The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1893-11-10
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-there was only one. and she
reioiced 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
guisc the horrid scars, scanned and livid,
and OF these Emma was prOuder than
of the rings. Well she might be- Had
she not saved the lives of men and
women bearing them in her arms from
Il 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 loafed,
loafcd and drank again, and chaffed
with the landlady, who was about as
amiable as q tiger.
On the night here alluded to, Scared
Emma was busy handing out the min
crs poison in copious doses, and listen
ihg to such cheap compliments as were
not too suggestive Of revolvers and
free fights, wheu the door opened. and
the deputy sheriff entered the place
Everybody rose up, and shout of
welcome greeted the newcomer.
in any new uis?"
Nav! Evenin, En- About two fin
gers straight, SEEM jest got in. Been
to C.Aaha for Il pesl1y boss thief.
Tried to get away. out here, and we
was goin' to let him have it, but there
WIZ leetle weakened parson on the
stage an he interfcred and prayed off
SO fluid like we weakened, an let the
Teller go with nary bullet in his
carcass. Here's to ye, 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 refilled.
'Where's the pareon?" asked the land
lady, smiling on the deputy as she
measured the fiery fluid with a liberal
hand
Hes stopped OK er to preach at IleA's
Delight, but hell be at the Gulch to-
morroy, an doan Yer forget it, less he
dies afore lnornin' kind o sudden from
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 a young feller?"
cav, an sicl<ly. 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 set it UP for them herself
Say, Bill. is he really comm here to
preach?"
Look here, En-. You're talkin'
through your bonnit. Come here he
may, bat preach-ho! no! guess not
who says no.? asked the woman,
and this time the tiger showed itself IN
her eyes.
Il dove all do" reared the crowd
in rude chorus.
And say he shall"
And she folded her SCARED hands
across her bosom so that all present
could see them. That one motion had
d strange effect upon those human
coyotes, who would have knitted 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. Off went every hat, bearded lips
trembled, then, as there was danger of
too much sentiment, there went up a
cheer from twenty hoarse throats, and
as 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
were affixed to walls and trees: