Tensas gazette., 1913-02-21

SVZNN' ssraa ferenoe e''@D u ~
Not so long ago, however, the cry OF the
roulette man and the click Of the ball could
be heard in the lobbies of many of the
principal hotels. This was particularly true
OF Ell Paso Cripple Creek. Leadvile, Gold
field. Butte, the Occur dAlene, and many
other sections, The practice prevailed to
greater or less extent In the larger towns
Everybody has money in the early days of An
a mining camp NJ
1t was an era OF speculation. The ~
try had not been proven" and hence a sN
find" in a 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 at the
birds, the gamblers, like many vultures,
assemble at the point to which 1t is being cast
by the thoughtless and improvident possessors
Games we're played where the stakes ran into
the millions. wealthy In the morning
sometimes had to borrow money to avoid going
to bed hungry at night.
A 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. the range in Colorado the neu-
ern oklahoma), and in Texas ten thousand head
OF cattle. worth twenty dollars head or 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 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. i viii 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 penniless, and started for
the Rio Grande country Of Texas. where he found
employment hauling logs to a sawmill. He had
lost more than a quarter OF a million dollars in
twenty-four hoursi
VIII you oblge me by taking of your shoes?"
asked road agent politely, while he held re-
volver menacingly 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
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
10 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 man sitting in the
dealers chair of faro game in the CLOUD City.
Leadville is called Before him sat a man
who lost money steadily. The gambler "raked
In" the money carelessly and with the utmost
concern The player lost something like FIVE
thousand dollars and then pushed back his chair.
to aIrAA -,I.tw ~,
brows,
'Yep-you've cleaned me out"
Then are for that little incident the
other night when you collected your road tax
from me-"
"T"
yes, youl"
The hold-up man knocked down half a dozen
ioiterers in his rush to reach the door and escape
welknown mining man. who was noted for
his Judgment in knowing a 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 It 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
Q friendly game with number OF acquaintances.
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
eu Jnht IL was SIMPLY u private game between
friendB-outsiders, and particularly strangers,
were not wanted.
Il 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.
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 interesting He lost It.
Then be lost a diamond pin. following It with a
watch and his "cayuse."
When he pushed back his chair the operator
asked:
Are you broke now?"
Il have a claim over on the hill"
What do you value It att"
"One hundred thousand dollars"
This staggered the mining man for q moment
<S>~~~~~N~S~>o~~~o~oD~S~~~