Kraft is unlikely to rush in with a new offer until any other rival bids come forward, though.

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"The perception is, 'She's going to make her dream come true, '" says Ms. Rush, who has been busy with puppet gigs since moving here in September.

WSJ: NYC Dreams, Funded by Friends

"Mr. Costner isn't the first person to come to Deadwood with big dreams that didn't come true, " says Francis Toscana, mayor of the gold-rush era town that has found new life in gambling and tourism.

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