Prev | Current Page 168 | Next

White, Stewart Edward, 1873-1946

"The Forty-Niners A Chronicle of the California Trail and El Dorado"

Casey was a handy tool in many ways, rarely
appearing in person but adept in selecting suitable agents. He was
personally popular. In appearance he is described as a short, slight man
with a keen face, a good forehead, a thin but florid countenance, dark
curly hair, and blue eyes; a type of unscrupulous Irish adventurer, with
perhaps the dash of romantic idealism sometimes found in the worst
scoundrels. Like most of his confreres, he was particularly touchy on
the subject of his "honor."
On reading the _Bulletin_ editorials, he proceeded at once to King's
office, announcing his intention of shooting the editor on sight.
Probably he would have done so except for the accidental circumstance
that King happened to be busy at a table with his back turned squarely
to the door. Even Casey could not shoot a man in the back, without a
word of warning. He was stuttering and excited. The interview was
overheard by two men in an adjoining office.
"What do you mean by that article?" cried Casey.
"What article?" asked King.
"That which says I was formerly an inmate of Sing Sing."
"Is it not true?" asked King quietly.
"That is not the question. I don't wish my past acts raked up. On that
point I am sensitive."
A slight pause ensued.
"Are you done?" asked King quietly.


Pages:
156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180