Ride the Pink Horse Page #3

a little talk.

We had a talk, Uncle Sam.

Sure, but another one.

I got a couple of new ideas.

Oh...

Go on, beat it, Scrambo.

Go on over there,

way over there.

I told you I didn't want you

removing Mr. Hugo from the scene

but I'm not worrying

about that anymore

not the way

you're handling it.

Walking in here

and telling him

Shorty's pal is looking for him!

Playing it tough, huh?

They've got a couple of bad boys

out looking for you.

This interest you?

Yeah...kind of.

Those mugs that

Mr. Locke put on you

will be arount to

the Three Violetas.

They'll find out

the same lead I did.

What time does it open?

Around 9:
00.

I got an extra bed in my room.

You'll be a little more

comfortable there.

No.

I'll stay here.

Kind of figured

I was wasting my time.

Hey, Retz.

Yeah?

Thanks.

Don't mention it.

Say, fine beautiful morning, mi amigo.

How you feel?

Fine.

How you sleep in Pancho's palace?

Like a baby, eh?

Yeah, like a baby.

Where'd you get this razor?

It's a very fine razor.

I shaved with it myself once.

What time is it?

About ten minutes past 7:00.

I have a fine deam last night.

I dream all my horses is alive

and we all riding on desert

for hunting lions.

And I am young again.

Service, eh?

Where you get that new bucket?

I find it.

That's very fine bucket.

Is sign of good luck

when you find new bucket.

Yeah?

I got a looking glass, small one.

I don't need it.

I'm all through.

Why do you have to look like that?

Lile what?

Like you come out of a sideshow.

What's a sideshow?

Place where they keep freaks.

I look like a freak?

You look like zip-what-is-it?

Why do I look like that?

Well, I don't know.

Maybe it's the dress.

This is my granmother's dress.

She gave it to me when

I come to the fiesta.

I never had a dress

so nice as this.

Well, it might be all right

if you took some

of them spangles off.

I take them off.

You might also comb your hair.

My hair?

Is not right?

All right for mice to sleep in.

Give me my coat.

Here.

Go get yourself

a permanent wave or something.

Maybe a manicure, huh?

No, I can't take the money.

Why not?

Is too much.

You can count, that's something, huh?

Go on, take it, make

yourself look human.

You like me if I look human?

Look, Sitting Bull

I'm not buying any trouble this trip.

I got other things on my mind.

Go on now, beat it.

Ten dollar?

Mi amigo, you crazy

for waste time on a stick.

Fellow like you can

get princess, fat one.

Yeah, I've had princesses,

all kinds.

I got one now back East.

That's crazy.

Why don't you bring

her to the fiesta?

She's busy...

with another guy.

I don't think I like

him, that other guy.

Ah, don't say that, he's okay.

He's got what it takes.

Dough.

Mr. Hugo in?

I said is Mr. Hugo in?

Who is it?

The man who was

here yesterday.

Oh, Shorty's pal--

let him in.

Mr. Hugo will see you.

You want me

to come back for the shampoo?

I'll call you later.

Mr. Locke in his room?

No, Mr. Hugo,

he left ten minutes ago.

Wait downstairs.

You want me in, boss?

No, out.

All right, Mr. Gagin,

what can I do for you?

Yes, this is Mr. Hugo.

No, I can't talk to him now.

No more calls

till I let you know.

Would you like to look around?

I don't mind company.

Sit down.

I'm glad to see you, Mr. Gagin.

How's our friend, Mr. Retz?

He's okay.

I hear you been talking to him.

What would I have to

talk to him about?

I don't know.

Comrade in arms.

You're both shooting at the

same target, aren't you?.

He's no pal of mine.

Good for you.

Cigar?

No, thanks.

So you're Shorty's pal.

That's right.

Shorty was a nice guy.

Yeah, he was.

Weren't you in the same

outfit together--Pacific area?

Tried to get in myself.

Too bad they had

to turn you down.

I gave Shorty a job

when he got out, a good job.

Yeah, I know.

Hundred a week

just to see

that people didn't

bother me too much--

Should have solved

all his postwar problems.

Too bad Shorty turned

out to be a crook.

Got himself all crumbed up

reaching for easy money.

That's kind of funny talk

coming from a guy

who's done rather well

out of the government--

Kind of like spitting

in my own face.

That's what you're thinking,

isn't it, Gagin?

I'm thinking.

Our friend Shorty was

the kind of crook that nobody

likes, not even me

who am rather broad-minded

about such things.

Short took something from me

and tried to sell it back.

I don't like blackmailers.

Nor would you if you

were in my business.

They constitute a very

bad industrial hazard.

He refused to give it to me,

there was a fight.

Your pal Shorty wasn't as

tough as he thought he was.

So you had him killed.

Let's say he lost the argument.

To three guys with blackjacks.

Were there three?

Three pretty stupid guys, too.

Stupid?

Yeah. They didn't get

what they were after.

They didn't?

No, I got it.

A cancelled check

for a hundred grand

on a Mexican bank, signed by you

and made out to a guy who was

making patriotic speeches

about the time

I was getting a tan

in a place called New Guinea.

You sound like a

disillusioned patriot.

The number of the check is 6431.

You've got me convinced.

It wouldn't be

on you, would it?

No, of course not,

you wouldn't be that dumb.

All right, Mr. Gagin,

how much do you want?

30 grand.

Shorty only wanted 15.

The extra 15 is on

account of Shorty.

A real friend. Don't kid yourself.

You're doing it for you

just like I did

what I did for me.

Look, do I get the 30 grand

or do I turn the check

over to Mr. Retz?

So that's the way

it's gonna be.

That's the way it's gonna be.

Look, Gagin, let's

hit it on the nose.

You and me, we, eat out

of the same dish.

You used to think if you were

a square guy, worked hard

played on the level,

things would come your way.

You found out

you were wrong.

All you get is pushed around.

You found people are intested

in only one thing--the payoff.

That's all I'm interested in.

You know, Gagin, I like you.

There are two kinds of people

in this world:

ones that fiddle around

worrying about whether

things are right or wrong

and guys like us.

Do I get the 30 grand?

It'll be pretty hot--

Are you sure you want it?

I'm sure.

You know the spot I'm in.

I'd be a dope to pay blackmail.

And if you don't?

There might be a photostatic

copy of the chek.

Then you have to pay again.

Now he may remember

the check number and bank.

I'd be buying practically nothing

for my 30 grand but a headache.

20 years for stealing

from the government

is also a headache.

Yeah, that's worth

thinking about.

I'm getting tired of

that check haunting me.

I'll take a chance on you

being a square blackmailer.

I'll give you 15 grand.

Well, I came to enjoy the fiesta.

I'll charge it up to pleasure.

You'll want it in cash, naturally.

Right here in my hand.

I don't carry that

kind of money with me.

It'll take me a few hours to get it.

Where can I reach you?

Here.

I'd rather you didn't

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