Free The Girl of the Golden West by Giacomo Puccini, David Belasco Page B

wonder!"
    "Must be to evade you," complimented Sonora, much to the
discomfort of the Sheriff.
    "Yes, I can smell a road agent in the wind," declared Ashby
somewhat boastfully. "But, Rance, I expect to get that fellow right
here in your county."
    The Sheriff looked as if he scouted the idea, and was about to
speak, but checked the word on his tongue. Then followed a short
silence in which the Deputy, smiling a trifle derisively, went out
of the saloon.
    "Is this fellow a Spaniard?" questioned the Sheriff, drawling as
usual, but at the same time jerking his thumb over his shoulder
towards a placard on the wall, which read:
"FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD
FOR THE ROAD AGENT RAMERREZ,
OR INFORMATION
LEADING TO HIS CAPTURE.
    "No—can't prove it. The fact of his leading a crew of greasers
and Spaniards signifies nothing. His name is assumed, I
suppose."
    "They say he robs you like a gentleman," remarked Rance with
some show of interest.
    "Well, look out for the greasers up the road!" was Ashby's
warning as he emptied his glass and put it down before him.
    "We don't let them pass through here," shrugged Rance, likewise
putting down his glass on the table.
    Ashby now picked up the whisky bottle and carried it over to the
deserted faro table before which he settled himself comfortably in
a chair.
    "Well, boys, I've had a long ride—wake me up when The Pony
Express goes through!" he called over his shoulder as he put his
coat over him.
    But no sooner was he comfortably ensconced for a snooze than
Nick came bustling in with a kettle of boiling water and several
glasses half-filled with whisky and lemon. Stopping before Ashby he
said in his best professional manner:
    "Re-gards of the Girl—hot whisky straight with lemming
extract."
    Ashby took up his glass, as did, in turn, the men at the other
table. But it was Rance who, with arm uplifted, toasted:
    "The Girl, gentlemen, the only Girl in Camp, the Girl I mean to
make Mrs. Jack Rance!"
    Confident that neither would catch him in the act, Nick winked
first at Sonora and then at Trinidad. That the little barkeeper was
successful in making the former, at least, believe that he
possessed the Girl's affections was manifested by the big miner's
next remark.
    "That's a joke, Rance. She makes you look like a Chinaman."
    Rance sprang to his feet, white with rage.
    "You prove that!" he shouted.
    "In what particular spot will you have it?" taunted Sonora, as
his hand crept for his gun.
    Simultaneously, every man in the room made a dash for cover.
Nick ducked behind the bar, for, as he told himself when safely
settled there, he was too old a bird to get anywhere near the line
of fire when two old stagers got to making lead fly about. Nor was
Trinidad slow in arriving at the other end of the bar where he
caromed against Jake, who had dropped his banjo and was frantically
trying to kick the spring of the iron shield in an endeavour to
protect himself—a feat which, at last, he succeeded in performing.
But, fortunately, for all concerned, as the two men stood eyeing
each other, their hands on their hips ready to draw, Nick, from his
position behind the bar, glimpsed through the window the Girl on
the point of entering the saloon.
    "Here comes the Girl!" he cried excitedly. "Aw, leave your guns
alone—take your drinks, quick!"
    For a fraction of a second the men looked sheepishly at one
another, even Nick appearing a trifle uncomfortable, as he picked
up the kettle and went off with it.
    "Once more we're friends, eh, boys?" said Rance, with a forced
laugh; and then as he lifted his glass high in the air, he gave the
toast:
    "The Girl!"
    "The Girl!" repeated all—all save Ashby, whose snores by this
time could be heard throughout the big room—and drained their
glasses.

Chapter 6
     
    There was a general movement towards the bar when the fair
proprietress of The Polka, who had lingered longer than usual in
her little cabin on top of the mountain, breezily entered the place
by the main door. In a