Whether it was because liquor was just then _en régle_, the spontaneous revival of Jim’s popularity, or his cool, sarcastic assurance, is an open question, but the crowd fell to with a will, and everybody, with the exception of one man, drank with him. For the moment it seemed as though our citizens had forgotten that Jim was under the ban. Among the party which had been celebrating the reform movement of our enterprising town, was a fellow by the name of Jeff Hosking, a comparatively recent addition to our population, who hailed from Murphy’s Camp. Whether Hosking had an old time grudge to settle with Poker Jim, no one ever knew, but it was afterward rumored that a feud of long standing had existed between them. From whatever cause, however, the gentleman from Calaveras remained conspicuously apart from his sociable companions, insolently shaking his head in refusal of Jim’s proffered hospitality. To accentuate his discourtesy--for such conduct was considered the acme of rudeness in our little community--he smiled in a manner that was an unpleasant combination of superciliousness and contempt. The assembled company looked at Jeff in open mouthed astonishment for a few seconds, but Jim affected not to notice the implied insult, much to the bewilderment of the rest of the party. The situation was, to say the least, embarrassing, and Dixie, with a pardonable desire to smooth things over, said-- “Well, Jeff, what’s the matter; hev y’u lost yer appetite fer licker?” “No sirree, Mister Dixie!” replied Hosking, “but I ain’t drinkin’ with no gamblers jest now, ’specially them that ain’t on the squar’, an’ some folks that I knows of, hain’t improved much since they was chased outer Murphy’s.” “Drink your liquor, gentlemen,” said Jim, quietly, “and then we will investigate this very interesting affair!” The liquor having been disposed of, Jim lounged leisurely toward his insulter, looked him steadily in the eye for a moment and then said-- “And some people’s manners have not greatly improved since _they_ left Murphy’s. As for my squareness, that’s a matter for argument, but one which you are hardly competent to pass an opinion upon, unless you have changed greatly in the last few years. Now, Mr. Hosking, I’m going to tell you something that may interest you. “At nine o’clock this morning, I was notified to change my location within twenty-four hours. I propose to get away from town as quietly and pleasantly as possible. Let me inform you, however, that until nine o’clock to-morrow morning, I am a citizen of Jacksonville, and shall stand for my rights and self-respect accordingly.” [Illustration: “THERE WAS A SHORT, SHARP STRUGGLE, A HARMLESS SHOT, AND JIM’S INSULTER WAS LYING ON THE FLOOR WITH A CLEAN CUT IN HIS CHEST”] Emboldened by Jim’s apparent indisposition to begin a row, and, like all bullies, mistaking conservatism for cowardice, Hosking replied: