Didn’t read the story before, but this seems like a pretty solid scene. Fierce bartender. People often concentrate on the fact that they are a smile and an ear. It’s nice to see one that is protective of his establishment. Loved the last line.

I like it. We have no idea what’s going on in terms of the hands, but the scene is so dramatic it conveys all we need to know, from how insistent the barkeep is to how calmly accepting the stranger is.