sly trips in twos and three to stables or side
alleys for "mountain dew." Now and then the sheriff, a little man with a
mighty voice, would appear on the courthouse steps, and summon a witness
to court, where a frightened judge gave instructions to a frightened
jury. But few went, unless called; for the interest was outside; every
man in the streets knew that a storm was nigh, and was waiting to see it
burst.

Noon passed. A hoarse bell and a whining hound had announced dinner
in the hotel. The guests were coming again into the streets. Eyes were
brighter, faces a little more flushed, and the "moonshine" was passed
more openly. Both ways the crowd watched closely. The quiet at each end
of the street was ominous, and the delay could last but little longer.
The lookers-on themselves were getting quarrelsome. The vent must come
soon, or among them there would be trouble.

"Thar comes Jas Lewallen!" At last. A dozen voices spoke at once. A
horseman had appeared far down the street from the Lewallen end. The
clouds broke from about the sun, and a dozen men knew the horse that
bore him; for the gray was prancing the street sidewise, and throwing
the sunlight from his flanks. Nobody followed, and the crowd was
puzzled. Young Jasper carried a Winchester across his saddle-bow, and,
swaying with the action of his horse, came on.

"What air he about?"

"He's a plumb idgit."

"He mus' be crazy."

"He's drunk!"

The wonder ceased. Young Jasper was reeling. Two or three Stetsons
slipped from the crowd, and there was a galloping of hoofs the other
way. Another horseman appeared from the Lewallen end, riding hastily.
The new-comer's errand was to call Jasper back. But the young dare-devil
was close to the crowd, and was swinging a bottle over his head.

"Come back hyeh, Jas! Come hyeh!" The new-comer was shouting afar off
while he galloped. Horses were being untethered from the side alleys.
Several more Lewallen riders came in sight. They could see the gray
shining in the sunlight amid the crowd, and the man sent after him
halted at a safe distance, gesticulating; and they, too, spurred
forward.

"Hello, boys!" young Jasper was calling out, as he swayed from side to
side, the people everywhere giving him way.

"Fun to-day, by ----! fun to-day! Who'll hev a drink? Hyeh's hell to the
Stetsons, whar some of 'em 'll be afore night!"

With a swagger he lifted the bottle to his lips, and, stopping short,
let it fall untouched