Pussy Cat Nell Jones surveyed the nearly empty main room of the Yellow Snake Saloon from the second story walkway. Most of her girls were crowded around the front windows, but they weren't looking to lure anyone in. All of their heads were turned toward the town hall, or what passed for it.

She pulled her late husband's pocket watch from where it was tucked into the waistband of her skirt. Half past six. They should be finishing up the counting soon, she thought. She snapped the watch shut, the click louder than the whispered conversations below. A few of her girls looked up to the walkway.

"Let's go and see if we've got ourselves a mayor, lovelies. And let's all bring a gent or two when we come back in." Pussy Cat laid her hand lightly on the railing and began d...

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