The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-07-11
A FIGHT FOR A GIRL.


A faint yellow light still fingered In
the west. although the moon was shin
ing. IL was hot night not n breath Of
air stirred tho stiff limbs Of the yucca
trees or the fiery cactus blooms. The
sitting heat still seemed to radiate from
the baked sides Of the small adobe
houses. and the sandy soil was uncom-
Portable 20 walk upon, although the sun
had been down an hour.
The town was just beginning to show
signs OF life. Any one arriving there be-
tween the hours OF 10 in the morning
and at night would feel assured that
the place was deserted. Doors and shut
tiers were closed. and the fierce rays Of
tho sun beat down from the FURNISHED
blue Arizona skies with malignant glee.
holding undisputed sway. At shutdown.
however, humanity began to assert it.
self. Not that II was much cooler. but
the terrible. binding glare WINS gone.
Men appeared ON the one long. strag-
Cling street. clad In cotton shirts and
trousers. the former turned back from
the throat MS far M possible. Ponies
came Looping across the trails from the
nearest camps with their swarthy riders
and lights began to flare in the saloons
and gambling tents Sounds Of voices
were heard. too--true. mostly in oaths
and coarse jokes. but they were human
and on this particular night came the
whoezy wall Of "A fiddle and tho livelior
rattle Of banjo from the upper floor Of
the single two story building in the
place. rough structure of implanted
pine 1ards. with the words "Hank +
Hotel in large black letters over the
door.
A dance was evidently in progress
for several ponies were tethered TO the
yucca trees In front. and out ON the still
night air camo the sound Of man =
voice shouting orders.
Inside the room IL was hot and un-
comfortable, made moro 30 by the light
Of half a dozen humps. There were per-
haps 80 mon and one third as many
women. the former cowboys in high
boots and tucked in trousers. or red
shirtod miners from the camps 20 miles
pistols or knives cleaning in their
belts. The women were brazen. painted
things. who had drifted here when they
woro down ON their luck. " and staid
because their sex was such a rarity that
they were tolerated.
"A hard crowd. thought Jack De
wore as he leaned against the door idly
watching the dancers "All of them
toughoncd with crime. and all Of them
show a. unless it's that one over there. -
and bis eyes rested on young girl who
had just finished dancing. and stood
leaning against the wall painting and
exhausted.
Jack Devore, in spite OF his travels
and dangerous life, did not show his
az yenrs. Looking at him one would
take him for a gentleman Of Quot and
retiring tastes He was remarkably
handsome. of the blond type. and
dressed in excellent taste. He spoke
good Spanish and purcst English, had q
know ledge Of Shakespeare that many d
scholar might we'll envy. possessed q
tenor voice that would have made his
fortune ON the opeutic stage. and pail
OF eyes that would win ones heart, they
were 10 innocent aud honest Yet Jacl
Devore had been put down by more
than one as an unmitigated villain. Ht
was professional gambler. and had
broken more hearts and ruined more
lives than any other man In California
and Arizona. He was said to be utterly
without pity, although some swOre &c
the contrary. AT any rate he was rolent
less in his pursuit Of an object, and q
dead shot. two things which mace him
a man whom Il would be- unwise e
offend
He was we'll aware Of the furtiv,
glanccs which were cast in his direction
az be loungod against the door. II
pleased him TO hear the respectful in
yiiaticns 90 dance which he received
but ho felt no desiie 10 join them--Jacl
Dovoro was rather fastidions In hi
tastes. and touching one of the painted
women was out Of tho question. but thu
girl nt whose face his eyes had stOppes
was different
You might look from the City o.
Mexico 90 san Francisco. " lie unused
'and not find another face like hers, .
and Jack was an excellent judge o
beauty.
She stood leaning against the wall IN
aposture which brought out every lin
Of her rounded figure. from the small
foot tapping tho floor In time 70 TN
groaning fiddle to the top Of her sauc,
head. she wore a short cotton skirt o.
some coarse dark material. while larg'
white kerchief. drapcd Mexican fashion
leaving her throat and arms bare, serve,
for bodice. Her hair. which fell il
long black curh below her waist. wa
caught up at the left side Of her hea'
with few brilliant cactus flowers; he
teeth sbone white through her parte
lips, and her eyebrows met In a straigh