The Comancheros Page #2

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spread over there.

- You were a rancher?

- Yeah.

2,000 head of longhorn.

Indians run you out?

No. They weren't any trouble then.

Not till a few years ago.

Something's stirrin' them up now.

- The drought get you?

- My wife died.

Oh.

That's unfortunate.

So I gave the spread to

some right nice people.

Folks that used to work for me.

Well, I personally

could never see marriage.

Seems like a fella'd

always feel that curiosity

about the next woman

he was going to meet.

Lots feel that way.

Did once myself.

Hold it.

That's an Indian sign.

You're gonna live a lot longer

if you follow after me. Ya!

I expect we'll find

the little girl inside.

Did you know these people?

Rode many a night herd with all of 'em.

I was at the baby's christening.

I guess that's about

all we can do for 'em.

I hate to do this...

Hey, Jake, that's a pretty

good-looking mount you got there.

Hi, Jake. You been horse-trading?

How come you're riding a mule?

Because I took to liking

mules. You got any objection?

- No, sir.

- Or you? Or you?

No, not me.

- Hello, Tobe. Major wanted to see me.

- He'll be right back.

Say, how do you spell "Louisiana"?

L-o-u-i...

- What do you wanna know for?

- I'm writing my pa a letter.

"Captain Jake went to pick up a prisoner

wanted by the state of Louisiana."

"He came back with a mule and

a split head and no prisoner."

I might have a "PS" for your pa.

"Dear Mulehead. We didn't beat this

boy enough when he was growing up."

- Major.

- Hi, Jake.

- I got a little surprise for you.

- Yeah?

Yeah. Something that may prove that

theory you've been bending our ears with.

- You mean a gang running the Comanches?

- Yeah.

Picked up a fella with

a wagonload of guns.

Come on back here.

I'm sorry.

Between you and me, I feel

a sight better I was stopped.

Stopped before I went off and done

some fool thing I might be ashamed of.

Like them guns. Wouldn't be right

if they fell into the wrong hands.

Might even got to the Comanches. Now I

look back on it, I can see how bad it was.

That's how come that I give myself up.

Yup. After breaking one ranger's jaw and

slicing up two others with a bowie knife.

I feel bad about that.

I wasn't using my head.

You used everything else.

Feet, fists and teeth.

Yes, sir. But them

rangers sure won me over.

If I'd have knowed men like that, I might

never have fell in with bad companions.

Those are the fellas we wanna

hear about, those bad companions.

And it's my Christian duty

to tell you everything I know.

Which ain't nothin'.

Well, the truth is I

ran into a man in Yuma.

He said I'd get the best price

for my guns in Sweetwater.

Said if I'd go down to Sweetwater, check

in a hotel, I'd be got in touch with.

But I never did find out who.

And that's the gospel truth.

You still don't know

where you got those guns.

I've been beatin' my

head tryin' to remember.

If I could only find that bill o' sale.

Those guns were stolen from the

quartermaster depot on Fort Sill.

No! Well, then the man who sold 'em to

me, he must have been mixed up in it.

If I'd have knowed that, I

sure would have reported it.

I think he's telling the

truth about one thing.

It's the first time he

brought guns into Texas.

And the last. Bless you

for believing me, sir.

I believe you because I know where

you spent the last five years.

- The Yuma Territorial Prison.

- Well, yes, sir.

But they had a right to lock

me up. I done a bad thing.

What with me not never having no

schooling and knowing no better.

But now I'm all straightened

out. I been saved by the law.

Maybe the Comanche contact

man won't know him by sight.

You want me to take his place? Take the

guns to Sweetwater and

meet the contact man?

Hey, that ain't a bad idea.

And you're sure welcome to use

my name, sir. McBain. Ed McBain.

Maybe that'll make up some for

the way I almost disgraced it.

Think of me being mixed up with them.

Me, who ain't never been

in no trouble before.

- Well, not hardly.

- All right, McBain.

Just a minute. Might wanna

do a little readin' tonight.

Either one of you gentlemen

got an extra Bible?

Oh, sure, Mr McBain! We been

holding the room for ten days.

Never knew when you might be gettin' in.

- Reckon that'll cost me extra.

- Won't cost you nothin'.

- It's all been taken care of.

- Oh?

Yes, sir, Your friend says to

tell you your money ain't no good.

Says anything you want's on him. It's

one of the best rooms in the house.

Says to stay tight, spraddle out,

and you'll be got in touch with.

That's room 19. That's right

up on the first floor, sir.

That's right, sir.

- Am I in the right place?

- I guess so.

We were supposed to meet two gentlemen.

Well, ladies, you're halfway home.

Ed McBain at your service.

I'm Adabelle La Domergue and

this is my friend Guadalupe.

Guadalupe Felipa Carmela Lpez de Reyes.

- Fuzzy for short.

- Well, it's delightful to meet you, Fuzzy.

- Who provided the refreshments?

- I really don't know.

They were already here

when we ladies arrived.

Well, a toast to him, anyway.

Mr McBain, I just want you to know that we

don't usually go out on blind dates but...

Oh, no.

I... I'm afraid we have

a previous engagement.

Last time we had the

pleasure of your company,

we was involved in four fistfights,

a stabbing and a shooting...

and all before midnight!

Yee-ha!

McBain, what'd you do with them guns? I

tore your wagon apart

and I didn't find 'em.

I found a false bottom but no guns.

- You got 'em or ain't you got 'em?

- I buried 'em.

You what? What kind of a

sneakin' somethin' is that?

That is a damn distrustful

way to start off a deal.

I didn't want 'em to

fall into the wrong hands.

Well, you got me there. But you're

dealing with the right party now.

The name's Tully Crow.

You ain't done thatjug much

damage. Mind if I help myself?

- Go ahead.

- Snuff?

Cigar man.

Buried them guns, huh?

That was smart. Real inspitorial.

Six crates of rifles. Yeah.

You figured somebody

mightjust take 'em on approval.

Could've cooked the goose

that lays the golden eggs.

How's that?

If I hadn't made the

right contact here, I'd

have to sell the rest

of 'em someplace else.

- You got more?

- Steady supply.

Now that is somethin' I never knew.

So you can see how important it was

to both of us to get started off right.

Yeah. I'll give you $100

for every gun you got.

I understand the Comanches pay

five times that. What's this?

Leave that be. If I'd had that

then, I wouldn't have this now.

- You ever dealt with a Comanche direct?

- Can't say I have.

I did. They took everything I

had to sell and went after this.

What stopped 'em?

- Comancheros. Fellas I'm dealing with now.

- Comancheros?

That's right. Fellas with real

fine connections with the Comanche.

They needed me. I had a

steady supply, just like you.

Only it ran out. So now I'm

willing to take on a partner.

When do we meet these Comancheros?

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