Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1899 — GAME FOR TWO LIVES. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GAME FOR TWO LIVES.

The Romantic and Genarons Chivalry ; of “Wildcat” smith. Old “Wildcat" Smith, the last of the famous band of Texas pioneers, is living at a hale and hearty age near Cald-

well, Texas. He does not look like u lawyer, but be has nevertheless, sat upon a camp stool and decided cases of the greatest importance. He does not bear any very marked resemblance to a general, but he has commanded a considerable force in battie, and while military critics might have complained that be was deficient in strategic ability, none ever charged him with a lack of valor. Few people

would discover in his face or manner any of those traits that distinguish a duelist, but he has demonstrated that he possesses them all in an eminent degree by ordering ‘‘pistols and coffee for two” more than once. Upon one occasion he had the audacity to iqvlte General Houston, who was at that period president of the republic, to “come out and exchange shots" with him. He says that the old warrior “floored” him by coolly making a note on a slip of paper and putting it in his desk. In answer to the enraged challenger's Inquiry, the General simply said: “Mr. Smith, you are the fortieth; when I have' killed these other thirty-nine damned scoundrels who have challenged me I will accommodate you. Be patient sir.” Smith came to Texas in 1836, and served in the Texan army through all the long wars with Mexico. He was also a soldier in the great civil war, and when that ended he enlisted to fight Indians and remained on the border until there, were no more Comanches to shoot. On one occasion Smith was captured by a roving band of Comanches, many of whom were well known to him. They frankly told him that they intended to make him run the gantlet and burn him at the stake when they reached their village on Devil River, The captive had a flask of whisky, which the chief took away from him. After taking several drinks the old warrior asked Smith if be could play “seven up.” Smith * proudly boasted that he could beat any man living playing that particular game. This answer appeared to put the Indian on his mettle, and he at once proposed that they should halt by the side of the warpath and play for the highest stakes that mortal men ever waged on a game of chance—life. Smith eagerly agreed

to the proposal, and they sat down under a tree and dealt the cards on a blanket The other warriors dismounted and anxiously watched the game. The chiefs name was Big Lapgh, socalled on account of a natural grin that marked his features. After a short time they stood 6 to 6, and Tt was Smith’s deal He ran the cards off and turned a jack from the bottom. Smith had won his liberty and Big Laugh told him that he might go; but the Texan had something else in view. He might have walked away, but he determined upon another act which marks him as a generous soul possessed of 'the highest courage. There was a young white girl tied on one of the ponies who was weeping in the most piteous agony. Smith coolly proposed to play another game, staking his life against the liberty of this young girl. Big Laugh was evidently pleased with the white man’s courage, and after taking another drink he began to shuffle the cards. The girl was cut loose from the pony and made to stand on the blanket, while the thongs for binding j Smith in case he lost were thrown at her feet Again they played a close game, and at the end of a short time stood 6 to 6; but it was Big Laugh’s deal. With what awful Interest that poor girl must have watched the turning of that trump. The Indian slowly dealt the cards, and, peeping at the trump, a hideous grin spread over his face. ■ < . “I was sure that all was lost, and was just in the act of springing at his throat,” says Smith, “when he turned the queen of hearts for a trump. He could not give me, of course, and I held both the ace and deuce of hearts.” Big Laugh was by this time hilariously drunk and in a most excellent good humor. He not only kept bls word and gave Smith and the young girl their liberty, but be furnished them two ponies and allowed Smith to take his gun. The liberated captives reached the settlements in safety. The disproportion of the sexes is still I'SrSL*'.. 1 ! u™ I

WILDCAT SMITH.

GAMS FOR TWO LIVES.