Man with the Gun Page #6

How'd it start?

I started it.

You started it!

What are you trying to do, burn us all out?

Give that house over there

a wetdown!

What's on your mind?

The fire.

Well, at least it took Lescaux out

of our lives for good.

But the way he did it.

Remember the fire he told us about once?

The man who died in it

because he didn't have a gun?

Yeah.

Where's Jeff today?

I don't know.

Anything wrong between you two?

Nothing he's willing to talk about.

Anyway, it's hard to get anything

out of him since...

- Good morning.

- Anything I can do for you?

Why, yes, sir, you can.

- I'd like to hire a horse.

- How long?

Oh, three or four hours.

I sell whiskey, sir.

- So I've heard.

- Never touch it myself.

I get my intoxication just riding around

this glorious western countryside of yours.

Corral's in the back.

Make it a spirited animal.

I want to feel the wind in my face.

A spirited animal, sir.

Guess you know what we're here for.

Saw you making the rounds.

Last on the list, huh?

Last but not least.

We weren't aiming to bypass you, Saul.

We want time at the council meeting.

You'll get time.

Won't take long because we got the votes.

The Palace is gone,

and maybe that's all to the good.

Now we got to keep Holman off our backs,

and the only way to do that

is to get rid of Tollinger.

When it comes to destroying property,

he's stepped on more toes than Dade.

We can't afford to let him

run hog wild again.

Where do you stand, Saul?

I don't know.

Just curious.

We can swing this with or without you.

How can you get rid of him just like that?

So far, he's done exactly

what you hired him to do.

You put up the money,

he put up his life.

He may have a reason for what he did

that we don't even know about yet.

Reason?

For turning thousands of dollars

worth of good lumber

into a pile of ashes?

Oh, it's the lumber that worries you!

And you wouldn't want to get rid of him

just so you could hang out

a "Business as Usual" sign,

so that you can pick up the trade

the Palace can't handle anymore?

And you wouldn't be so crazy

to keep Tollinger around

because you got your cap set

for him, now would you?

That's enough, Virg.

And a good morning to you, gentlemen.

Trouble on my account?

They told me they have enough votes

to take you off the job

at the council meeting this afternoon.

That's just about on schedule

as my jobs go.

But I think that's something

Holman will want to take care of himself.

Especially if he knows the town

is ready and willing.

With a little wind last night,

that fire could have touched off the town.

It didn't.

Fire might smoke Holman out.

If it does, I'll be here.

Don't matter how the council votes,

I'll see you get full pay for the job.

I'll finish what I started, or it'll finish me.

- Don't matter how the vote goes?

- No.

That's the way it works.

If the town doesn't know it, Holman does.

Town hires a man to fight its war.

They find out he's fighting

because he's got an itchy trigger finger

that ain't under control and never will be.

They get scared.

They got a right to do something about it.

Well, it'll be over soon.

If it ends your way,

then what happens

to you?

You'll have no trouble getting rid of me.

I'll shake the dust of this town fast.

Your young man rode out of town

again today.

I just came by to tell you that, this time,

I can't do a thing about it.

If you get him back,

let him know you want him back

before that trigger temper

he's working up saddles him for good.

When is it due?

4:
45, and you're lucky to get a seat.

I'll send for the luggage.

Billy!

Billy!

Leaving today?

No, but soon.

This is for someone luckier than I am.

- You're staying?

- Mmm-hmm.

Of course. A target right to the end.

Standing in front of people

who won't stand back of you.

Holman will collect for the Palace.

I'm staying for that.

Yes, it was your fire.

Aren't you even now?

I'm getting out of business soon,

if that answers your question.

You've killed Holmans in every town

you've taken on.

And you're staying here for the kill, too.

You won't get out of business

until they put you out of business.

And don't try to change now, Clint,

or you'll find that even feeling a little

can hurt a lot.

Yeah,

I found that out last night.

You've been living three years

with what I found out.

Leave today.

No.

You've never met Dade Holman, have you?

I have, once.

He's a fat man, but he's as hard as you are.

And he might even be smarter.

Who you expecting, miss?

- Fine horse! Fine ride!

- $1, please.

Dollar? Where's your pa?

- Gone to council meeting.

- Yes, Friday.

Town always seems deserted

on meeting days, doesn't it?

Mmm-hmm.

Well, I guess

I got my dollar's worth all right.

Hurry, Kitty!

Lucky Kitty.

She's going to visit her family.

I don't call that fun.

My family reads me like a book.

What's the matter,

don't they like dime novels?

Kitty will join us

when we locate somewhere.

Nelly said we should be hearing soon.

Hope it's soon.

Town gives me the shivers.

We just sit around,

waiting for the same thing

everyone else is waiting for.

- What?

- For Mr. Tollinger to get killed.

Oh, I wouldn't like that.

I mean, there are so many

ugly ones to spare.

Well, just the same,

before the Palace burned down,

I heard someone talking

about a surprise party for him.

Well, Mr. Tollinger surprised them instead.

- Good afternoon, ma'am.

- What is it?

I'm a drummer, ma'am. Ladies' wear.

Miss Wakefield, Miss Ann Wakefield,

I believe, ordered a bangle from St. Louis?

That would be Miss Wakefield.

Ann, someone to see you.

On the porch.

Oh, the porch, of course.

By all means, the porch.

Kitty!

Sorry, Nelly.

- My luggage...

- It was picked up an hour ago.

Come along, or it'll leave without you.

Bye, girls.

Bye.

- Bye.

- Bye, Kitty.

Oh, it's simply beautiful!

Show the rest of you ladies anything?

- Be glad to wait.

Don't bother.

- Stay on the porch, Ann.

- Bye, Kitty.

Bye.

Now, you're sure

you won't forget the time?

- Oh, no.

- Five minutes before 5:00.

- Oh, I won't forget!

- Now, he's very punctual.

Remember, not a word to anyone.

It's the job, you understand.

He must be above reproach.

Oh, I won't tell a soul.

But that's the part that I...

Well, I mean, Trotter's Bar is so public.

Outside Trotter's Bar.

A chance encounter on the street,

that's what makes it look so natural.

Then the handkerchief,

the signal that you're not offended

with his gift.

Offended?

Oh, couldn't he tell

by just the way I looked at him?

Well, he couldn't be sure.

This is his way of being sure.

Once he knows, then he'll have

no further need for an intermediary.

A what?

He'll speak for himself.

Remember, five minutes to 5:00.

How can I wait that long,

now that I know?

Miss Wakefield,

we're talking about minutes, not hours.

Well, what would I do with myself?

Oh, I know! I'll put on my hat.

Excellent.

Oh, be careful of the hatbox.

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