“Shure, he’s a gambler, an’ he’s too almighty free with his gun, I’m thinkin’. He’ll carry away the money that belongs in the town, an’ av there’s anny row—an’ belike there will be if Long Mike sits in wid him, it’s not fightin’ wid fists we’ll see, but a shootin’ scrape.
“Shure, I don’t mind a bit o’ a shindy, or a sociable game o’ dhraw-poker, but thim kind is the wrong cattle to play wid.”
“We’ll see,” said Gallagher, shortly, as he turned to his work.
He was an enthusiastic gambler himself, though a most unlucky one, and the notion of playing with a professional had no terrors for him. Moreover, the scent of a battle, even afar, was sweeter to him than newmown hay. Stumpy, however, though by no means averse to excitement of any kind, was more conservative and had his forebodings.
Later in the evening, after the Creole Belle had discharged her freight and taken on that which was waiting for her, and had gone on down the Mississippi, leaving Mr. Wharton still in the barroom, it appeared altogether probable that some, at least, of these forebodings would be justified.
Sam had been kept tolerably busy in the meantime, Mr. Wharton having realized what was expected of him as a stranger, and being evidently disposed to fulfil his obligations. Possibly in consequence of this the crowd around him, when Brownsville resumed its normal inactivity after the departure of the boat, was conversationally disposed.
Not less than four persons were talking at once, most of the time, and though Mr. Wharton did comparatively little talking and did not appear to have taken enough red liquor to affect his nerves in the least, it was noticeable that he was doing all he could to promote the general hilarity.
There could hardly be a doubt of his object. At all events, Stumpy entertained none, and though he did his duty conscientiously in seeing that none of Sam’s liquor should go begging, as became one who was conversant with Brownsville’s customs, he yet maintained a constant watchfulness, as one who feared the worst. When, presently, he heard Wharton propose a game of cards, he muttered:
“I knew it. Now for a battle, murder an’ sudden death, I don’t know. Av Long Mike sits in, an’ the saints above cudn’t kape him out, there’ll be doin’s. Sure it’s me for to shtand by.”
Stand by, accordingly, he did. Wharton’s proposal was seconded and adopted with alacrity, and Long Mike and Gallagher took their seats at the table eagerly. Hennessy also declared his willingness to buy chips, and the fifth hand was taken by a man named Cutler, who had been in town for some weeks, and was, therefore, known to them all excepting Wharton, but who had failed to arouse any feeling of liking or respect among the citizens.