five-cent Mills "Chicago" in a musical cabinet the Saloon and its contents in the near future but
(minus music box), which hadn't been operated for since her husband had died without leaving a Will,
many years. My curiosity got the better of me so I she would have to wait until everything went
bellied up to the bar, ordered myself ~ - - - - - - - - - - ~ through probate. She asked if my
a cold beer and struck up a conver-
offer was still good. I assured her
sation with the bartender, who hap-
that it was and if she would like
pened to also be the owner of this
some money up front, I'd be happy
fine establishment. I introduced
to write her a check right then. She
myself and handed him one of my
assured me that it wasn't necessary
business cards. I explained to him
and that I'd be hearing from her in
that my business was buying, sell-
the future. After hanging up, my
ing, repairing or restoring just such
stomach was in a knot. I couldn't
machines as he had displayed in his
believe that my conversation of a
bar and if the inclination should ever
year ago might actually result in me
strike him for any of my services,
securing this wonderful old piece
"give me a call". He asked what I'd
of American history. I hadn't any
give him for it the way it sat and I
idea how long it might take for the
shot him a low-end figure to see
courts to clear up this legal mess,
what he said. He was very cordial
but I knew that all I could do was
and after reminiscing about the
wait it out. Not wanting to sound
machine's known history, he stuck
too eager, I forced myself to wait
my card in his pocket and I went
about six months before calling her
back to enjoy my lunch. He had
back to see what the status was.
said that as far as he could remem-
She told me that the court was
ber, the machine had been operated
dragging its feet but that she would
in several gambling saloons in
hold the machine for me and not
Silverton since the turn of the
sell it to anyone else. I had been
Century and had wound up in The Bent Elbow back made similar promises in years past only to be dis-
around World War II. Someone had broken the appointed by some high dollar offer from someone
main actuator back in 1947 and it hadn't been else or a distant relative from back East that wanted
played since. They just kept it around in the saloon it! But, what can you do? Well, the wait dragged
as a conversation piece because it was so "pretty to on for a year and a half from her first call. Finally,
look at". I figured that I didn't stand much of a in February, two years ago, she called me and said
chance ever getting my hands on it but at least it had the court battle was over and the machine was mine,
been fun to see it and talk to an old-timer who actu- if I still wanted it. I about jumped through the
ally remembered when it was still in operation.
phone line assuring her that I definitely still wanted
I had forgotten all about it after a year went by. it. There was only one little catch; Silverton is way
Then out of the blue I received a phone call from a up in the mountains. The road up there from where
woman who identified herself as the wife of the I live in Fort Collins, requires driving through sev-
owner of The Bent Elbow Saloon. She explained to era] passes that are over eleven thousand feet and
me that her husband had recently passed away and are totally choked off with snow and impassable at
that she had found my business card in the back of that time of year. Again, I tried to get her to let me
the cash register and that her husband had written a send her some money to hold it. Again, she refused,
note on the back of it, stating that I was interested in saying that her word was good and that she trusted
the old "Chicago" machine. She would be selling me to show up later in the year. Well, it wasn't until
8