The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-07
FOUR

Coming down the ma.u Sesoct-tOr Eidara boasted no fewer than three thoroughfares- no lights. As far as he could see, the blinds were all drawn; iAot even the glimmer of candle showed, aisd the voices which he heard were muffled And low. Even But ler's saloon was closedl He rode up to shuttered window and kicked it with his heel.
 A faint voice called Who's there?"
 "Steve Nash. What the devils turned Eldara into cemetery, Butler"
 The boards of the shutter stirred, opened, so that the man within could look out
 "Cemetery's right. Butch Conkln and his gang are going to raid the place tonight Every bodied man in town is out in the hills trying to surprise Conklin's gang before they hit town with their guns going.'
 What happened?"
 Butch came in town roaring drunk, which he generally is, but he wasn't giving no trouble at all, and nobody felt particu- lar called on to cross him, and ask ques- tions. Everybody was treatin' Butch like he was the king of the earth and-not passin out any back-talk, all except one
 "Is that damned fool in Eldara?"
 "D' you know him?"
 "No. Anyway, go on. What happened?"
 q was sayin' that Butch was feelin' pretty sociable. It went all right in the bars He was in here and didn't do nothin' wrong. Even paid for all the drinks for everybody in the house, which nobody could ask more even from white man. But then Butch got hungry and went up the street to Sally Fortunes place, and called for ten dollars worth of bacon and eggs which there hasn't been an egg in Eldara this week. Sally, she told him, not being afraid even of Butch. He got pretty sore at that and said that it was frame-up and every one was ag'in' him.
 "Then this Bard-we found out later that was his name-walks in, takes a table, and not being served none too quick, he walks over and slips a nickel in the slot of the piano. Out she starts with a piece of rippin' ragtime - you know how loud it plays? Butch, he kept talkin' for minute, but couldn't hear himself think. Finally, he belers: Who turned that tin pan loose?'
 "This Bard walks up and bows. He says: Sir, l came here to find food and since can't get service, I'll take music as sub stitute'
 Them was the words he used, Steve, honest to God. Used them to Butch!
 Well, Butch reaches for his gun and we all dive for the door, but me being held up an couldn't help seein' what happened. Butch was fast, but the young feller was faster. He had Butch by the wrist before the gun came clear - just gave little twist-and there he stood with the gun in his hand pointin into Butch's face and Butch sittin' there like feller in trance or wakin' up out of bad dream.
 "Then Butch gets up. slow and dgnified, though he had enough liquor in him to tloat a ship.
 "I been mobbed,' he says, fits easy to see that. l come here peaceful and quiet, and here I been mobbed. But Pm comin back, boys, and I ain't comin' alone.'
 "There was our chance to get him, while he was walking out of that place without a gun, but somehow nobody moved for him. He didn't look none too easy, even without his shootin' irons. Out he goes into the night, and we stood around starin' at each other. Everybody was upset, except Sally and Bard. The piano was still playin' and he says: Miss Fortune, this is our dance, I think
 "Excuse me-, says Sally, I almost for got about it.
 "And they started to dance to the piano, waltzin' around among the tables; the rest of us lit out for home because we knew that Butch would be on his way with his gang before we got very far under cover. But hey, Steve, where you goin'?"
 "Pm going to get in on that dance, called Nash, and was gone at a racing gallop down the street.
 Chapter XII-Bluff.