Part 1 From Out The Canyon Chapter 9 At The Occidental

Hampton scarcely noted this marvellous change; to him it was no
uncommon spectacle. He pushed his way through the noisy throng with
eyes ever watchful for the faces. His every motion was that of a man
who had fully decided upon his course. Through the widely opened doors
of the Occidental streams of blue and red shirted men were constantly
flowing in and out; a band played strenuously on the wide balcony
overhead, while beside the entrance a loud-voiced "barker" proclaimed
the many attractions within. Hampton swung up the broad wooden steps
and entered the bar-room, which was crowded by jostling figures, the
ever-moving mass as yet good-natured, for the night was young. At the
lower end of the long, sloppy bar he stopped for a moment to nod to the
fellow behind.

"Anything going on to-night worth while, Jim?" he questioned, quietly.

"Rather stiff game, they tell me, just started in the back room," was
the genial reply. "Two Eastern suckers, with Red Slavin sitting in."

The gambler passed on, pushing rather unceremoniously through the
throng of perspiring humanity. He appeared out of place amid the rough
element jostling him, and more than one glanced at him curiously, a few
swearing as he elbowed them aside. Scarcely noticing this, he drew a
cigar from his pocket, and stuck it unlighted between his teeth. The
large front room upstairs was ablaze with lights, every game in full
operation and surrounded by crowds of devotees. Tobacco smoke in
clouds circled to the low ceiling, and many of the players were noisy
and profane, while the various calls of faro, roulette, keno, and
high-ball added to the confusion and to the din of shuffling feet and
excited exclamations. Hampton glanced about superciliously, shrugging
his shoulders in open contempt--all this was far too coarse, too small,
to awaken his interest. He observed the various faces at the tables--a
habit one naturally forms who has desperate enemies in plenty--and then
walked directly toward the rear of the room. A thick, dingy red
curtain hung there; he held back its heavy folds and stepped within the
smaller apartment beyond.