The crowd at the Green Lantern tavern was loud and profane as Connery, a bull of a man, pushed his way through the crowd, acknowledging greetings with a wave of his beefy hand. Most people of the Barbary Coast knew who he was and that he was a power on the docks. They also knew that his power came from being a member of the Red Lion. Not just a member, but second only to Lundy. He also was one tough son-of-a-b***h. A bottle and a glass were waiting for him when he reached the bar.
With bottle and glass in one hand, Connery headed for his usual table in the corner. All but one of the men who had been sitting at the table got up and left. That man sat with his back to Connery, his head down. "Just a drunken cowhand who doesn"t know the score," thought Connery. Someone could have warned the
