Pete sought to stop him at the door and in one lightning and concerted movement, he bit and struck and kicked, scattering the crowd in all directions.  When the men watching Anthony down the street, burst into laughter at the bizarre procession, the French girl silenced them with fierce, hissing syllables..

“Heh!  Dude Anthony, beloved of the b — "

“Zose words you shall not call la petite hound an’ me.  Even name of a dog is for such as you too good to be call’.  Monsieur, we take pleasaire in your departure from hence.”

“Go on, please the lady, Buckeye.  There’s no other jackass to keep you here any longer.”

And Buckeye departed in a perfect indigo haze of profanity.

* * * * *

“Mignon, have you heard the news?”

“Non, Monsieur, I ’ave sleep all ze day.”

“Spotty Collins was found in Blue Ravine this morning, robbed and murdered.  You see, he had a lot of money on him from the dog fight.”

“But ze beeg hound?”

“He was shot, too.”

“Ze murderer, zey ’ave caught?”

“Not yet.  They say the sheriff’s on his trail, though.  He just got back from Sacramento and he went right out.  By jinks, he’s coming now!  An’ he’s got ’im!”

“Mon Dieu!  It is Monsieur Ant’ony!”

“No!”

“Oui!  Heem, my woman’s heart knows well.”

“By jinks, you must be right!  There’s the fightin’ jack followin’ the horses.  Dude Anthony of all people!”

“It is not true!  It cannot be!”

“Think I’ve got my man, boys.  His clothes are covered with blood and the money was in his cabin.”

“I have just made a strike in my claim.  That is my own money.”

“Yes, of course, but the court thinks you oughtn’t to keep it too long!”

“The ‘court’ is in his cups.  He’s sittin’ over there in the plaza with his back against the flag pole, an’ he won’t budge.  You listen — .

“Judge, can I see you to your room for a few hours’ sleep?”

“What for?” asked the judge, eyeing the questioner solemnly.  “Is there anything in the statutes of the State of California which forbids my pre-empting this small space on the highway?  Is there any reason, if I am so inclined, that I should not teach my fellow-citizens the great moral lesson of the overthrow and debasement of genius by the demon rum?  Am I not better employed than if in a stifling, tobacco-perfumed courtroom, beating law into the thick skull of a lawyer, who doesn’t know Blackstone from white quartz?  But, if you have four bits on you, and should ask me to join you — Ah, you have?”

“Well,” said the sheriff to Anthony, after they had vanished into a near bar, “I’ll have to put you in the jug till court convenes.”

* * * * *

Buckeye Pete was celebrating.  He seemed to be suddenly flush with “dust” and was dispensing drinks with a liberality which soon brought him a numerous following.  By midnight it was a well-mellowed assemblage.