Gordon Young

“ Tesla caught the sentence: "—Hounds been giving 'em hell all afternoon."
Mr. Tesla hurried anxiously to the Magnolia. The saloon was filled. The orchestra played. The tables were banked deep with men, offering their alms to the hag, Fortune. Men stood three deep at the bar, shouting over one another's shoulders at bartenders who hurried with a kind of blank, automatic, yet unfailing swiftness, clapping down bottles, mixing drinks, slinging glasses with deft accuracy, remembering a volley of orders.
Mr. Cronin's chubby body radiated satisfaction. ”

“ Now and then Kern, booted and in red shirt, restlessly dropped on the divan, lay for a moment, got up, wandered about, would go to the window, and peer down. The doctor and the other man or two who had helped bring Tesla were now talking and drinking at the bar.
The Magnolia was well filled with men. Cronin had been right. Shooting affairs did draw crowds, for as the hour grew late, men stayed on. The lookouts droned indifferently, "Make your game, gentlemen—the game is made, gentlemen, the game is made." ”

“ Tesla stirred anxiously, saying in a low confused tone:
"Mr Hales—Colonel—gentlemen!—no—no——"
"That wasn't a shot, sir—just glass," said the doctor.
"Ah, thank God! Tempête-Cowden's ranch-gentlemen, please bring her?"
Though the apartment was his own, Cronin had been put out of it.
"You make too much noise," said Kern. "Stay away from here."
When Judge Deering came, Kern said:
"He can't live—I don't think. He doesn't want Hales to leave. Seems afraid he and the colonel will meet. He wants his daughter. Where the hell is Cowden's ranch, Judge? She's there. Nobody seems to know." ”

“ Bartenders flung their drinks with a long parabolic curve from the mixing cup to glass, and spilled not a drop. Men bunched together, talking, guessing how this or that might have a bearing on the mystery of who had fired through the doorway; names were hinted at; the name of the gambler, Dawes, was openly mentioned, talked of, repeated.
Mr. Tesla was stirring. Kern strode across the room and bent low, but could not understand. Tesla spoke with the broken effort of one who could hardly speak at all. ”

“ And as long as there is a God in heaven there will be punishment of evil men upon this earth. And now you, my friends, must go quickly and ride hard—ride hard, for the majesty of Death, sir, does not wait upon the going and coming of men."
7 In the balcony apartment of the Magnolia two or three men sat or stood about with little to say, waiting. Now and then the doctor went down and had a drink, and told those who gathered about him that Tesla might live, after all; that he did not appear to be suffering. Wallace B. Kern, who had seen a man or two die, thought that Tesla did suffer. ”

“ For why? Because business it is good? What a feller you are, Tesla. I suppose you would feel better if the house was empty and little spiders they hung themselves across the door! The syndicate would think you a good man then to invest for them money—yes?"
"There must be no more murders in this house, Cronin!"
"How'll you stop 'em, eh? Tell me that! Boom- boom! Just like that, and it is over before you know it was about to begin. I don't like it neither, I can tell you! I cracked my knee gettin' out of the way yesterday when that Hales feller started to shoot. Bullets make too much noise! ”

“ Men struggled to get where they could peer at Tesla.
Wallace B. Kern, Judge Deering, another man or two, pushed at them, swore, urged them back, to make room; and among the hum and babble some sensible voice rose:
"Get a doctor—doctor!"
Mr. Cronin, puffing, distressed, excited until he did not know what he was saying or doing, got through the crowd and pawed at Tesla, crying:
"Ow, Tesla! Tesla! Tesla, are you hurt— Ow, this town! Such a fine man, an' they shoot him!"
Hales asked of Cronin:
"We'd better take him up there?"—pointing to the balcony.
"Is he dead? Is he dead? Ow, Mr. ”

“ They marched to the then remote quarter of the city where the numerous Spanish-speaking emigrants, mostly Chileans, lived in shacks and tents.
With a mob-like rush, yelling and shooting wildly, they broke upon the settlement. ”

“ Nevinson's ranch lies?"
"Don't, Judge. Sorry. Any word?"
"Yes. Yes. If the colonel returns, kindly ask him, sir, to come to the Magnolia. Thank you, sir," said Judge Deering, leaving the saloon.
Judge Deering returned to the Magnolia and sent men about the city, making inquiries, and though word was left in many places for Col. Nevinson, no one found him.
5 In the balcony room Mr. Tesla lay on the bed, motionless, breathing slowly. Now and then he opened his eyes, but he noticed no one, saw nothing.
"He can't live," said the doctor. ”

“ Cronin.
{heading|2|4|c|normal|mb1}} Col. Nevinson, as if throwing himself off, jumped from his horse and entered Baer's saloon. This, too, was packed with men, many Hounds, hangers-on of the city politicians, some officials of the city.
Men made way for him with an eager respect, and many talked together at the same time, crying:
"We've needed you, Colonel!"—"You ort've been here, Colonel!"—"Thought you'd never come!"—"Now, greasers, look out! The Colonel's come!
"Whisky," said Col. Nevinson. "And for everybody!" ”