The copper era and Morenci leader., 1912-03-15

quarrelsome- humanity, the gambling
 tables alive with: excitement. Men
 swaggered along the streets looking
 for trouble, and generally finding it;
 cowboys rode into open saloon doors
 and drank in the saddle; troops of
 congenial spirits, frenzied with liquor,
 spurred recklessly through the street
 firing into the air, or the crowd, as their whim led; bands played popular
 airs on balconies, and innumerable "barkers" added their honeyed invi- tations. to the perpetual din. From end to end 1t was a saturnalia of vice,
 babel of sound. glimpse of the in ferno. Money flowed like water; every man was his own law, and the gun the arbiter of destiny. The town marshal, and few cool-headed depu- ties moved here and there amid the chaos. patient, tireless, undaunted, seeking merely to exercise some slight restraint This was Sheridan.
 Into the one long street just at dusk rode Keith and Neb, the third horse trailing behind. Already lights were beginning to gleam in the crowded saloons, and they were obliged to proceed slowly. Leaving the negro at the corral to find some purchaser for the animals, and such .accommoda- tions for himself as he could achieve, Keith shouldered his way on foot through the heterogeneous mass to- ward the only hotel, a long two-storied wooden structure, unpainted. fronting the glitter of the Pinoeer Dance HaIl opposite. A noisy band was splitting the air with dfscordant notes, a loud voiced barker yelling through the uproar, but Keith, accustomed to simi- lar scenes and sounds elsewhere, strode 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- It was crowd ed with men, few women scattered here and there, most of the former in shirt-sleeves, all eating silently. A few smaller tables at the back of the room were distinguished from the oth- CTS by white coverings in place of oil cloth, evidently reserved for the more distinguished guests. Dfsdaining cere- mony, the new conner wormed his way through, finally discovering q vacant seat where his back would be to the wall. thus enabling him to survey the entire apartment. -i. ->.t, fl
 It was not of great interest, save for its constant change and the primi- tive manner in which the majority at tackled their food supply, which was piled helter-skelter upon the long tables, yet he ran his eyes ssarchingly over the numerous faces, seeking i'm partially for either friend or enemy. No countsnance present, as revealed in the dim light of the few swinging lamps, appeared familiar, and satis- i fled that he remained unknown, Keith began devoting his attention to the dishes before him, mentally express ing his opinion as to their attractive ness. Chancing finally to again lift his eyes, he met the gaze of a man sitting directly opposite, man who somehow did not seem exactly in har- mony with his surroundings. He was short and stockily built, with round rosy face, and a perfect shock of wiry hair brushed back from a broad fore head; his nose wide but stubby, and chin massive. Apparently he was be- tween forty and fifty years of age, ex- ceedingly we'll dressed. his gray eyes shrewd and full of . grim humor. Keith observed all this in a glance, becoming aware at the same time that his neighbor was apparently studying