The New era-leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1911-1912, 1911-11-03

~AukB - - III
Ioeas. from dawn 10 dawn the search
after JOY continued. The bagnios and
dance halls were ablaxes the bar
rooms crowded with hilarious or
euarrelsome humanity, the gambling
tables alive with excitement Men
staggered along the streets looking
Tor trouble. and generally finding it,
cowboys rode int0 open saloon doors
and drank IN the saddle; troc % of
congenial spirits. frenxied with liquor.
spurrcd recklsssly through the street
firing into the air. or the crowd. -
their within led: banda played popular
airs on balconies, and innumerAble
'barkerss aaded their honeyed lnvi
tations to the perpetual din. From end
, end It was . s~aturnalia Of vice. .
babel Of sound. . glimpse Of the In
fernQ. Money BOWED like water; every
man was his own Law, and the gun
the arhiter Of destiny. The town
marshal, and . few cool-headed depu-
ties moved here and there amid the
chaos. patient t~ireless. undannted.
seeking merely to exercise some
slight restraint. This was Sheridan.
Into the one long street just 1t dusk
rode Keith and Neb. the third horse
trailing behind. Already lights were
beginning to CLEAN In the crowded
saloons, sand they were obliged to
proceed slowly. Leaving the negro at
the corral to fnd some purchaser for
the animals. and such accommodar
ticns for himself "a he could achieve.
Keith ~shouldered his way on foot
through the heterogeneous mass To-
ward the enly hotel. . long two-storied
wooden structure. implanted. fronting
the glitter Of the Pfnoeer Dance Hall
oppoGites a noisy band was splitting
the air with discordant notes, q loud
voiced BARKER" yelling through the
upr0ar, but Keith. accustomed to SINH
lar scenes and sounds elsewhere,
STROBE through the open door of the
hotel. and guided BY the noisy. contin-
uous chatter Of dishes, easily found his
way to the dining-room. 1t was crowd
ed with men. . few women scattered
here and there, most Of the former in
shirt-slesves, all eating silently. A
few smaller tables at the back Of the
room were distinguished from the 9TH
ers by white coverings In place Of oil
cloth. evidently reserved for the more
distinguished. guests D~isdaining cere-
mony. the new conner wormed his way
through, finally discovering q vacant
seat where his back would be tosthe
wall. thus enabling him to survey the
entire apartment
It was not of great interest. save
for its constant change and the primi-
tive manne In which the majority At
tackled their food supply, which was
piled helterskeIter upon the long
tables, yet he ran his eyes searchingiy
over the numerous faces, seeking inn
partially for either friend or enemy.
No c~ountenance present, as revealed
In the dim light of the few swinging
lamps. appeared familiar, and salts
fed that he remained unknown. Keith
began devoting his attention to the
dishes before him. mentally express
Ing his opinion as to their attractive
ness CHANGING finally To again lift
his eyes. he met the gaze of a man
sitting directly opposite. q man who
somehow did not seem exactly In har-
mony with his surroundings. He was
short and stockily built, with round
rosy face. and ! perfect shock Of wiry
hair brushed back from = broad fore
head: his nose wide but stubby. and
chin massive. Apparently he RI be-
tween forty ard nifty pears Of ags. 81
csedingly well dressed. his gray eyes
shrewd aAA full q . grim humor.
Keith observed Ill this In ! glance.
becoming aware at the same time that
his neighbor was apparontly studying