Page:The War on the Webfoot Saloon.djvu/10

 barkeeps at the saloon, decided on a ruse de guerre. Near the corner stood a hydrant, attached to which was a large hose used to fill the street sprinkler wagons. Good turned on the hydrant and deluged the sidewalk. The crowd moved back out of range. The ladies did not budge. Then Good played the hose on the building, so that the water ran down the plank awning and cascaded off. The Leaguers were drenched, soaked to the skin through their multiple petticoats, but they did not flinch. By that time the small boys had given out entire, and so Good put the hose aside and took up one gong. Fritz hammered the other. A hobbledehoy who frequented the place turned the handle of the organ. And Moffett blew on the whistle—when he could find breath enough. The ladies were still fresh and imperturbable.

Two hours more. Someone had brought out chairs and the Crusaders were sitting in a long line at the edge of the side walk, each back primly erect, each mouth moving with unceasing fervour. In a fury of frustration one of the beaters thrust his gong close against the face of a Mrs. Stitzel, who sat near the head of the line. Mrs. Stitzel was attempting to wrest the gong away when Moffett came rushing up, jerked it from her, and at the same time drew a pistol which he brandished about in a menacing fashion. Cooler heads prevailed upon his to put the gun back in his pocket.

The tide of battle ebbed and flowed. It was now nearly five o'clock. Good, who had been making frequent trips into the interior of the saloon in search of liquid strength and consolation, was thoroughly drunk. He began to swear bitterly at the Leaguers. A bystander, one William Grooms, stepped up and smote Good mightily between the eyes, knocking him flat. Within seconds the fighting was general, though the Crusaders seemed to take no notice of it. Moffett's little army, finding itself hopelessly outnumbered—the crowd had grown to well over a thousand—backed hastily into the Webfoot. As many men as could pushed in behind. Guns and knives were drawn, chairs were thrown about, glass was smashed. Just then the police, who until that moment had found pressing business elsewhere, swept down on the scene and restored order.