The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-09-30
THE PARSONS QUEST.
How 1t Ended In "The Emma
Saloon"

Emma saloon one night less than q veal
ago, and every a was well heeled,
carrying his revolver handy, and wore
his shirt open at the neck. As for the
women-there was only one. and she
rejoiced in the so~ubriquet of Scared
Emma" and you only had to look al
her hands to know why. They had
been burned to the bone, and, although
she wore diamond rings to the frst
joint of every finger, they didn't dis
guise the horrid scars, scanned and liyid,
and of these Emma was prouder thar
of the rings. Well she might be. Had
she not saved the lives of men and
women bearing them in her arms from
a burning building? And these scars
were her medals of honor for hel
bravery.
Some of the gang were playing draw
poker, others engaged in a game OF
seven up. Some drank and loafed,
loafed and drank again, and chaffed
with the l~andlady, who was about as
amiable as a tiger.
On the night here alluded to, Scared
Emma" was busy handing out the min
ers 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.
Everybody rose up, and a shout OF
welcome greeted the c
Hello, Bill. glad to see yer. Brung
in any new uns?'
Nav. Evenin', En-. About two fin
gers straight, seem jest got in. Been
to OMAHA for a pesky boss thief.
Tried 10 get away. out here, and We
was goin' to let him have it, but there
wuz a lectle weakened parson on the
stage an he interfered and prayed of
SO fluid like we weakened, an let the
Teller go with nary a bullet in his
carcass Here's to We, En-, for the
fairest of yer sex Come on, boys, an
fill up at my expense"
He tossed off the dram and set the
tumbler down to be reflled.
where's the parson?" asked the land
lady, smiling on the deputy as she
measured the fiery fluid with a liberal
hand.
lies stopped over to preach at Iiell's
Delight, but he'll be at the Gulch to-
morroy, an doan yer forget it, less he
dies afore mornin' kind o sudden from
n dose of cold lead. An I'd advise the
boys to grease their boots and be ready,
for he's a buster, the parson is"
Say, Bill" remarked Emma, stirring
his whisky by shaking it in the glass,
sis he a young feller?" /
Jaw, an sickly. Lord, yer 6"
daylight through him"
An takes sugar in .hima's wit. and
You bet. p for them herself.
The crowd re really comm here to
this time -
Say here, En-. You're talkin'
prdgh your bonnit. Come here he
ay, but preach-ho, no, | guess not"
"Who says 'no?'" asked the woman,
I'd this time the tiger showed itself m !
r eyes. !
II dove all do" roared the crowd
n rude chorus {
And say he shall" I
h"N ohS " hCf SCdTTtu ndnuS |
ross her bosom so that all present {
uld see them. That one motion had I
strange effect upon those human {
votes, who would have knitted a man !
the back and made no account of it. q
is true that even desperadoes have 9
cir soft moments. This woman L
inding before them had one claim on
respect, and as their eyes followed
at movement and fell on the SCARED @
d cicatrized hands, the dumb appeal y
we'd them as nothing else could have
he. Off went every hat, bearded lips l.
mbled, then, as there was danger of r.
much sentiment, there went up a :
.er from twenty hoarse threats, and -
Emma turned to set up again for !,
IN, she dashed something from her :,
IS that might have oeen a tear. :"
o it happened that when Rev. James =,
reached Dead Mans Gulch, he o.
rned that the principal saloon was h
pared to receive him, being turned -,
the time into a meeting house. All u
ough the little town and far into "
surrounding country these placards b.
affixed to walls and trees: =.