The Girl of the Golden West Read Online Free PDF Page B

tendered
apologetically, and took up a position at the end of the bar where
he could command a view of both rooms.
    As a partial acknowledgment that he had heard Nick's
communication, Sonora turned round slightly in his seat at the faro
table and shot a glance towards the dance-hall. Contempt showed on
his rugged features when he turned round again and addressed the
stocky, little man sitting at his elbow.
    "Well, I don't dance with men for partners! When I shassay,
Trin, I want a feminine piece of flesh an' blood"—he sneered, and
then went on to amplify—"with garters on."
    "You bet!" agreed his faithful, if laconic pal, on feeling the
other's playful dig in his ribs.
    The subject of men dancing together was a never-ceasing topic of
conversation between these two cronies. But whatever the attitude
of others Sonora knew that Trinidad would never fail him when it
came to nice discriminations of this sort. His reference to an
article of feminine apparel, however, was responsible for his
recalling the fact that he had not as yet received his daily
assurance from the presiding genius of the bar that he stood well
in the estimation of the only lady in the camp. Therefore, leaving
the table, he went over to Nick and whispered:
    "Has the Girl said anythin' about me to-day, Nick?"
    Now the role of confidential adviser to the boys was not a new
one to the barkeeper, nor was anyone in the camp more familiar than
he with their good qualities as well as their failings. Every
morning before going to work in the placers it was their custom to
stop in at The Polka for their first drink—which was, generally,
"on the house." Invariably, Nick received them in his
shirt-sleeves,—for that matter he was the proud possessor of the
sole "biled shirt" in the camp,—and what with his red flannel
undershirt that extended far below the line of his cuffs, his
brilliantly-coloured waistcoat and tie, and his hair combed down
very low in a cow-lick over his forehead, he was indeed an odd
little figure of a man as he listened patiently to the boys'
grievances and doled out sympathy to them. On the other hand,
absolutely devoted to the fair proprietress of the saloon,—though
solely in the character of a good comrade,—he never ceased trying
to advance her interests; and since one and all of her customers
believed themselves to be in love with her, one of his most
successful methods was to flatter each one in turn into thinking
that he had made a tremendous impression upon her. It was not a
difficult thing to do inasmuch as long custom and repetition had
made him an adept at highly-coloured lying.
    "Well, you got the first chance," asseverated Nick, dropping his
voice to a whisper.
    Sonora grinned from ear to ear; he expanded his broad chest and
held his head proudly; and waving his hand in lordly fashion he
sung out:
    "Cigars for all hands and drinks, too, Nick!"
    The genial prevaricator could scarcely restrain himself from
laughing outright as he watched the other return to his place at
the faro table; and when, in due course, he served the concoctions
and passed around the high-priced cigars, there was a smile on his
face which said as plainly as if spoken that Sonora was not the
only person present that had reason to be pleased with himself.
    Then occurred one of those terpsichorean performances which
never failed to shock old Sonora's sense of the fitness of things.
For the next moment two Ridge boys, dancing together, waltzed
through the opening between the two rooms and, letting out
ear-piercing whoops with every rotation, whirled round and round
the room until they brought up against the bar where they,
breathlessly, called for drinks.
    An angry lull fell upon the room; the card game stopped.
However, before anyone seated there could give vent to his
resentment at this boisterous intrusion of the men from the rival
camp, the smooth, oily and inviting voice of the unprincipled
Sidney Duck, scenting easy prey because of their