Man with the Gun Page #5

They've always sort of looked

after each other.

Well, that might make the waiting

a little harder.

You know what you remind me of?

No offense meant, of course.

You remind me of a hungry lion

I once seen pacing a cage in St. Louis.

- I'm hiding out.

- You? From what?

Questions

that I can't answer.

They want action from somebody else.

Just rode in to report, Tollinger.

Caught Jeff Castle trespassing

on Holman's property again.

Dade's keeping him for you

out at the place.

You can pick him up any time you want.

I don't recall issuing

any trespass warrants.

- Do you, Lee?

- No.

You arresting people these days

without a warrant?

We're not going to let something

like that stop us, are we?

The boy's all right. Not a scratch on him.

And that took some doing.

We got a few to show.

No threats, no trouble, no nothing.

Just an offer. Come and get him.

I don't see your white flag.

Huh?

Now, if you were flying one,

we might observe the rules of war.

You're not, so we'll abide by the town law.

If you got something on your mind,

Tollinger, say it!

Mr. Sims, keep an eye on that young man,

will you?

The law is, "No guns in town."

You've broken it.

That makes it legal and proper

to arrest you.

All right, dismount.

Dismount!

Mr. Sims, make out a warrant

for these gentlemen while I detain them.

Tell you what, I'll make those out.

You go on over to the Palace,

and tell Lescaux

to get a message to Holman right away.

Tell him I'll exchange

two hostages for one.

Two unscratched hostages

for one in the same condition.

Sure.

Sure does me good to see

them fellas behind bars.

First time ever I've seen any

of Dade's boys where they really belong.

Hope he leaves them cool their heels

there for a couple of days anyway.

Well, if he does, we've lost this hand.

Uh-oh.

I know, it's three hours already.

And now it's Trotter.

It's about time he come

to pay his respects.

I'll wait.

Tollinger, I...

We'd like you to answer a few questions.

Now, no one will say Ed Pinchot

ain't richly deserving of what he got, but...

Will it get Jeff Castle back?

I don't know yet.

Two gunslicks come a-ridin' into town,

high and mighty,

bearing arms,

detaining people without a warrant,

and now you're asking

why Clint and me put them under arrest!

What do you want, anyway?

I tell you what we don't want.

I ain't the only one heard

what you said about

choosing the battlefield,

and we don't want Dade

marching into town

with his gun army and wiping us out!

You don't have to worry.

He gets a big part

of his revenue from the Palace.

That's bad business,

wiping out the paying customers.

You're paid to protect our people

and our property,

but you won't go after Jeff Castle.

And putting Pinchot behind bars

is just inviting Holman to come after him

and tear this town apart!

Now, suppose you stop telling me

what you don't want.

You want me to turn Pinchot loose

and ride out,

and bargain with Holman's

guns for Castle's release?

Will you guarantee the result?

No?

Well, then, if you'll excuse me,

I'll get on with other business.

Now, Miss Atkins...

You've already answered my questions.

Only I'm worried about Jeff, not the town.

Dad said I shouldn't have come.

You go on, I'll stay.

Sure.

I do feel kind of empty.

I generally eat about sundown.

Still, it ain't very late,

- and if you'd rather...

- Oh, no, go on, eat.

Wouldn't want you to think I was

runnin' out on you

like them others.

It's all right, Lee.

Hey!

Oh, Jeff!

They're waiting for the exchange.

Are you in good condition?

Yes.

All right, we'll return them

in good condition.

Seems I owe my safe return to you.

That calls for thanks.

Thanks.

Jeff!

I'll say it for him,

the way it should be said.

Thank you, Mr. Tollinger,

and please accept my apology.

That wet-behind-the-ears kid was

a-pestering me for a deputy's badge,

so he could go out

and take on Holman single-handed.

Don't mark him down.

He's gettin' taller every day.

I never thought I'd see the day.

We got Castle back, that's all.

Maybe I lost more than a day.

I've never even laid eyes on Holman.

So far, it's cost him Jeff

and four gun hands,

but now he knows a lot about me.

I've been in Sheridan too long already.

Miss Bain! Miss Bain!

Miss Bain!

Miss Bain!

This time, I'm staying till you tell me

everything I want to know.

Why did you leave Beth?

To earn a living, Clint.

You called me a businesswoman, and I am.

Just that.

Only that.

You left me

because you couldn't stand

the kind of life I gave you.

- Is this better?

- Yes.

Better than being married to a gunfighter.

That's what I am, Nelly.

Guns are all I know about.

There are only two ways to use them.

And the way you use them wasn't murder,

because you wore a badge.

I don't know.

I only know it didn't make the waiting

any easier.

I thought you loved me at first.

Then I thought you might love

Beth enough to...

But you learned to hate so early

that you never learned anything else.

Guns are all you know about.

They're all you care about.

Still paying me back, huh?

For what? For something you can't help?

You forget, Clint.

I know that your father died

because he wouldn't own a gun.

You'll die because you do.

Well,

may be a short life, but it'll be a full one.

Plenty of exercise for your guns,

and all the women you want,

even nice ones.

That's for my full life,

and all the women I want.

Where does that leave the Atkins girl,

Stella? I've seen her.

I've heard about her,

every day falling a little more out of love

with her young man,

and more in love with you.

She reminds me of you,

though, as you used to be,

even down to hating this business.

You're a little older now, too.

Maybe she could persuade you to do

what I couldn't.

Maybe.

Clint, I wasn't telling the truth.

I didn't have the courage before,

but now I don't care.

Beth is dead.

That first winter up north was so cold.

She got sick. We did everything.

It didn't help.

Clint!

Clint!

I'm not paying you back!

I'm punishing myself!

You'll never be human!

You haven't any pity!

No pity, Clint!

No pity at all.

- Hey, what's up?

- I'm cleaning out the Palace.

Alone?

Are you crazy?

Bad house, boss.

Worse every night,

and Tollinger's still around.

It will not be long now.

Things will pick up,

right after the party for Tollinger.

Party? A farewell party?

Clear out!

Lescaux, you've been in town too long.

Time to go.

I do not know

what you are trying this time.

You are armed, I am not.

But I am warning you, Mr. Tollinger.

You're leaving tonight.

The only choice you have is which way.

I am staying.

All right, Lescaux, you're overdue anyway.

No!

Don't!

Your property.

Fetch in some more, boys.

Try and keep it from the other buildings.

Keep it coming!

Keep that water coming!

Let it go, boys. Let it go!

Keep it from spreadin'

to the other buildings!

You hurt?

Keep it coming!

Keep that water a-coming!

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