripple Greek He had money and he was viii
ing to spend It for anything that looked good
After having tramped over the hills all Of one
day. ne sat into" g. poker game in the lobby
Of the principal hotel that night. and engaged in
friendly game with number Of acquaintances
They were playing for twenty-five cents cor
ner. While the game In progress ragged
prospector appeared and attempted to inject him.
self into the company. The mining man, explain
ed that 1t was simply Nrivate game between
4 were not wanted
n have money that has never been spent"
I'VE don't know you"
oh. that's It! Then let me introduce my
self"
There was no way to get rid Of him appar-
entity, 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 rrospector
withdrew
Shortly after he returned with 4 thousand dol
lars more. This was interesting He lost It
Then he lost1a diamond pin. following it with
watch and his "cayuse"
When he pushed back his chair the operator
asked.
Are you broke now" xs
7 have claim over on the hill''
What do you value It at?'
One hundred thousand dollars"
{his STAGGERED the mining man for moment