Save for the busy drummer and his companions in the saloon, Yellow Sky was . The new-comer leaned upon the bar, and recited many tales with the confidence of a who has come upon a new field.
"And at the moment that the old man fell down-stairs, with the bureau in his arms, the old woman was coming up with two of coal, and, of course——"
The drummer's tale was interrupted by a young man who suddenly appeared in the open door. He cried—
"Scratchy Wilson's drunk, and has turned loose with both hands."
The two Mexicans at once set down their glasses, and faded out of the rear entrance of the saloon.
The drummer, innocent and jocular, answered—
"All right, old man. S'pose he has. Come and have a drink, anyhow."
But the information had made such an obvious in every in the room, that the drummer was obliged to see its importance. All had become instantly .
"Say," said he, mystified, "what is this?"
His three companions made the introductory gesture of speech, but the young man at the door them.
"It means, my friend," he answered, as he came into the saloon, "that for the next two hours this town won't be a health resort."
The bar-keeper went to the door, and locked and barred it. Reaching out of the window, he pulled in heavy wooden and barred them. Immediately a solemn, chapel-like gloom was upon the place. The drummer was looking from one to another.
"But say," he cried, "what is this, anyhow? You don't mean there is going to be a gun-fight?"
"Don't know whether there'll be a fight or not," answered one man grimly. "But there'll be some shootin'—some good shootin'."
The young man who had warned them waved his hand. "Oh, there'll be a fight, fast enough, if any one wants it. Anybody can get a fight out there in the street. There's a fight just waiting."
The drummer seemed to be swayed between the interest of a foreigner, and a perception of personal danger.
"What did you say his name was?" he asked.
"Scratchy Wilson," they answered in chorus.
"And will he kill anybody? What are you going to do? Does this happen often? Does he rampage round like this once a week or so? Can he break in that door?"
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