The Gray Dawn

eir way across the Plaza. "That is one of the few old-fashioned, respectable gambling places left to us

umming, and bawling away at top pressure. An elaborate rosewood bar ran down the whole length at one side--an impressive polished bar, perhaps sixty feet long, with a white-clad, immaculate barkeeper for every ten feet of it. Big mirrors of French plate reflected the whole room, and on the shelf in front of them glittered crystal glasses of all shapes and sizes, arranged in pyramids and cubes. The whole of the main floor was carpeted heavily. Down the centre were stationed two rows of gambling tables, where various games could be played--faro, keeno, roulette, stud poker, dice. Beyond these gambling tables, on the other side of the room from the bar, were small tables, easy chairs of ample proportions, lounges, and a

tinuously. Many of the people wandering about, leaning against the bar, or integers of the compact groups around the gambling tables, were dressed in the height of fashion; but, on the other

, it parted momentarily, and he looked into the eyes of the man in charge, cold, passionless, aloof, eyes neither friendly nor unfriendly. And he saw the pale skin; the we

ot have determined. Many of those present, perhaps a majority, were neither gambling, nor drinking; they seemed not to be adding to the profits of the place in any w

undantly in England, but more rarely seen in native Americans--the lean-faced, rather flat-cheeked, high-cheek-boned, aquiline-nosed, florid- complexioned, silent, clean-built sort that would seem to represent the high-bred, finely drawn product of a long social evolution. These traits when seen in the person of a native-born American generally do represent this fineness; but

cco-chewing man, with a merry, reckless eye. The order given, the conversation s

ne--conceived himself to have been insulted by some one whose name Keith did not catch, and had that very

uld stand such conduct from anybody! What are we coming

t misunderstand me, suh. I agree with yo', lock, stock, an' barrel. My

sir, nor the challenge of any

ngs have got to be a

n was florid; and this, in conjunction with a sweeping blue-black moustache, gave him exactly the appearance of a gambler or bartender. Only as he passed the table and responded gravely to the formal salut

y," said Calhoun Bennett,

olence of his emotions. Keith stared in astonishment at the depth of hatred stirred. He turned for explanatio

him. "W.T. Coleman, the leader of t

lawlessness, disrespect foh law and order, mob rule. Since this stra

Vigilance Committee, so unanimous and hearty that Kei

ese events; but the impression East is certainly very general that the V

ery that took his breath. Keith

ome down!" he cried. "I told you

shamed of their heat. Calhoun Benne

is a mattah on which we feel strongly. Our indigna

us, formal, dignified, wa

e, invariably brings about ultimate contempt, for all law. In the absence of regularly constituted tribunals, as in a primitive society-- such as that prior to the Constitutional Convention of September, 1849--it may become necessary that informal plebiscites be countenanced. But in the presence of regularly constituted and appointed tribunals, extra-legal functions are not to be

e. "What these other fellows object to, I imagine, i

o-called delays and technicalities are the checks devised by human experience against the rash judgments and rasher actions by the volatile element

ck defiantly, all the great power of his magnetism and his authority brought to bear. Kei

should have been crushed,

that low average we must have quite a

Judge Girvin, halted in mid care

you endorse Coleman and his gang?" put in C

disclaimed Caldwell. "I need my

st appeared in his dark eyes, but he said nothi

e rolled an unabashed and comical eye at the company--"you be sure to see our old friend, Sheriff Webb, gets you to ja

men ventured a word. Finally Judge Girvin, with a belated

a little trying at times,

man, Morrell, utt

ved; "he'll fix it all

every one sat aghast. Keith managed to cover the situation by orderi

old Johnny, what?" he r

s, the granting of franchises, and many other affairs, involving, apparently, millions of money. All these things were spoken of as from the inside. Keith, sipping his drinks quietly, sat apart and listened. He felt himself in the curr

hout a hat, stopped long enough to exchan

ennett. "That's John Sherwood. He'

is?" replied Bennett. "He

ried Keith, a

n town. Bu

front him. They were kind people, and Mrs. Sherwood was apparently everything