Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-02-07

0ZzN~ on under cover and in con-,
sVNNNS : ;sasaes dread Of police inter
Not SO long ago, however the cry of the
roulette man and the click OF the ball could
De heard in the Hobbies of many OF the
principal hotels. This was particularly true
OF Ell Paso. Cripple Creek Leadville Gold
ned. 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 az
mining camp. "
1t was era of speculation The coun- q
Try had not been proven" and hence a
ma In a new section resulted in a great
rush to that locality. Property changed
nahds at fabulous prices overnight The
ragged prospector Of today might be roll
Tag In wealth tomorrow. 1t has happened
80 many times
When there is money to throw at the
oros. the gamblers. like many vultures
assemble at the point to which IL ia being east
by the thoughtless and improvident 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 neu-
traI strip Ono Mans Land" extreme west
ern Oklahoma). and in Texas ten thousand head
OF cattle, worth twenty dollars 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
ten thousand head of stock belonged to another
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 who had won his
cattle. you have the critters. but 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-twentyfour
hours later-he was penness. and started for
the Rio Grande country of Texas, where he found
employment hauling logs to a sawmill- He had
lost more than quarter Of a million dollars In
twenty-four hoursi
win You oblige me by taking or your shoes?"
asked a road agent politely. while he held q re-
volver menacingiy in the face Of q passenger
who stood up In q line with others.
The holdup 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 q
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 on his shoes He found four thousand
dollars under the inner solesl
Several nights later the man who had been out
witted by the hold-up sitting in the
Dealers chair of a faro game in the CLOUD City"
as Leadville is called. Before him sat q man
who lost money steadily. The gambler "raked
in" the money carelessly and with the utmost I'M
concern. The player lost something like five
thousand dollars and then pushed back his chair.
All INF" asked the gambler arching his
brows.
"Yep-you've cleaned out"
Then even for that little incident the
other night when you collected your road tax
from me-"
Tt
Yes. youi"
The hold-up knocked down half dozen
ioiterers In his rush to reach the door and escape
welfknown mining man. who noted for
his judgment in knowing hole in the ground"
when he looked into IT, had just made purchase
In Cripple Creek. He had money. and he was will
ing to spend 1t for anything that looked good.
After having tramped the hills all of one
day. he sat into" q poker game in the lobby
Of the principal hotel that night, and engaged in
n friendly game with a number of acquaintances
They were 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 It 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 It'll Then let me introduce NV
self"
There way to get rid of him appar-
emily Then, like an 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 1t with a
watch and his "cayuse"
When he pushed back his chair the operator
asked:
Are you broke now?"
Il have claim IN ha
What do you value 1t att"
"One hundred thousand dollars"
This staggered the mining man for a moment