The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-11-08

much OF this roughness departed. Sol
diers from the garrison on pass, Idle
plainsmen, bullwhackers, adventures
of all kinds stranded here because OF
Indian activity, stray cowboys from
the nearby valleys, thronged the nu.
merous dives, seeking excitement.
Women gaudy of dress, shrill OF voice.
fitted from door to door through the
jostling crowds. Lamps blazed over
the motley assembly, loud-voiced bark
ers yelled, and band added It's dis
cords to the din. The Poodle Dog"
glared in light, resounded with noise;
lamps cleaned from the hotel win
dows, and the huge dance hall stood
wide open. Out from the shacks and
tents crept the days sleepers for
night of revelry; along the trails rode
others eager for excitement; 1t was
the harvest-time of those birds Of prey
in saloon and gambling hell.
Hamlin saw all this, but gave the
surroundings little thought. He was
of the West, of the frontier, and be-
held nothing unique in the scene.
Moreover, the purpose for which he
was there overshadowed all else, left
him Indifferent to the noise, the jost'
ling, drunken crowd. Some he met
who knew him and called his name,
but he passed them in word, and
pressed his way forward. At the ho-
| tel he mounted the steps and entered.
| The Office was in one corner of the
bar.room. The proprietor himself, a
bald-headed lrishman, sat with feet
cooked up on the counter, smoking,
and barely glancing up as the Ser.
geant asked for Mrs. Dupont.
who are yer?" he asked.
my name Is Hamlin; / am here on
the lady's invitation"
Sure; thet's Their name all right,
me bhoy. Yer ter go out on the east
porch there, an walt bit whole
sind her word yer here. Dim imag.
inin' she he'd sum doubts about yer
comm, the way she spoke"
"How do get there?"
Through the winder Of the parlur
over thar-sure, it's noice quiet spot
fer tate-a-tate." He got up, and
peered through his glasses across the
room. Here. Moike: damn tibet slapy
head. VIII one O. yer gents wake the
lad-thats 1t. Now come here, Moike.
You run over to the Palace an tell
Mrs. Dupont the Teller is here waitin'.
Hold on now, not 80 fast; wait till
Dim done telIin' yer. Say tibet to her
alone--do yer moind tibet, we sap-head;
nobody else is to hear whut yer say;
stay there till yer git a chance ter
whisper 1t to her. Now skip"
Hamlin hesitated. watching the boy
disappear.
AT the Palace-the dance hall
across the street," he asked incredu.
lousy.
Sure" indifferently, relighting his
pipe. Officers ball; couldn't break In
with can-opener unless you had a in
vite. Guards at both ends, sergeant
taking tickets, an Third Regiment
Band maxim music He'll of swell at.
fair; got guests from Leavenworth,
Wallace, and all around. Every room
| got is full an runin' over-say, there
are fellars over thar in them fool swal.
ler-tail coats; damned II there amt.
II the b'ys ever git sight of 'em on the
street there1l be a hot time. Say,
: ain that the limit? Injuns out thar
thick as feas on a dog, an them
swells dancin' here in swaller-tails
like this yere was Boston"
: He was still talking when Hamlin
crossed the narrow hall and entered
the dimly-lighted, unoccupied parlor.
The side window was open, a slight
breeze rustled the heavy curtain, and
the Sergeant stepped outside on to the
l dark porch. There was bench close
to the rail and he sat down to wait.
CLEAN OF light from the Palace fell
across the western end, but the re
: mainder OF the porch lay in shadow
although he could look up the street
!, and see the people jostling back and
? forth In front of the Poodle Dog The
!, sound of mingled voices was continu
GUS, occasionally punctuated by laugh
s ter. or an unrestrained outburst oil
E .o!-..!I.lV -