The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-08-05
The Daily
Short Story
IN ELpoRADo

II
/ roarious merriment was rife in
| One-Eyed Monte's place, Eldora-
4 dos most pretentious thirst parlor.
From the big ballroom in the rear
came the sound Of the orchestra,
the scraping of many feet on the
| floor and loud laughter or bolster
GUS shouts.
There was a big line of red-shirt-
ed miners and bold, coarse women
before the bar. 1t was constantly
4 changing, as thirsty dancers came
out of the ballroom or some, with
their thirst for the moment
| quenched, returned to it.
In the same room that contained
the bar several gambling games
were going on. The gamblers were
silent, mostly, except that the man
! running the game occasionally
shouted, Come on, get on the
field" and somebody would throw
4 down a half dollar and shout, -Four
bits on the field" The man throw
ing the dice uttered a low, eager
cry every time the little cubes left
his hand.
The door of the saloon opened
and in came a tall, bearded man,
but slightly known to the inhabit-
ants of Eldorado. He was a
stranger in the camp, having ar
rived but few days previous. He
had been prospecting ever since,
and little had been seen of him.
Even his name was unknown.
The newcomer took out his gun
and turned 1t over to the bar
tender, as the custom Of the place
demanded. The weapon would be
returned to him when he left. He
ordered a drink and then sauntered
over to the roulette wheel. At
length he lost and quit the game
/ AS he strolled back toward the
ballroom loud cries were going up
from all parts Of the room: "The
Monterey! The Monterey! Give us
the Monterey, Jimmie"
| The leader of the orchestra
struck up a melody to the dance
they wanted, and the merry throng
formed big circle alternating man
and woman.
! Livelier and livelier became the
music, and the dancers, swinging
around rapidly In a circle, surged
in and out, advanced and receded,
whooping and shrieking with
mirth.
The stranger took no part in the
Monterey, but stood to one side,
and carefully followed with his eye
the movements Of sprlghtly vel
low-haired girl, the prettiest in the
crowd. When the music was
struck up for the next dance-a
two-step-he walked over toward
her, and without a word slipped his
arm around her waist and despite
her look of amazement at his
cheek, started to dance with her.
But he had not taken two
steps when another tall man
strobe up to the couple, put his
hand firmly on the strangers
shoulder and said angrily: See
here, stranger, that's my girl"
I'm dancing with her now the
other cody remarked.
you are like blazes," said the
interferer, now furious, and at the
same time struck the newcomer a
singing blow on the cheek.
The stranger released his hold
on the girl, felt for his revolver.
then realizing It was not on, struck
at the other. But One-Eyed Monte
was on hand in q Hash and sepa-
rated the combatants.
Meet me tomorrow morning."
Oh - q.
made enemy, "and we'll have a lit
tie gun play"
THAT will suit me to a T." was
the reply.
1t was arranged that they should
meet In a gully back Of Eldorado at
10 o'clock. Monte offered to act
as second for the stfanger, while
the other man chose Tommy At
kins, an Englishmln In the camp.
to see that he got fair play.
At 10 o'clock both men and their
seconds were on hand at the ap-
pointed place. as well as q large
crowd OF miners who wanted to see
the duel. Monte measured off 10
PAGES. 1t was agreed that he should
drop a hat, at which signal the men
should begin shooting.
Before we pull this thing off"
said Monte to the stranger, you
had better tell me who to notify
in case you croak."
write Mrs. Mary Marshall, of
Westonville, Pa" said the stranger
land tell her that Lawrence met
with fatal accident"
He spoke in a low tone, but not
so low that his antagonist failed
to hear him.
He eyed the stranger intently
| for a moment. The latter said
sneeringly: "Well?"
The first man threw down his
revolver and advancing said:
Larry, don't you know me?"
The stranger scanned the other
closely, then gasped: 1T can't be
| George"
George is right" was the
reply.
| The men advanced and shook
hands warmly. Then George said:
| hate 10 off Thio 10