Silver River Page #4

are accepting these vouchers.

Well, I'm not.

Aren't the mine owners going

to redeem these things?

They'd like to.

What do you mean,

"they'd like to"?

I've gone over the whole

problem with the mine owners

and, believe me,

it is a problem.

They're forced to

issue these vouchers

because you and your gaming table have

corralled all the money in the town.

Then let them get

some more money.

Haven't they heard there's a little

thing called a mint in san francisco?

You know, if there was a local bank,

these vouchers could be redeemed.

I think I'll take a little

ride in the morning

and find out what goes on

in this mining business.

Good morning.

I just thought I'd come

up and take a look around.

You're poaching.

Oh, I wouldn't say that.

I'm a stockholder,

remember?

I remember a lot

of things about you.

Good.

One is that I don't like ya.

Going somewhere?

Think I'll come

along with ya.

What do you think

you're doing?

Aw, I'd like

to talk business.

Everything going smoothly

at our mine, I hope.

Take it up with my husband.

I'm going to see him now.

Oh, in that case,

we'll take our time.

Why don't you

leave us alone?

Because I've met

your husband.

Just what are you

trying to say?

Just that I don't think you dislike

me as much as you think you do.

I think you're

just scared.

You're a fool, McComb.

You've got the wrong woman.

Glad to see you, McComb.

Thanks. You make me feel

like one of the family.

I guess you're up here

about the stock.

Yeah. I'm not getting

any returns.

Well, you might as well know.

You won't get any.

With that smelter

going up?

I can't finish putting it up.

I'm about cleaned out.

I'm sorry

to hear that, Moore.

Something about a losing

investment I don't like.

You never take a chance,

do you, McComb?

Not if I can help it.

I know a lot of people

who don't know

what to do with a chance

when they get it.

I've got some more above

ground, but no credit.

If I have to,

i might be able to sell out

to a syndicate

in san francisco.

Too bad to take

such a loss.

Why take it?

That's right, stanley.

Mccomb has plenty of money.

If we get

our smelter up now,

the other mine owners

have to come to us.

Why not let him advance

what we need?

That sounds like

a very good idea.

I might even

consider it for a...

shall we say...

a third interest in

silver river properties?

You don't

ask for much.

I don't know.

The way things stand, i...

i think maybe we'd better

accept McComb's offer.

Good. Then we'll

all be partners.

Why don't you

fellows get smart?

The mine owners will

never pay off in money

as long as you keep

taking their paper.

So don't let them

feed you that malarkey

about the cash

coming later.

They'll keep you working for

nothing. It's in the greed.

And let me tell you

another thing.

Mike McComb's in with 'em.

That don't sound

right, banjo.

Mike's a gambler.

Hey, McComb!

What's banjo sweeney selling?

Patent medicine?

Looks like trouble,

Mike.

Bar that door.

That one, too.

The mine owners are

upstairs waiting for you.

Well. Silver city's most

distinguished citizens.

And mrs. Moore.

I had no idea there were

to be ladies present.

I'm here as a mine owner,

mr. Mccomb.

We're not paying a social call.

We're having trouble with the mines.

Ah, trouble,

trouble, trouble.

Indeed, we all have our

troubles, do we not?

You're the cause

of our troubles.

You won't let the miners

gamble unless they have cash.

You know we've been

paying them off in paper.

Then pay them off

in cash. Suit me better.

Well, the truth is, there's

no loose money around.

Now these gentlemen and

this lady here thought maybe-

maybe they'd better do less

thinking and more mining.

Anyway,

why come to me?

Don't be a bunch

of sheep!

Go in there and

make them pay up!

I think I may have

a possible solution.

Some of you aren't

going to like it,

but it's going to be

my way or not at all.

I'll set up a bank.

How's that

for an idea, Plato?

He's right, gentlemen.

He has all the cash and he could

guarantee the weekly payroll.

This is going to

cost us something.

What is it, McComb?

Mrs. Moore, it's

a hard, cruel world.

Naturally it's going

to cost you something.

I want a cut of stock from

every mine in silver city.

That's robbery!

No, no, no.

That's business.

Of course, there'd be

an additional fee. Say 10%-

also payable in stock.

Plato, I'm proud of you. Sometimes

i think you earn your salary.

Well, I suppose there's

nothing else we can do.

You win, McComb.

You're in the banking

business.

I'll go welcome

my new depositors.

All right, all right,

cool off, boys.

I've just been

having a little talk

with the mine owners

inside here

and they seem to think

it would be a good idea

if I were to set up a bank.

All right.

I'll guarantee my bank

will meet all

the paper you hold

and pay you off in cash.

How is that?

How are you boys doing

with those doors down there?

Knock 'em down and come on in

for a drink on the bank.

Put those bags on the table

then go back to the palace

and get the rest of the stuff.

What do you think of it?

I like 'em better

with two sleeves.

Oh. Meet my new tailor,

mister...

anyway, he once made a suit

for the prince of wales.

Mike, with the money

you're making,

you can afford to

get them ready made.

Make him a new vest.

Plato says

I'm now a gentleman.

Going on the theory that

clothes make the man.

No offense, Mike.

Not bad.

Mr. Mccomb, if you please. Oh, sorry.

I don't understand it. First you

loan the money here at the bank,

then you win it back at the

gambling tables across the street,

put it back in the bank,

then loan it out again.

But are we making

anything?

That's high finance,

pistol. Explain it to him.

He might not be so wrong.

This system could backfire.

Better think about it.

Don't you think I've

thought about it already?

We're not stopping

here. We're expanding.

Carson city,

all over the state.

First I'm going to

open gambling houses.

After that, banks.

People will

like that idea.

Give them someplace

to put their money.

Right in their pockets.

Mr. Mccomb will have no

pockets unless he stands still.

This just come over the wire.

This isn't addressed to me.

Why, I thought you'd

like to see it first.

Look who's coming.

Huh?

Hey. This'll be

the biggest thing

that ever happened

to silver city.

Have we got his

brand of whiskey?

Put some more ice in that

punch bowl. It's all melted.

Don't worry, dear. Everything's

going to be all right.

What difference does it make? The

whole evening's spoiled anyway.

Oh, I'm sure the president

will be here most

any minute now.

I'd give $1,000 to get my

hands on that Mike McComb.

You can just bet he's

responsible for this.

I don't think it

was very nice of him

after all the trouble

we went to.

He loves trouble-

especially when he's making it.

Excuse me, mrs. Moore, but I heard the

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