28 The Floating Outfit 28: Cards and Colts (A Floating Outfit Western) by J. T. Edson

Author:J. T. Edson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Piccadilly Publishing
Published: 2018-09-30T23:00:00+00:00

Ten – Cool ’Em Down a Mite

At the first sign of the trouble spreading in the bar-room of the Buffalo Saloon, the male employees followed the instructions they had received for coping with such a contingency. All the bartenders on the “sober” side of the counter, except the man to whom Waco had confessed his intentions, started to remove to a place of safety the contents of the shelves. Then they released the securing pegs and caused a shield of wooden planks to drop into position in front of the big mirror which was one of Buffalo Kate Gilgore’s favorite fittings.

Moving just as quickly, the waiters grabbed up and took into the street as many glasses and bottles as they could carry. As soon as the rescued glassware was on the sidewalk, two of them returned to perform a similar protective function to that behind the bar for the two large front windows which bore the name of the establishment and a painting of buffalo on the move. Then they rejoined their companions and awaited the developments they felt sure would shortly be forthcoming.

It was not dereliction of duty that made the one bartender abstain from helping with the precautions. Being the senior of them, he had a different purpose in mind. Going through the door behind the counter, he left the saloon and hurried to carry out the instructions received from the blond youngster. Arriving at the firehouse, he called out the reason for his visit. Leaving the cheerfully enthusiastic occupants to make their preparations with all speed, he ran to his next destination.

‘Howdy, Wally,’ greeted the only deputy in the office of the town marshal as the bartender entered. ‘I’d think you’d come sparking Big Sarah, only she’s not on watch tonight.’

‘I know,’ the man replied, being on very close terms with the woman in question; who alternated between doing duty in the capacity of matron to attend to female miscreants and being one of the “barmaids”—as Freddie Woods called her female employees who worked behind the counter—at the Fair Lady Saloon. ‘Is Cap’n Fog here?’

‘Nope,’ the deputy denied. ‘He’s off making the rounds, but don’t you go getting funny notions about what Sarah and him might be up to. She’s way too smart to settle for second best when I’m around, all ready ’n’ willing: and Dusty’s too scared of what Freddie would do to him should he go chasing other gals.’

‘You on your lonesome, Mark?’ Wally inquired, having deduced why Waco had started the fight and wanting to grant time for retribution to be meted out to the lanky New Englander who had been its cause.

‘Derry and Pickles are in the back with that son-of-a- bitch who killed the gal down to Lily Gouch’s fancy house,’ the peace officer replied. ‘And, with Lon hanging around there ’cause we’ve got word’s his brothers could be in town trying to save his hide by scaring witnesses out of talking, it’s me or nobody for whatever’s ailing you.’

‘Then Buffalo Kate’s in real trouble,’ the bartender asserted with a grin which robbed the words of any sting.

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