Gordon Young

“ Hales paused. He sensed danger. There was something wrong. He did not glance toward the misspelled letter. He looked steadily into Black Perry's eyes and saw them shift uncontrollably toward the bartender, then toward where the other gambler sat.
Hales knew better than to look around.
Instantly Black Perry was saying, wrathfully:
"What about the letter? It's yourn, ain't it? You was hollerin' for a letter las' night. Well, what in hell's the matter with you?" ”

“ If Yank had been killed by the boulder, the miners would have buried him respectfully, and have forgotten him at once; but living, he could not be forgotten, and to have a leg cut off was worse, in a way, than death.
Moreover the camp felt the depression that comes over decent men after they have been on a debauch, and Yank's leg gave them an increased sense of guiltiness. Those that felt the most self-reproach most strongly put the blame on Fred's House rather than on themselves. ”

“ Then jerking his head around for scarcely more than half of a backward glance at what he aimed, he shot; and, instantly, he faced about and shot again, point-blank into the body of Black Perry. The next moment Hales' gun was leveled at the head of the bartender, but the fellow had both hands in the air and his mouth open.
"Don't shoot! Ow, don't shoot!" he begged.
"The reason I don't shoot," said Hales, "is not because your hands are up, but because I want one of you alive to tell the miners just what you tried to do—and why? Why did you?" ”