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too much。 There is no reason why she shouldn't run the tienda as
decentlybarring the liquor sale； which； however； is legal； and
for which she can get a licenseas a man could； and without
interfering with our morals。〃
〃Then what is the use of our rules？〃
〃They were made for those who consented to adopt them； as we all
did。 They still bind US； and if we don't choose to buy her liquor
or cigars that will dispose of her and her tienda much more
effectually than your protest。 It's a pity she's a lone
unprotected woman。 Now if she only had a husband〃
〃She carries a dagger in her garter。〃
This apparently irrelevant remark came from the man who had not yet
spoken； but who had been listening with the languid unconcern of
one who； relinquishing the labor of argument to others； had
consented to abide by their decision。 It was met with a scornful
smile from each of the disputants； perhaps even by an added shrug
of the shoulders from the woman's previous defender！ HE was
evidently not to be taken in by extraneous sentiment。 Nevertheless；
both listened as the speaker； slowly feeling his knees as if they
were his way to a difficult subject； continued with the same
suggestion of stating general fact； but waiving any argument
himself。 〃Clarkson of Angels allows she's got a free； gaudy；
picter…covered style with the boys； but that she can be gilt…edged
when she wants to。 Rowley Meadehim ez hed his skelp pulled over
his eyes at one stroke； foolin' with a she bear over on Black
Mountainallows it would be rather monotonous in him attemptin' any
familiarities with her。 Bulstrode's brother； ez was in Marysville；
said there was a womanlike to her； but not herez made it lively
for the boys with a game called 'Little Monte；' and he dropped a
hundred dollars there afore he came away。 They do say that about
seven men got shot in Marysville on account o' this one； or from
some oneasiness that happened at her shop。 But then；〃 he went on
slowly and deferentially as the faces of the two others were lowered
and became fixed； 〃SHE says she tired o' drunken rowdies；there's a
sameness about 'em； and it don't sell her pipes and cigars； and
that's WHY she's coming here。 Thompson over at Dry Creek sez that
THAT'S where our reputation is playin' us！ 'We've got her as a
reward o' virtoo； and be dd to us。' But；〃 cautiously； 〃Thompson
ain't drawed a sober breath since Christmas。〃
The three men looked in each other's faces in silence。 The same
thought occurred to each； the profane Thompson was right； and the
woman's advent was the logical sequence of their own ethics。 Two
years previously； the Buckeye Company had found gold on the South
Fork； and had taken up claims。 Composed mainly of careful；
provident； and thoughtful men；some of cultivation and
refinement；they had adopted a certain orderly discipline for
their own guidance solely； which； however； commended itself to
later settlers； already weary of the lawlessness and reckless
freedom which usually attended the inception of mining settlements。
Consequently the birth of Buckeye was accompanied with no dangerous
travail； its infancy was free from the diseases of adolescent
communities。 The settlers； without any express prohibition； had
tacitly dispensed with gambling and drinking saloons； following the
unwritten law of example； had laid aside their revolvers； and
mingled together peacefully when their labors were ended； without
a single peremptory regulation against drinking and playing； or
carrying lethal weapons。 Nor had there been any test of fitness or
qualification for citizenship through previous virtue。 There were
one or two gamblers； a skillful duelist； and men who still drank
whiskey who had voluntarily sought the camp。 Of some such
antecedents was the last speaker。 Probably with two wives
elsewhere； and a possible homicidal record； he had modestly held
aloof from obtrusive argument。
〃Well； we must have a meeting and put the question squarely to the
boys to…morrow；〃 said Parks； gazing thoughtfully from the window。
The remark was followed by another long silence。 Beyond； in the
darkness； Buckeye； unconscious of the momentous question awaiting
its decision； slept on peacefully。
〃I brought the keg of whiskey and brandy from Red Gulch to…day that
Doctor Duchesne spoke of；〃 he resumed presently。 〃You know he said
we ought to have some in common stock that he could always rely
upon in emergencies； and for use after the tule fever。 I didn't
agree with him； and told him how I had brought Sam Denver through
an attack with quinine and arrowroot； but he laughed and wanted to
know if we'd 'resolved' that everybody should hereafter have the
Denver constitution。 That's the trouble with those old army
surgeons；they never can get over the 'heroics' of their past。
Why he told Parson Jennings that he'd rather treat a man for jim…
jams than one that was dying for want of stimulants。 However； the
liquor is here； and one of the things we must settle tomorrow is
the question if it ought not to be issued only on Duchesne's
prescription。 When I made that point to him squarely； he grinned
again； and wanted to know if I calculated to put the same
restriction on the sale of patent medicines and drugs generally。〃
〃'N powder 'n shot；〃 contributed the indifferent man。
〃Perhaps you'd better take a look at the liquor； Saunders；〃 said
Parks； dismissing the ethical question。 〃YOU know more about it
than we do。 It ought to be the best。〃
Saunders went behind the counter； drew out two demijohns； and；
possibly from the force of habit； selected THREE mugs from the
crockery and poured some whiskey into each； before he could check
himself。
〃Perhaps we had better compare tastes；〃 said Brace blandly。 They
all sipped their liquor slowly and in silence。 The decision was
favorable。 〃Better try some with water to see how it mixes；〃 said
Saunders； lazily filling the glasses with a practiced hand。 This
required more deliberation； and they drew their chairs to the table
and sat down。 A slight relaxation stole over the thoughtful faces
of Brace and Parks； a gentle perspiration came over the latter's
brow； but the features and expression of Saunders never changed。
The conversation took a broader range； politics and philosophy
entered into it； literature and poetry were discussed by Parks and
Brace； Saunders still retaining the air of a dispassionate
observer； ready to be convinced； but abstaining from argumentand
occasionally replenishing the glasses。 There was felt to be no
inconsistency between their present attitude and their previous
conversation； rather it proved to them that gentlemen could
occasionally indulge in a social glass together without frequenting
a liquor saloon。 This was stated with some degree of effusion by
Parks and assented to with singular enthusiasm by Brace； Saunders
nodding。 It was also observed with great penetration by Brace that
in having really GOOD； specially selected liquor like that； the
great danger of the intoshikat'n 'fxhe corrected himself with
great deliberation； 〃the intoxicating effects〃of adulterated
liquors sold in drinking saloons was obviated。 Mr。 B