The Forrest City times., 1894-01-05
THE PARSONS QUEST.
How It Ended in "The Emma
 Saloon"

There was breezy crowd over in the Emma saloon one night less than 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 rejoiced 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 sears, scanned and liyid, and of these Emma was prouder 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 a burning building? And these scars were her medals of honor for her bravery.
 Some of the gang were playing draw poker, others engaged in game of seven up. Some drank and loafed, loafed and drank again, and chaffed with the landlady, who was about as amiable as 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 shout of welcome greeted the newcomer.
 Hello, Bill, glad to see yer. Brung in any new uns"
 Nav! Evenin'. Elm. About two fin gers straight, seein' jest got in Been to Omaha for a pesky hoss thief. Tried to get away. out here. and we was goin' to let him have it, but there wuz leetle weazened parson on the stage an he interfered and prayed off so fluid like we weakened, an let the feller go with nary bullet in his carcass Here's to ye, Elm, 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 liberal hand.
 'hes stopped ov CT to preach at Helfs Delight, but he'll be at the Gulch to- morroy, an doan yer forget 1t, less he dies afore mornln' 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, lis he a young feller?'
 'Aw, an sicl1ly 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 comin' here to preach?"
 Look here, Elm. You're talkin through your bonnit. Come here he may. but preach-ho! ho! l guess not. v
 'Who says 'no?' asked the woman and this time the tiger showed itself n her eyes.
 II do-we all do.' roared the crowd in rude chorus
 And 1 say he shall"
 And she folded her scared hands ncross ner bosom so that all present could see them That one motion had n strange effect upon those human coyotes. who would have knifed man In the back and made no account or H. It is true that even desperadoes nave 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 ot f. o much sentiment, there went up