O. Henry's Full House Page #7

What paleface say?

William will be your horse,J.B.

All right, William.

Slick, stay there.

Horse, right there.

How far is it

to the reservation?

Ten miles

to the reservation.

Maybe there's a shortcut.

Oh! Ow! Slick!

- Get back! No fair!

- Keep quiet. Keep quiet.

- Keep still. Keep still.

- No fair! No fair!

Now, stay over there.

There you are, William.

I got his knife too.

No reason to let a child

get the best of you.

- That's true only in theory.

- Now,J.B., we'll have no more of this nonsense.

Paleface lie.

Fool Red Chief.

Red Chief never forget.

Something tells me

our triumph is only temporary.

- Paleface not dumb.

- Thank you,J.B.

Don't you think we oughta tie the kid up

before we go to bed?

I've got his knife.

We've hidden every other dangerous

weapon around the camp.

What is there

to worry about?

Remember what he said

before he went to sleep?

Yes, it's nothing.

I heard what he said.

- Do you remember? What was it?

- Yeah.

He said, "Paleface make'm prayer great

white father. Tell him good-bye."

- And what else did he say?

- "Red Chief never forget."

And you say there's nothing

to worry about?

William, if you persist in this attitude,

you'll have me worried.

There's enough worry

for both of us.

Come, William.

Let's get a good night's sleep.

"Red Chief never forget."

Slick. Slick. Slick!

- Huh?

- Wake up. Don't move.

Show him you're not afraid.

Run, William.

- I can't run far, Slick.

- We're going up a tree, William.

- Can bears climb trees?

- Here he comes. We'll soon find out.

William, I think

it's a cinnamon bear.

I don't care what flavor he is.

He's more apt to taste me.

Hey, paleface. You want Red Chief

to get the bear outta here?

Yes, get him outta here.

Get him outta here.

- What will you give me?

- You can have your knife back,J.B.

How 'bout your watch, William?

Sure. Gladly.

You can have the chain too.

Slick, I'll take

your watch too.

Yes,J.B.

- Coming up right away.

- Just get him away.

And will both y'all

play Indian with me?

- Any-Anything you say,J.B.

- Anything. Just get him away.

All right. Go on!

Get outta here! Go on!

Get outta herel

Yeahl Go onl

Get outta herel

Go onl Get outta herel

Get goin'I

Go on! Get outta here!

Go on! Get outta here!

Go on!

All right. You can come down now.

We'll play Indian.

Hurry up,

or I'll call the bear back.

- Come onl

- I'm looking forward to it with great pleasure,J.B.

- Shh. William. Shh.

William, you don't have to

war whoop anymore.

He's been asleep

for the last five minutes.

Just don't wake him up.

Slick, this has been

the worst night of my life.

I don't think

l can take any more.

William, you should be

ashamed of yourself...

letting a little child

break your spirit.

That's enough, Slick. I'll take it from him,

but not from you.

- You're just as frightened as I am.

- Me, frightened?

Yes, you. He said he'd burn you at the stake

at sunrise, and you're afraid he'd do it.

And what's more, he would too. And if I hear

you mutter one more of those platitudes-

Shh, shh.

William, you're right.

I am afraid.

That's better.

If I could only hold out till his father

delivers the money. If he does.

- That may be quite a while.

- What do you mean, quite a while?

I told him in the note to bring the money

at 6:
00 tomorrow night.

- Oh, no.

- I just wanted to give him time to get it.

What time is it now?

Shall I wakeJ.B. Up

and ask him?

William, what on earth

is the matter with you?

- That's a silly question.

- Where's J. B?

Probably out digging worms

for our supper.

What happened to your eye?

He did it with a slingshot and a boulder

as big as that derby of yours.

I suggest you put the water on your eye,

not, uh-

While I was dazed, he pushed me,

and I sat in the campfire.

This is the only place

where I feel comfortable.

William, what I have to tell you

isn't going to make you feel any better.

Don't tell me

you didn't get the money.

Here, help me up.

No, William,

l didn't get the money.

Slick, forget the 1,500.

Take a thousand, 500.

You can take it outta my share.

Look what he did to me.

Yes, I see what you mean.

But wait till you hear this.

This is from J.B.'s father.

It says, "Gentlemen"-That's us.

"My heart goes out to you.

As a token of my sympathy,

l hereby offer you a counterproposition.

- For $250 in cash-

- He's crazy.

I will takeJ.B.

Off your hands."

We won't pay it. We'll just go and leave

the little monster here.

I'm afraid he's thought

of that, William.

- It says, "For your information,

l am the sheriff of this county...

- Oh, no.

And there is only one road

out of where you are now."

- What'll we do?

- "If my proposition interests you gentlemen...

I suggest that you bring

J.B. Back after dark...

as otherwise, the neighbors,

who have been celebrating his loss...

may do you a harm.

Signed, Ebenezer Dorset."

Have you ever heard of such rustic, uh,

unmitigated impudence?

I think his father's a spendthrift

to make such a liberal offer.

- After all, what's $250?

- $250?

William, that's

every penny we have.

Slick, I beg you,

l urge you, I implore you.

It's only money.

Please pay it!

All right, William.

If you insist.

But, uh, to return J.B.

You have to catch him first.

- Now, I suggest-

- Shh. Here he comes.

Good evening,J.B.

Hi, Slick.

You didn't get the money, did ya?

I sure did.

I've got it right in here.

- You mean my father paid ya?

- He certainly did.

- Let's see.

- It's right in here. Look right in there.

There you are. Don't move.

You'll get hurt.

- I've got you,J.B.

- I give up! I give up! Here, William.

- Okay.

For me?

Thank you,J.B.

William, I've changed

my mind about ya.

- You have? That's nice.

- I still don't like ya.

- But now I think you're dumb.

- Why?

- That stuff you're holding.

- You mean these flowers you gave me?

Part of it's flowers,

but the rest of it's poison ivy.

Poison ivy?

Why, you-

- Just once, please!

- No, William. I forbid you-

- I'm gonna get this one time-

- William, control yourself.

220, 225, 230-

Pa, I don't wanna

stay here.

- I wanna go with 'em.

- Ah.

- Twist his arm, Ebenezer.

- I'll be good. I'll be good.

235, 240, 245-

Y'all better take

another look, mister.

That last five-dollar bill

is a one.

- Please, Slick.

- Say, you're right, madam.

Thank you for

correcting me. 245.

There we are. $250.

Have you folks thought of investing

this cash into good, safe prop-

Please, Slick. How far is it

to the state line?

- It ain't far.

- You think you can hold him?

Well, I ain't as strong

as I used to be...

but I think I can promise you

at least 10 minutes.

We'd be very grateful.

- Good-bye,J.B.

- Good-bye,J.B.

Good-bye, Slick. Good-bye, William.

I hope I see you again.

There's only

a bare chance,J.B.

Don't count on it.

You got a gold mine

in that boy.

- Is anybody coming?

- Not a sign.

- But don't slow down.

Outwitted by a mere child.

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