irst kin run,
An' I'm a rovin' son-of-a-gun,
An' this is my night to howl."

"He's a cool sort of a cuss," said Sam to Mormon. "I reckon he's a bad
actor, but there's sure somethin' erbout the galoot I like. He ain't
over fond of Plimsoll, that's a sure thing, if he is workin' fo' him.
Wonder why?"

"They tell me," replied Mormon, "thet Plimsoll's apt to be fond of the
other feller's gal. He ain't satisfied with what he can pick for
himself. T'otheh feller's apple allus has a sweeter core. I w'udn't
wondeh but what that was the trouble. Plim ain't got any mo' respect fo'
wimmen than hell has fo' fryin' souls."

"Uh-huh! He w'udn't go round pickin' a scrap with Roarin' Russell on
their account, fer instance?"

Mormon paid no attention to the friendly gibe. As they entered the
street of the camp, largely deserted, though there was every evidence of
crowds forgetting time in the drinking and gambling shacks, Sandy moved
up even with Wyatt and locked arms with him.

"I ain't goin' ter make no break," said Wyatt. "Here's Plim's. Jest you
let me go in ahead through the door. I've seen you use your guns. I
ain't suicidin'."

They allowed him to go in first, unescorted. Their plans held no further
reprisal against Wyatt.

CHAPTER XIV

A FREE-FOR-ALL

Plimsoll's place was crowded. There were more onlookers than actual
players though the tables were fairly well patronized. Many of those who
had seats were only cappers for the game. The majority of the men who
had rushed to the new strike had not brought any great sums of money
with them, or, if they had, reserved its use for speculation in claims
rather than the slimmer chances of Plimsoll's enterprises. In a few
days, if the camp produced from grass roots, as was expected and hoped,
Plimsoll would gather in his harvest. A garnering in which Sandy had
sadly interfered.

Plimsoll had set up a working partnership with a man who had brought
moonshine and bootlegged whisky to the camp, occupying the next shack to
the gambling place. For convenience of service extra doors had been cut
and a rough-boarded passageway erected between the two places. The fever
of gambling provided thirsty customers for the liquor dealer, and the
whisky blunted the wits of the gamblers and gave the dealers more than
their customary percentage of odds in the favor of the house. It was a
combination that worked both ways. Waiters impressed into service from
camp followers, cr