The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-03-15

longer, despite his publicly -avowed deter
minatien to be economical that night. lie
suddenly jumped to his feet, and, having
shaken the few wits which poor Luny Ted
boasts into full working order, ordered him
to go to the butchers and purchase half
sheep's-head for him, and to the flshmon-
gers to purchase whole cod's-head ("No
shoulders, mind you - for himself.
Hold on there, Luny!" cried MIR. Casey,
who was endeavoring to give semblance OF
lustre to a bronzy looking tumbler. 81
amt a-goin' to have no such d-n sinking
cookin' as sleeps heads here!"
The Bolts eye in an instant flashed mur-
der at his inhospitable host; and, as was
directly on the bee-line between them, and
the Bolt had heavy tumbler in his hand,
thought it advisable to back my stool foot
or two, even at the risk of losing my place
by the stove. The Bolt glared murderous-
ly at Casey. and Casey, while continuing
to rub the recalcitrant tumbler, kept his
bright little eye steadfastly fixed on the
Bolt; and then Dirty Jenny, approaching
the angry man with coaxing but cautious
Come now, Tommy it's not yersilf whatll
begin muss this airly," turned the threat
ened tragedy into farce 1y suggesting
that it would be much better for him to
spend his bit " in two drinks-one for her
and one for himself
The Bolt himself was forced to join in
the general laugh, though economy once
more exerted its sway over him, and he re-
fused to " step up"
To my horror the old beldame turned
suddenly from him to me, put her arms
round my neck, and giving me a bouncing,
rum smelling kiss on the cheek before l di-
vined her intention, said:
Darlint. now it's you that'll sthan' a
lone ould widder-woman drap O sulhin,
es to kape the cowld out this night"
/ protested that l had no money. God
forgive me the lie had a FIVE dollar bill
carefully tucked inside the right leg of my
trousers, and twenty dollar bill slowed away
after the same fashion in the left leg, intend
ing them TO do duty according to the emer
gency of any unforeseen difficulty in which
might find myself placed. had solita-
ry fvecent piece in my trousers pocket
By way of restoring general harmony,
Curly Bill, who seemed to have good sup
ply of money for one of his class, ordered
"set up" all round and called upon Mickey
McHugh to sing an Irish song.
Mickey started one of those curious. wall
ing melodies peculiar to the Irish peasantry
and the general company rolled out the cho-
rus with such effect that the officer on the
beat came down.
In the confusion, handed my tumbler of
fusil-oil to Dirty Jenny, who tossed it off,
and gave me back the empty tumbler with
ont aDy one noticing it.
The officer asked what all the Fighting
was about" took stiff horn of Mr.. Casey's
whisky at MIR. Casey's expense, and hur-
ried up the steps again.
Some of our company had by this time
drunk themselves sufficiently stupid to be
able to 60 to bed and sleep but the Others
resoutely stuck to the stove myself among
the number. The fact is, did not want to
share Niger Joe's humble couch longer
than was absolutely necessary more espec-
tally as, seeing that rum made him quarrel
some (he had already had two or three very
wordy altercations) was afraid that, if |
should happen to doze in the night, and by
accident kick him, he would think it his
bounden duty to retaliate by breaking my
head.
Mr.. Casey's duties now compelled him to
run about. Curly Bill was doing the hon
ors freely, and round after round was served
to the little party who hugged the fire.
They were the "choice spirits among Mr.
Casey's patrons. They twitted those who
SUNK off to bed, sympathized with Mrs.
Casey for not being able to drink on ac-
count of the baby's tender stomach, joked
Dirty Jenny about being an old maid Jen-
nv alruov hot oh =, otN
| Swel-head about kissing the curbstone,
swore. laughed, sang, and had several little
friendly scuffles, and were as merry a party
| OF incOrrigible thieves and drunkards as
could be imagined.
was just congratulating myself on the
probability that another round or two of
rum would send the whole party to bed,
when, for some cause which I was unable
then or afterward to discover, Curly Bill
took offense at something which Lame Pete
said or did, and Lame Pete just ducked his
head in time to avoid Curly Bills tumbler,
which was shivered ,gainst the edge of the
bar counter. 1t is almost impossible to de-
scribe the scene which followed.
In an instant there was a general free
fight. So sudden was the onslaught that
was rolled over, stool and all. Just in time
to furnish a soft fallingspot for Mickey Nc
Hugh, who was knocked down by Nigger
Joe.
The women who had gone to bed scream
ed-Dirtv Jenny particularly distinguish
ing herself by invoking "arl ther sents,"
and tearing her hair in a frenzed way. The
women who had gone to bed rushed in. and
then one and all of the females Joined in the
fray.
tried to get out of the place. not car
ing to run the risk of sleeping in the station.
hoase and appearing at the Toombs next
morning; but Mrs. Casey had locked the
door, and taken away the key, before going
to bed. So | jumped behind the bar, clear.
ing the counter like deer.
The scene was horriblel Men hammered
one anothers heads on the floor, women
wound their fingers in their hair, scratching
| lighting, and screaming like maniacs and
then down came the police, who hammered
on the door with their clubs for admittapce
All was still in moment those who had
| previously been in bed hurried back again !.
the others seized the stools, squatted down
around the stove, and, smoothing their hair
assumed an air of innocence s ,
[ Mrs. Casey shouted =" Coming I" and went
in search of the key, and, as she unlocked
the door, I stopped down as low as l could
under cover of my hiding place.
Whats all this about, Casey?" asked
! the officer
Mr.. Casey, with mastery suavity. assured
him that it was 9 only little bit of pleas
antry between Lame Pete and Jenny. Pete
wanted to kiss her, an she wouldn't let him
unless he stood her drink first"
het i