Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-01-07

A
 long reach of Water street, their
 steel calIs biting deep into the pitted
 board walks.
 For nearly mile the street was
 hanked solely by lumber yards, small
 mills and factories. Then came a strip
 of unimproved land. followed imme-
 diately by the wooden, ramshackle
 structures of Helrs Half Mile.
 As yet the season was too early for much joy along Hell's Half Mile. Orde's
 little crew and the forty or fifty men
 of the drive that had preceded him
 constituted the rank and file at that
 moment in town. A little later, when
 all the drives on the river should be in
 and those of it's tributaries and the men still lingering at the woods camps, at least 500 woods weary men would be turned loose. Then Helrs Half Mile would awaken in earnest from its Information. The lights would blaze from day to day. From its open windows would blare the music. the cries of men and women. the shuf file of feet, the noise of fighting. the shrieks of wild laughter, curses deep and frank and unashamed, songs bro- ken and interrupted. Crews of men, arms locked, would surge up and down the narrow sidewalks, their little felt hats cooked one side, their heads back. their fearless eyes challenging the devil and all his works-and getting the challenge accepted. Girls would fit across the lit windows like shad- ows before flames or stand in the door ways hailing the men jovially by name.
 Tonight, however. the street was comparatively quiet. The saloons were of modified illumination. The bar keepers were listlessly wiping the bars The pretty waiter girls" gossiped with each other and yawned behind their hands.
 In the middle of the third block | Orde wheeled sharp to the left down l q dark and dangerous looking alley. | Another turn to the right brought him | into very narrow street where stood | a three story wooden structure into which led a high arched entrance. ! This was McNeiIrs.
 A figure detached itself from the | shadow. Orde uttered an exclama- tion.
 You here, Newmark?" he cried.
 Yes" replied that young man. q want to see this through"
 With those clothes? marveled Orde. Its a wonder some of these thugs haven't held you up long ago. It's dangerous. You're likely to get slugged."
 ''l can stand it if you can," returned Newmark.
 McNeill's lower story was given over entirely to drinking. The second floor was a theater and the third dance hall. Beneath the building were still viler depths. From this basement the riverman and the shanty boy generally graduated penniless and perhaps un- to the street. Now, your lumberjack did not customarily arrive at this stage without lively doings en route; therefore McNeilps maintained a force of fighters. They were burly, sodden men. but strong in their ex- perience and their discipline. To be 1 sure, they might not last quite as long as their antagonists could. but they always lasted plenty long enough. I Sand bags and brass knuckles helped ' some and team work finished the job.
 Orde and his men entered the lower ( hall as though sauntering in without { definite aim. The river boss wandered f about with the rest, wide, good na. ( -ured smile on his face f Presently he found himself at the able of the three card monte men q The rest of his party gravitated in his direction. I Do you think you could pick out c he jack when throw these out like a his?' asked the dealer.
 Sure! She's that one"
 "Well." exclaimed the gambler T 'danged if you didn't! bet you s i 'ou can't do it again." c Again Orde was permitted to pick t ID the jack. c You've got the best eye that's been { n this place since l got here," ex- laimed the dealer. Here, Dennis." aid he to his partner. You try him" a