The Coconino weekly sun., 1893-09-28
THE PARSONS QUEST.
How It Ended in "The Emma
 Saloon"


 There was breezy crowd over in the Emma saloon one night less than a year ago, and every man was well heeled, carrying his revolver handy, and wore his shirt open at the neck. As for the women-therc was only one, and she rejOiccd in the soubriquet of Scared Emma" and you only had to look at her hands to know why. They had been burned to the bone, and, although she wore diamond rings to the first joint of every finger, they didn't dis guise the horrid scars, scanned and livid, and of these Emma was prOudcr than of the rings. We'll she might be. Had she not saved the lives of men and women bearing them in her arms from n burning building? And these scars were her medals of honor for her bravery.
 Some of the gang were playing draw poker, others engaged in a game of seven up. Some drank and loafcd, loafed and drank again, and chaffed with the landlady, who was about as amiablc as q tiger
 On the night here alluded to, Scared Emma" was busy handing out the min CTS poison in copious doses, and listen ing to such cheap compliments as were not too suggestive of revolvers and free fights, when the door opened, and the deputy sheriff entered the place
 Every body rose up, and a shout of welcome greeted the newcomer.
 Hello, Bill, glad to see yer, Brung in any new uns?'
 ''Naw! Evenin', Elm. About two fin gers straight, sccin' jest got in. Been to Omaha for pcsliy hoss thief. Tried to get away, out here, and we was goin' to let him have it, but there wuz leetlc weazened parson on the stage an he interfcred and prayed off so fluid like we weakened, an let the felicr go with nary Il bullet in his carcass Here's to yc, Em, for the fnircst of yer sex Come on, boys, an fill up at my expense"
 He tossed of the dram and set the tumbler down to be rcfillcd.
 "Where's the parsou?" asked the land lady, smiling on the deputy as she measured the fiery fluid with liberal hand.
 dies stopped over to preach at Ilell's Delight, but he'll be at the Gulch to- morrov, an doan yer forget 1t, less he dies afore mornin' kind O sudden from a dose of cold lead. An I'd advise the boys to grease their boots and be ready, for he's buster, the parson is.
 "Say, Bill" remarked Emma, stirring his whisky by shaking it in the glass, sis he young feller?'
 "Aw, an siclIly. Lord, yer can see daylight through him"
 An takes sugar in his?"
 "You bet.''
 The crowd roared at Emma's wit, and this time she SC: it up for them herself.
 Say, Bill, is he really comin' here to prcach9"
 Look here, Elm. You're talBin' through your bonnit. Come here he may, but preach-ho! ho! guess not"
 "Who says 'no?'" asked the woman, and this time the tiger showed itself !n her eyes.
 q do--we all dol" roared the crowd in a rude chorus
 And I say he shall"
 And she folded her scared hands across her bosom so that all present could sec them. That one motion had q strange effect upon those human coyotes, who would have knifed man in the back and made no account of it. It is true that even desperadOes have their soft moments. This woman standing before them had one claim on their respect, and as their eyes followed that movement and fell on the scared and cicatrized hands, the dumb appeal moved them as nothing else could have done of went every hat, bearded lips trembled, then, as there was danger of too much sentiment, there went up cheer from twenty hoarse threats, and hs Emma turned to set up again for them, she dashed something from her eyes that might have been tear.
 So it happened that when Rev James Forsyth reached Dead Mans Gulch, he learned that the principal saloon was prepared to receive him, being turned for the time into meeting house. All through the little town and far into the surrounding country these placards rsvarn nffi yn1 to yvnlls and trppS,