Springfield Rifle Page #4

I would have been forced

to dismiss charges against him.

You tricked him onto the post.

Certainly was no premeditated action

on his part.

You're lucky I didn't

press charges against you...

...for brawling with a dishonorably

discharged officer.

- How many head have you got here?

- Eight.

I got some more

coming off the range Friday.

Seventy-five.

One-forty.

Two-twenty-five.

Four and a quarter.

Six hundred and seventy-five dollars.

- For all eight?

- That's all they're worth.

- Looks like the Army made a deal, major.

- I'll see you at the bar in about an hour.

I've got a little banking and some

personal business to attend to. Come on.

Sir, I'm sorry to see you

in a position like this.

Thanks, sergeant.

Kearny.

You made a grave mistake

in not going home, Lex.

Erin has come back.

Did you write her again?

Your boy ran away from his school.

Mr. Ramsey, Sergeant Poole.

I'm wondering if you and Kearny

can still shake hands.

Let's continue with your report, major.

The raiders are led by this horse rancher

named McCool...

...the one who sells a few horses

to the Army as a blind.

Got nearly hundred men.

A third of them are Confederate soldiers

on assignment for this.

And the rest of them are a bunch

of jayhawkers led by a man names Elm.

The captured horses are kept

in a canyon 45 miles east of here...

...and about once a month,

they run them to Bear Creek...

...where they turn them over

to the Confederate agents.

That's the picture.

Good job, major.

Thank you, colonel. And now, sir, I request

that I be relieved of the assignment.

That calls for an explanation, major.

I consider myself a bad risk.

It'll take just one mistake

to smoke us out.

Colonel, permit me

to speak for the major.

He has a personal problem.

His wife's here.

What's that got to do with it?

Because I had no idea what the effect

of this would be on my family.

Kearny, all these men have problems too.

Excuse me, colonel,

it's a little different with Lex.

His boy ran away from school because

he couldn't stand the disgrace of his father.

Why'd you volunteer

for this assignment, Lex?

Because I wanted to see

this war ended quick...

...and I thought the idea

of counterintelligence...

...was the best way to help it.

Then get on with this job.

If you don't, you'll spend

your days with a brand on you:

Traitor and coward.

It's in your record. We had it put there.

To reinstate you now would expose us.

I can't change your record back.

Very well, sir.

What do you want me to do?

Find out how McCool's getting

his information to intercept the herds.

How do you stand with him?

About as well as anyone, I think.

But he confides in no one.

If he were removed, could you work

into a position of authority?

- It's possible.

- Then McCool must be removed.

Give me permission

to pick a fight with him?

It has to be done so his contact

won't be scared off.

This is the way.

The Southern spy ring is widespread.

They undoubtedly have a man out here.

We must get to him

and destroy him through McCool.

The best way to do that is on a raid.

- Who's leading the detail on the next drive?

- I am, sir.

Good. Then your job is to kill McCool.

He rides a big pinto.

It's the only one in the outfit.

I'll flash you a signal before the attack

and maneuver him into position for you.

Thanks. I'll get him.

After you're top dog with that outfit...

...if the key man wants to do business,

he'll get in touch with you.

When you know your man,

get word to Poole.

Poole will tell Ramsey,

and Ramsey will send for me.

- Any questions?

- No, sir.

Leave one at a time at intervals

of two minutes. Dismissed.

- Sir, may I be the first to leave?

- Yes, Poole.

Sorry about your boy, Lex.

Wish there were something I could do.

There is, sir. Here's his picture.

You try the recruiting offices

near Philadelphia...

...I think he can be located.

His mother and I will be very grateful.

- lf he's in the services, I'll find him for you.

- Thank you, sir.

What a licking that man's taking.

- He'll stand up.

- I'm sure he will.

Because he has faith. Faith in people.

Faith in a strong Union.

I hope someday his family will understand

and appreciate what he is doing.

I found out just after

I got back to Philadelphia.

The news of you was in all the papers.

I tried to keep it from Jamie,

but his schoolmates...

You know how cruel children can be.

His whole world crashed, I suppose,

and he ran away.

- Where?

- I don't know. I've tried everywhere.

I thought he might have come out here

to you to see if it were true.

Colonel John thinks he may have

joined the Army.

But he's too young, isn't he, Lex?

Drummer, bugler, dispatch runner...

They take them now

if they pass for 15. He'd pass.

Colonel John's tracing all enlistments.

He said he'd do everything he could.

Jamie will change his name.

Wouldn't use Kearny.

Then we'll never find him.

Lex, you've got to do something.

Staying here, what you're trying to prove,

is not worth our son's life. Nothing is.

If you hadn't come in the first place

you might've stopped him.

If you were a good mother,

that's where you'd be. At home. Now.

Kids get scared when they

go out on their own.

He might come creeping back,

and you ought to be there to help him.

What good does it do

to come wailing to me?

With Jamie gone,

I thought I belonged with my husband.

You can't be with me.

I've got things to do right now

which you're interfering with.

Lex, I'm afraid. Please, let me stay.

I've said everything I can say.

I wish you'd go back,

but I can't make you.

Just think, Mr. Kearny...

...I might've plugged you that time.

Been a downright sin.

We ought to be up on the ridge

where we can see the herd coming.

Why be on that ridge freezing?

The lookouts will signal us.

I don't like all this looking-glass

monkey business.

Well, it worked before, didn't it?

It's working now too.

On your horses, men!

Not yet. They're still too far away.

Who says so?

It's a code, Pete. It spells out words.

I'll ride on up there to make sure

of Sims and Mizzell.

All right, stay put.

But be ready to move out.

All right, major. Go ahead.

You go back and signal McCool

to get the men into position.

Sims will flash you when to attack.

Hold!

This is it.

- Assemble at the rear.

- Yes, sir.

Assemble at the rear!

Assemble at the rear!

They must have seen

them stinking looking glasses.

Well, it's a perfect spot for an ambush.

After all, they've had some experience.

They're getting cagey, aren't they?

Well, if this is what they want,

we'll give it to them.

Come on!

Drive them. Move them fast.

Get after that herd!

Catch me a horse.

Dirty double-crosser.

You sure got even with that fella.

They got Mac

because of your looking glasses.

I ought to put a bullet through your head!

Be careful you don't get one in yours.

Now, get after your men! They're scattering

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