No Name on the Bullet Page #2

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- How's your father?

- Oh, he had another bad night.

He seems to be better

during the day.

Sometimes the climate here

does remarkable things for consumption.

Sometimes.

I'm doing everything I can,

everything I know how to do.

I wish I knew more, but I don't.

Let's take a look at the roast.

You ought to be as fat as a bull,

the way you keep shoveling it in.

After a week of what you do to food,

this is heaven.

Why is it everything you cook

tastes like a prescription?

What makes you think it isn't?

I suspicioned it. You better watch him

after you get married.

- He'll slip cod liver oil in the soup.

- Cod liver oil is good for you.

I'll get it.

- Good evening, Doc.

- Oh, come in, Sheriff.

- Oh, you're just havin' supper?

- We just finished.

- Hi, Asa. Hello, Anne.

- Evening, Sheriff.

What's on your mind, Sheriff?

- You talked with John Gant today.

- That's right.

- You know who he is?

- Uh, he's John Gant, I guess.

- I know.

- Am I supposed to know something I don't?

That's right. You spent a lot of time

back East in school.

All right. Who is he?

He's a killer, Doc.

- Didn't act like one. Cup of coffee, Buck?

- Yeah, please.

He's a hired assassin.

He was sent here to kill somebody.

- That's his job.

- You sound mighty positive.

You know

the man's reputation, Asa.

Sure, but that's all I know.

I don't know the man.

Well, in this case

the reputation is the man.

- I doubt that, Buck.

- What makes you so sure?

Because he always works the same way.

He comes into a town, checks into a hotel.

Sticks around a few days,

sizing up the situation.

Then he picks a fight with his man.

He's never lost yet.

Just hearsay, Buck. You can't condemn

a man on what you hear about him.

No, Asa. It's common knowledge.

Every lawman knows about him.

I got a stack of reports

from other states on him.

I'll admit I've never seen him,

but... I'm convinced.

You sound awfully sure he's after

somebody here. Who do you think it is?

- I thought maybe you could tell me.

- What makes you think I can?

You talked to him.

Maybe he dropped a hint. Did he

mention any names, ask about anyone?

- No. We talked about chess.

- Chess?

Yeah. We're gonna play a game.

Yeah, that figures, all right.

Someday, Doc, you're gonna start living

in the same world with the rest of us.

Half of this town is scared that Gant's gonna

kill 'em, and you're gonna play chess with him.

Why shouldn't he, Buck?

Until we know better,

Gant's just another man.

Even if he's what you say,

he's not after Luke or me.

Maybe.

It's a rare man that hasn't

made an enemy sometime in his life.

A man's guilt's his own burden, Buck,

and you can't do anything about it.

I might have to.

Doc...

if Gant stays here,

somebody's gonna die.

Now, that might be

the least that could happen.

Well, you go ahead

and play chess with him.

Maybe you'll learn something.

Assuming what you say is true,

why don't you move against him now?

I can't. I've got to have a legal reason.

Gant isn't a wanted man.

Anyhow, I-

I'm not sure I could stop him,

even if I had a reason.

Don't let yourself

get stampeded, Buck.

I'm sure everything can be worked out

peacefully if you really want it that way.

It takes two to make peace.

Gant's like a disease that

they haven't found a cure for.

Except for this.

He's supposed to be better

with this kind of medicine than anyone.

- Goodnight, Doc.

- Goodnight, Sheriff.

Gant. John Gant?

- Yeah. Do you know him, Judge?

- Well, I know of him.

So he's here.

- What's the matter, Judge?

- Huh? Nothing.

I guess I should have taken

your advice and gone to bed.

I'm a little tired.

Now you're being smart.

Take your medicine and get some sleep.

No. No more medicine.

You've gotta take it, Judge.

You may as well face facts.

This medicine is-

Well, you're still alive.

Yes, I'm still alive.

But does it really matter

how a man dies, or when...

when he knows it's gonna happen?

You see that he takes it.

Gant ain't done a thing, Ben.

Last night he sat over there

drinking coffee until late.

Didn't talk to anybody at all.

Yes, Mr. Gant?

Give me some silver

for this, will ya?

- I'd like some coffee.

- Right, Mr. Gant.

There.

- You sure?

- Of course I'm sure!

I just saw them

talking together.

I told you we shouldn't

have tried to force Chaffee out, Earl!

He found the mine.

We only financed it.

Stop sniveling.

It's a perfectly sound business deal.

- Chaffee doesn't think it's just business.

- He'd do the same thing to us.

So that's why he hired Gant.

He wants sole ownership

of the mine. Use your head!

If he gets rid of us,

he's got it all!

- What are we gonna do?

- How do I know?

- I should never have listened to you in the first place.

- Oh, shut up.

The money isn't worth it!

Money?

That might do it.

Money brought Gant here.

Maybe it can get him to leave.

Come on.

- Where to?

- To see Gant.

- Why do I have to go?

- You wanna stay alive, don't you?

This is your only chance!

Yes, Mr. Gant?

- Some more coffee.

- I'll have to make some fresh.

- Then make it.

- Yes, sir. I'll be right back.

Mr. Gant?

I'm Earl Stricker.

This is Thad Pierce.

- We've come to talk to you.

- Talk.

Well, can we, uh-

All right if we sit down?

We know why you're here.

You do?

I'll, uh, get right to it, Mr. Gant.

We wanna make a deal.

You don't say.

What kind of a deal?

Whatever you were paid to come here,

we'll-we'll double it...

if you'll leave right now.

Why?

I-Isn't it obvious?

Yes. It's obvious.

If it isn't enough...

you can name your own price.

- Do you run a business?

- Yeah.

- A couple of 'em.

- I own the bank.

You heard I'm for sale,

and you think I can be bought off.

What makes you think

I'd be interested in you?

No! We didn't say we thought

anything of the kind!

That's right. You didn't.

You're just doing this as a favor

to the rest of the town.

- We can add two and two together.

- Congratulations, banker.

No deal.

You're making a mistake.

You'll never know, banker...

unless I have come for you.

- How about that coffee?

- Yes, sir. Comin' right up, Mr. Gant.

- Thad! Thad!

- I knew it wouldn't do any good!

- We've got to figure some other way.

- There is no other way!

Thad!

- Mr. Pierce, I-

- Shut up!

I don't want to see anyone.

Understand? Anyone!

- Hi, Doc.

- Hi.

- Afternoon, Doc.

- Hello, Ben.

- How's your boy?

- Seems much better today.

- How'd that new vein pan out?

- Oh, vein's fine.

It's not the vein that's worryin' me.

Anything happen in town?

- Such as?

- Gant.

No. Think something's

going to happen?

Don't you?

Milly's inside.

Ben, I just saw Stricker and Pierce.

They were talkin' with John Gant!

- Where?

- In the Soledad. They were real chummy.

Look, I think Charley's

down in the shaft. Go get him.

We've got some talkin' to do.

He's doing fine, Mrs. Chaffee.

This little Indian'll be out catching lizards

in a couple of clays if you keep him in bed.

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