of the gaming tables proved stronger. Wild Bills presence in the various saloons threatened the towns lawless elements. Deadwood, like Abilene several years earlier, was dominated by gunman, and gamblers. They were feasting on the gold dust from the local miners and they did not need Wild Bill coming in to clean it up.Tim Brady and Johnny Varnes, two leaders of the Dearwood underworld, initiated a plot to kill Wild Bill so he wouldnt be appointed marshal. Jim Levy and Charlie Storms, two noted gunmen, were offered the job but turned it down. Had they known about Wild Bills bad eyesight, they might have accepted.Just a few months before, Wild Bill had committed to an acquaintance; My eyes are getting real bad. My shooting days are over. Wild Bill therefore relied on his reputation to see him through the danger he must have sensed was all around him in Dearwood. Wild Bill reputation stymied Levy and Storms, and it worked on the six Montana gunman who spoke of killing him. Wild Bill backed by his twin Colts, spoke to them with his usual directness before disarming them: I understand that you cheap, would-be gunfighters from Montana have been making remarks about me. I want you to understand unless they are stopped there will shortly be a number of cheap funerals in Dearwood. I have come to this town not to court notoriety, but to live in peace and do not propose to stand for insult.After most of this had been settled it was back to his gambling. Wild Bill wanted to get enough money so that him and his wife could live comfortable for the remainder of their lives. Bill would send many letters to his wife explaining this same thing and that he missed her very much.Then all of a sudden the letters stopped. Wild Bill had met someone that shared a number of his traits: brash, vain, fiercely, individual, alcoholic, and available hire when times are lean. Her name was Calamity Jane.The two of them hit it off because they were just...
