One policeman was indeed after him already; but the incident, as
luck would have it, did the adventurer a great deal more good
than harm. After the first introduction there were few evenings
when he did not find his way to McGinty's saloon, there to make
closer acquaintance with "the boys," which was the jovial title
by which the dangerous gang who infested the place were known to
one another. His dashing manner and fearlessness of speech made
him a favourite with them all; while the rapid and scientific way
in which he polished off his antagonist in an "all in" bar-room
scrap earned the respect of that rough community. Another
incident, however, raised him even higher in their estimation.
Just at the crowded hour one night, the door opened and a man
entered with the quiet blue uniform and peaked cap of the mine
police. This was a special body raised by the railways and
colliery owners to supplement the efforts of the ordinary civil
police, who were perfectly helpless in the face of the organized
ruffianism which terrorized the district. There was a hush as he
entered, and many a curious glance was cast at him; but the
relations between policemen and criminals are peculiar in some
parts of the States, and McGinty himself, standing behind his
counter, showed no surprise when the policeman enrolled himself
among his customers.
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