More Dead Than Alive Page #2

There's some rags

in back there, too.

My name's Cain.

Just Cain.

Justin Cain?

No, ma'am.

Just...

Only Cain.

What happened to you?

Well...

I guess you could say I got fired.

You're going back to... Las Rinas?

Dry Wood.

I came out here this morning.

Be going back

as soon as I finish my painting.

They say this town was abandoned

when the stage line

stopped making its run.

Guess you know all about that.

That does it for today.

- That sure is good.

- Thank you.

I was wondering, miss, if I...

could ride in with you?

To Dry Wood?

We'll make a deal.

You help me get my supplies in the

buckboard, I'll get you into Dry Wood.

Yes, ma'am.

By the way,

my name is Monica Alton.

Things have changed around here,

haven't they?

Yes, ma'am, they sure have.

That's why I'm out here.

I'm doing a series.

Not just sketches,

but paintings, as well.

I hope to capture pictorially

what Bret Harte and Mark Twain

were able to put into words.

"Local color,"

if you know what I mean.

No, ma'am,

I can't says I do.

There's no reason why you should.

Well, you've got local color,

you belong out here.

You have a very interesting face.

I'd like to paint it some time.

Who are you?

I told you, my name's Cain.

I mean, what do you do?

I didn't mean to pry.

It's really none of my business.

I don't blame you for wondering.

Why don't we...

get moving and we can talk about it

on the way to dinner.

- Is that an invitation?

- Yes, ma'am. I've got two...

What's the matter?

Well, I had two dollars.

I guess I not only got fired,

I got robbed.

I went to Vassar.

That's a school back east for women.

I detested it.

So of course I didn't do very well

in my studies.

I flunked out.

But I didn't care, anyway.

'Cause all I wanted to do

was come out west and paint.

My father thought

I was running away from failure.

He tried to encourage me by saying

that it wasn't what happened

in the past that mattered,

it was the future.

You're trying to encourage me by...

telling me that I should forget my past.

Well, I'd like to, but...

it seems like most people

remember too hard.

Why do you help them?

I don't understand.

Why did you tell me your name?

Why didn't you say it was Crane,

or something else?

It isn't what people think you are

that matters. It's what you are.

Would you promise

an intuitive woman something?

I'll make a deal with you.

If you say yes,

I'll treat you to that dinner.

- You sure like to make deals.

- Well?

Well, it sounds

mighty tempting, but...

You can pay me back later.

Say it's a deal.

All right. It's a deal.

Why don't you get out of here?

Why hang around small towns

where people will remember?

Go east or north

to a city like Prescott.

- That's Killer Cain.

- I know.

I I heard he was here in Dry Wood

a couple months back.

This winter.

Do you... happen to know

where he went?

No.

It's getting dark in here.

I never saw Cain.

I bought that sketch off of Joe Kirby

over at the boarding house.

Some girl left it behind

when she decided to move on.

Round and round she goes,

and where she stops nobody knows.

Two to one, gentlemen.

Here you are.

Thank you.

Sorry, place your bets now.

Place your bets.

Last chance.

- Night, Justin.

- Good night, Bruce.

All right, folks.

Hurry, hurry, hurry.

Step right up and see

the spectacular shooting show

and death display.

See the world's

greatest gunslinger.

He's sharp.

He's a shootin' shark.

So step right up and get

your tickets here, ladies and gentlemen.

Justin.

He sure is loud.

There's a kid in there

that's pretty good with a gun.

You've seen the show?

A couple of months ago

in Las Rinas.

...show, and the death display,

ladies and gentlemen.

Place your bets,

ladies and gentlemen.

Yes, sir,

you can place your bets.

Place your bets.

Round and round she goes

and where she stops nobody knows.

Everybody down.

Place your bets.

She's stopping.

Two to one!

Here you are,

here you are, thank you.

Thank you, young lady.

Everybody down.

Place your bets, all right?

You know what I want, Jim.

Right away, Sheree.

- Could I ask you something?

- Yeah, sure.

How's that thing work?

I don't know much about that.

It's simple.

Why don't you come over when

I'm on the wheel and I'll show you.

Oh, I...

That would be fine.

I sure would like you to do that.

Anytime.

Say, aren't you that kid

from the shooting show?

I'm the star.

Well, I didn't see the show,

but I sure heard it.

You did?

Say, honey,

you sure do make a lot of noise.

Fix me a drink.

Sorry, son.

I got a tough boss.

All I can serve you is a sarsaparilla.

- A... a what?

- Sarsaparilla.

You kidding me?

There's nothing I can do,

they made it a law.

I see, they made it a law.

Well, look, I'm not interested

in a civics lesson, mister.

I'd just appreciate

if you'd just fix me a drink, there.

Can't you read?

Let's see.

"No minor persons served."

Now, I can read that sign,

but I don't believe it.

I would appreciate it if you would

not worry so much about my schooling

and tell your hands to do their stuff

or I'll blow 'em off your wrists!

You got any ideas about using

that gun in here, son, forget it.

Cain!

"Cain"?

What are you talking about, kid?

That man's name is Justin.

I don't know about that.

That... that's Cain. That is Mr. Cain.

"Killer Cain."

I... I was just playing,

just messing around, you know.

I sure wouldn't mess with you.

I sure wouldn't mess

with Killer Cain, would you?

That's Killer Cain.

That's Killer Cain.

Cain? Or is it Justin?

I witnessed you at work tonight.

I told you it would be tough

finding a job.

Like you said,

you witnessed me at work. I got a job.

But how long did it take?

You know, I've been in a lot of those...

those towns where you've been

in the past few months.

And I... well, I know

how hard it's been for you.

I ain't complaining.

No, you didn't complain

when you were slopping pigs in Bisbee

or cleaning spittoons in Tulsa.

Oh, let's face it, man,

you weren't even able

to hold those jobs,

and you won't be able

to hold this one, either.

I told you once before.

I ain't interested in your proposition.

All right.

I just wanted to let you know

the offer still stands, if and when.

Billy and me'll be pulling out of here

in the morning, for Redrock.

In case you change your mind.

And I was so cock-sure

that I could get Cain to join up with us.

I thought he'd be tired

of those chicken feed jobs by now.

Listen, we are doing all right, Rufe.

Good as folks say he was...

How much better

could he be than me?

If only you hadn't lied to him

in the first place.

Why didn't you just tell him

who you were?

You know,

he probably wouldn't have cared

if you had leveled with him

right from the beginning.

And why did you say

your name was Justin?

It's a long story, Sheree...

Good-bye and thanks again.

For what?

For trying.

Good-bye.

Well, it looks like

everything's in place.

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