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Faculty and Proctors
"sit down and have a quiet drink, and talk things over."
Then a man on his other side jumped up. "Take your
hands off my friend, Dick Plunkett!" he shouted at
Masterson, at the same time trying to jerk something
from his hip pocket.
Meantime, the effect upon the crowd had been pan–
icky. Immediately the identity of Masterson had begun
to be whispered about. "That's Bat Masterson," men
told one another. "He'll shoot on sight," some added.
So before Masterson had gr'abbed Plunkett's collar, a
movem!'!nt had starteci',toward the exit-toward all ex–
its, in fact. Men began pouring not only into the exten–
sion of Peacock Alley, but into the Grill Room, and the
emergency lavatory at the southeast corner of the Bar,
past which safety could be gained, was choked by men
who merely wanted to find a quick way out, but missed
the door.
Joe Smith, at that time chief sleuth of the hotel, had
been sent for at the first sign of trouble. Now he ap–
peared, and began edging his way past the crowd that
was milling to escape.
Joe heard the name "Bat Masterson," and it was
enough to make him discreet. He did no'f rush up to the
table where the fun was, and with the voice of authority
quell the disturbance and order the disturbers out. As
a matter of fact, Joe found a pillar that looked as if it
might resist anything like gunfire, and hid behind it.
However,
s~mebody
outside had telephoned the Tender–
loin police station, and three cops appeared. By the time
they arrived, the only live occupants of the room were
Joe and the bartenders. By this time friends had sue-
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