Along Came Jones Page #3

- I don't know nobody in Payneville.

It was hardly a social introduction,

but you did knock him over.

Name's Ira Waggoner.

He drove the stage that Monte held up.

- How'd he know about me?

- He don't.

"Give this to Monte," he said.

Everybody thinks you're him.

Everybody but this little lady skunk

you're taking up with.

Skunk, huh?

Mornin'.

Cherry. George didn't mean that.

He was just shootin' off his face.

- No, he's right.

- Look, Cherry.

Aw, what George thinks ain't what I think.

You go on about your business

any which way you wanna go.

Now, look here. There ain't any use to this.

- You don't have to cry.

- Please. I am a skunk, and I know it.

You ain't a skunk.

You've been nice,

even though you knew I was lyin'.

I'm sorry I drug you into it. Goodbye.

Look, what kind of a box is it you're in?

Can't you tell me?

You see, I've known Monte Jarrad

ever since we was kids.

We grew up together.

So when he rode in hurt, I tried to help him.

- Did you get him out?

- No.

They'll catch him now, I guess.

The posse'll be pounding back by this evening.

When I told you that I'd explain,

I decided to tell you the whole truth

and see if you'd help me.

Take a saddle,

or anything to lead the posse away.

There just wasn't nobody else I could turn to.

You'd do anything for that belly gunner.

This morning I decided not to.

It wouldn't be fair dragging you in no further.

I was gonna tell you the truth all right.

I wasn't gonna ask you to do nothin' else.

That why you brung

Monte's saddle along with you?

What?

Why, I didn't know it was there.

I thought you might have noticed it

when you put this blanket over it.

I don't know why I even try to lie to you.

Me neither.

Come on, Henry.

- What are you doing?

- Changing saddles.

- You're gonna do it?

- It's what you wanted, ain't it?

Well, yes, but...

Melody, you can make it, can't you?

I hope so.

They'll see you with the saddle

and tell which way you went.

You'll have such a lead, you'll make it.

If you mean do I aim to get caught,

the answer is no.

A fella can stand just so much

of that pounding, and then...

I'm awful grateful to you.

Is there something I can do for you, maybe?

Sure. You can take care of my saddle.

All right.

Melody, ride as hard as you can

and don't stop for nothin'.

Goodbye.

Well, that sinks the duck.

Thank you.

Thank you.

- I meant goodbye.

- Goodbye.

Would you take something from me for keeps?

I won it for bronc stomping

last year at Cheyenne.

I was 17th.

Thanks, champ.

Giddy-up!

Melody! Where you goin'?

Melody!

Whoa.

He's gone with your saddle.

You can see it a mile off.

You said last night he'd left the house.

Where'd he stay?

I don't know, Monte. He just disappeared.

- Start movin'.

- Sure, Monte.

You know what I'd do if you crossed me.

I know you're in trouble,

but I don't like that kind of talk.

I didn't ask you what you liked.

Just be careful what you're doin'.

I'm gonna pick up Uncle Roscoe,

and then I'm on my way.

When you get through with what I told you to do,

I'll send for you. Be ready.

- Can I get by?

- Ten.

- Up ten.

- I call.

You fellas oughta let people pass

when they ask you.

- Waggoner.

- Back.

You wanna see me?

Sit down.

You needn't keep watching my gun.

You couldn't stop it.

There's only three men in these parts

I can't slap leather with. One is Monte Jarrad.

- But you ain't him.

- No?

No. You had me fooled for a time, but...

...not after I thunk it over.

But you're frontin' for him,

and that's all I wanna know.

Where is he?

- I was fixin' to ask you that.

- I done my part of that job.

Now I'm waitin' for you fellas to do yours.

You understand?

Mister, I'm gonna tell you the truth.

I ain't got the first idea what you're talkin' about.

I want my share. I wanna know where

that money bag is. You understand that?

No.

Then you'd better start remembering. You're

gonna tell me before you leave this room.

You mean you figure

I know where that money is?

I figure you better.

Well, I don't know exactly what to say to that.

Nobody else has to know.

Just you and me. Fifty-fifty.

Mister, I swear I don't know

how you've lived as long as you have.

What do you mean?

- Do you remember Morgan Earp?

- Sure.

He got his spine shot in two.

He had his back to a door that had glass in it.

Sure. What about it?

If you look behind you,

you'll find just that kind of a door.

That's the oldest one in the book.

That glass is painted over and I know it.

Maybe, but I sure wish

you'd give it a second thought.

- I've had just about enough of this.

- So have I.

Hello, Leo.

- Who's this?

- I don't know.

- He's trying to pass himself off as Monte.

- I know. He's riding Monte's saddle.

- What deal you making?

- I was trying to find out about things.

- What things?

- I got a certain right to...

To do what?

Sit here till I ride off.

Then be someplace where I can find you.

You understand?

Yeah.

I wanna hear some more

about them rights you're so worried about.

Let's go.

- Me?

- Come on.

Walk ahead of me until we're out in the street.

Mount your pony.

Mister, I'm obliged to you

for getting me out of that bar.

Ride by my off-stirrup, close.

- I ain't goin' that way...

- You go the way I tell you to.

I can't understand how in Sam Hill a tramp

like you found a way to kill Monte Jarrad.

Get going.

Stay where you are.

- Now, look, I'm sick and tired...

- I'm gonna smoke a cigarette.

When I'm done, I'm gonna throw it away.

When I throw it away, take care of yourself.

Some friend of this belly-bustin' gunman,

I take it.

- Say it while you can, tramp.

- Figure you're good with a gun yourself.

Outside of Monte,

I've never seen anybody better.

All I meet today is champions.

You shot Monte in the back.

You wanna try again?

I aim to pull out of this fix.

It ain't my squabble and there's no sense

in getting myself shot.

- Monte Jarrad ain't dead.

- Did he give you that saddle?

- No, he didn't, but his girl did.

- What girl?

- Cherry de Longpre.

- Did she kill him?

Ain't nobody killed him, you lunkhead.

He got hurt bad and couldn't travel fast.

I took his saddle as a favour to her,

to fool jackasses like you away from him.

A full growed man like you could let a girl

talk him into a dang fool trick like that?

All I can say is here I am.

I've heard some dumb stories in my time,

but that one really takes the cake.

Get ready.

All right.

This don't make no sense to me

in any particular,

but... let her go.

Put em up, black hat.

Higher.

Take his gun, Melody.

Like I told your friend, never turn your back

on anything, especially a woman.

It's all right, George.

- This the girl?

- Ain't she a lulu?

- Get off.

- Just a minute, ma'am.

If you're Cherry de Longpre,

you'll know I'm Leo Gledhill.

How do you do, Mr Gledhill? Now get off.

- I'm a friend of Monte Jarrad.

- The lady said get off, Mr Gledhill.

You jughead. We been looking all over for you.

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