The bar took up one whole
side of the room, and the bartender was kept busy most of the time in
serving drinks to the crowd lined up before it. At a number of small
tables, miners, prospectors and cowboys were seated, with piles of poker
chips heaped up before them. Some of the men were already drunk and
inclined to be ugly, but most of them at that early hour were sober
enough, though drinking freely. All without exception were armed, and
the weapons peeped from their holsters within easy reach. Among these
reckless and, in many cases lawless, dwellers on the borderland of
civilization, the difference of a fraction of a second in offense or
defense might mean the difference between life and death.
Still, matters were proceeding peaceably enough at the moment, and there
was no indication of impending trouble. Bert's food was brought to him
after a considerable wait, and he "waded" into it with characteristic
vigor. The cooking was none too good nor was the food itself of
superlative quality. But "hunger is the best sauce," and he was not
inclined to be critical.
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