riated idiots that's permitted to stand on your
hind legs an walk upright so's to make more room for regular folks to
move around in. The case is taken out of your hands an' adjoodicated
upon its merits which accordin' to the statutes in such cases made an'
provided, judgment is rendered for the plaintiff, on account of the
above transaction bein' with the saloon, as such, an' not a personal
matter with the bartender. Plaintiff is also ordered to take over an'
run said saloon to the best of his ability until such time as the said
dollar an' four bits is paid."

"Look a-here, pardner," began the bartender, edging along opposite the
Texan, "fun's fun, an' kangaroo courts is all right as fer as they go
an' as long as they don't mix up no regular money in their carryin's on.
Me an' my brother Sam ain't on what you might say, fambly terms, which
he'd of skun me to a frazzle on this here deal if the claim I traded him
fer the saloon had of be'n worth a damn. But in spite of me an' Sam
bein' what you might say, onfriendly relations, I've got to say fer him
that he never pays a debt, an' if you've got four dollars comin' from
him you might as well set around like a buzzard till he dies, which he's
that ornery it prob'ly won't be long, an' then file yer claim ag'in his
executioner."

The Texan grinned: "I hope fer your sake that advice is sound, for I'm
handin' it back in the original package----"

"You mean you ain't a-goin to pay fer them drinks?" The bartender's
voice held a truculent note, and his eyes narrowed. "'Cause, believe me,
stranger, if you think you ain't, you're plumb misguided. Things has
be'n quiet an' peaceable around here fer quite a spell, but you'll pay
fer two rounds of drinks or Timber City's a-goin' to see some
excitement."

The Texan noted that the man's hand was reaching along the under side of
the bar, and his own dropped unobserved to the butt of the six-gun that
he had returned to its holster. "Speakin' of excitement you're sure some
prophet," he observed, drily, "an' therefore, prob'ly without honour.
But as far as I'm concerned, your brother Sam's nothin' but a pleasant
memory while as we say in the law, this saloon here is a corporeal
hereditament----"

"You're a damn liar!" flared the aproned one, indignantly: "They ain't
no wimin' allowed in here--" With the words the man's hand leaped from
behind the bar, there was a crashing report, a heavy six-shooter thudded
upon the wooden floor, and