Carey , with a smothered oath , rushed across the street . He had been afraid of something of the sort , and had advised Paul not to go , for those half-breed carouses almost always ended in a free fight . He burst into the kitchen at Joe Esquint 's , to find a circle of mute spectators ranged around the room and Paul and Lazarre in a clinch in the center . Carey was relieved to find it was only an affair of fists . He promptly hurled himself at the combatants and dragged Paul away , while Mrs. Joe Esquint -- Joe himself being dead-drunk in a corner -- flung her fat arms about Lazarre and held him back . `` Stop this , '' said Carey sternly . `` Let me get at him , '' foamed Paul . `` He insulted my sister . He said that you -- let me get at him ! '' He could not writhe free from Carey 's iron grip . Lazarre , with a snarl like a wolf , sent Mrs. Joe spinning , and rushed at Paul . Carey struck out as best he could , and Lazarre went reeling back against the table . It went over with a crash and the light went out ! Mrs. Joe 's shrieks might have brought the roof down . In the confusion that ensued , two pistol shots rang out sharply . There was a cry , a groan , a fall -- then a rush for the door . When Mrs. Joe Esquint 's sister-in-law , Marie , dashed in with another lamp , Mrs. Joe was still shrieking , Paul Dumont was leaning sickly against the wall with a dangling arm , and Carey lay face downward on the floor , with blood trickling from under him . Marie Esquint was a woman of nerve . She told Mrs. Joe to shut up , and she turned Carey over . He was conscious , but seemed dazed and could not help himself .
Marie put a coat under his head , told Paul to lie down on the bench , ordered Mrs. Joe XXXXX get a bed ready , and went for the doctor .
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