The Plainsman Page #7

You're right.

And there's liable to be

bullets flyin' around

this way any minute,

so I'd advise you

to get inside,

off the street.

Well--

I was goin' home anyway.

- I'll go with you,Jack.

- I got a long ways to go myself.

Lattimer's ''crookeder''

than a rattlesnake. You can't

go after him alone. His men--

I started this alone

and I'll finish it alone.

Why should I stake you

to go diggin' for gold?

They found gold and

plenty of it right there

in the Black Hills.

That's Sioux country.

That don't matter. There's

gold there at the grass roots.

So, you're goin'

on the dodge,

desertin' after gold.

You know what Custer

does to deserters.

I know what he'd like

to do to you.

He just got back and

he's boilin' mad about Cheyenne

Indians and repeatin' rifles.

He can't do nothin'. Let him

make his complaint to Washington

and he'll find that out!

The army's gettin' riled--

The army can't stop me!

There's bigger men than

the army in this with me.

Mr. Lattimer.

I'm busy, McCall.

I want to do you

a big favor, Lattimer.

What's on your mind?

Hickok's after you.

Wild Bill.

He says you're the cause

of all these Indian massacres.

He's comin' in here now.

All right.

You better get out.

You won't forget

that I warned you?

Get out.

Get in there, you three.

Maybe I'll have

a job for you.

Hello, Hickok.

That's the name,

ain't it?

Met you in Leavenworth.

Hear you been doin'

a little scoutin' for Custer.

Did you see anything?

Yellow Hand's been farming

with your farming tools.

You know what this is?

Skunk.

Yes.

I'm not armed, Mr. Hickok.

I'm not armed.

I'll give you

three minutes to fix that.

I'll be waiting outside.

- I'm just leaving town.

- You're not leaving town

unless dead men can walk.

Come in here, you fellows.

Now. I'm gonna stake ya,

all three of you.

I'm gonna stake you

to 50 Double Eagles.

I've got

a wagon train leaving for

the Black Hills tonight.

I'm gonna get you away from

Custer and safe out of town.

That's great, Mr. Lattimer.

But first, there's

that little job I want

you boys to do for me.

You're crazy. Lattimer won't

fight you fair. You ain't got

the sense you was born with.

Ah, Bill, don't our love

mean nothin' to ya?

Our love--

if that's what

you want to call it--

all that died back

on that island where

everything else was dying.

No, Bill, no!

I'll go get Cody.

Maybe he can talk some sense

into you, ya big mule!

Get off the street.

You better take cover

for a few minutes.

You think you own this town.

I'm just walkin'

through it.

And us fellas can get

out of your way, can't we,

just like we was dirt?

Suit yourself.

All right, Mr. Long Hair.

You're too durn friendly

with Injuns to suit me.

You shouldn't have

said that, soldier.

What are you gonna do about it,

ya gun-totin' windbag?

Oh, substituting

for Lattimer.

I can't shoot at that uniform.

If you want action,

take it off.

Yeah, and get a slug

while I'm doin' it.

Take it off.

I'll give you

that much time.

I never draw on a man

who isn't ready.

- Bill.! Bill.!

Come on, Bill,

let's get out of here.

Sit here, Bill, out of sight.

Close that door, Lou.

Easy, Bill.

That bullet went clean through,

but it's bleedin' bad.

Get some water, Lou, quick.

And some clean linen.

You brought this man

to our house; a murderer.

Lou!

When is this

going to stop?

When will it ever stop?

This killing and killing!

Why don't they kill him too?

Then you can be next

and then me and--

Lou, he's my friend.

I didn't mean to bother you,

ma'am. I'll be going.

Can I take your horse, Bill?

You can have everything

I've got, Bill, but--

You sit right down again,

Mr. Hickok.

You can't go

bleeding like that,

whatever you've done.

He's done plenty.

Those men were soldiers.

He'll have every trooper of

the Seventh after him now.

Get some towels, Will.

I'll be as quick

as I can, Mr. Hickok.

Thank you, ma'am.

Here you are, Lou.

There's hot water

on the stove.

Hold this, Mr. Hickok.

I never was a murderer.

I never did fight

unless put upon.

Thou shalt not kill.

No ghosts ever come

bothering me.

It was always the other man

or me... in a fair fight.

What right have you to judge

who is to live or to die?

Put away your guns,

Mr. Hickok.

I can't do that, ma'am,

not till I find John Lattimer.

Hey,Jake, gimme

some more light.

Ready, boys?

Yeah.

Which way, Mr. Lattimer?

South, until we get out of town,

then we head north.

Say, where are them

three soldiers we're takin'?

They're staying

in Hays City,

but I'm goin'.

Get on your wagon.

It's dark enough now, Bill.

You oughta head up north.

Hide out in the Black Hills.

That's bad Indian country,

but it'll be safer for you

than here.

I'm going

into town first.

You're crazy, Bill!

I'd be crazier

if I didn't do what

I think I ought to.

Bill, open up.

It's me.

Did they hurt

you much, Bill?

I'm all right.

I couldn't come till it

got dark. I was scared

they'd be watchin' me.

I know you don't want

to see me, but I gotta

tell you somethin', Bill.

Custer's ordered you

brought in dead or alive.

The troopers have combed

every hidin' down by the river

and they're headin' this way.

He's goin'to fiind Lattimer.

Lattimer's gone.

He pulled out with his wagons.

Where?

Nobody knows.

I'll find him.

Of course you will. Someday

you're bound to, only don't

try to find his trail now.

Just try to save yourself

from Custer's men. There's

no tellin' what they'll do.

If Lattimer's pulled out

with his wagons,

those wagons are loaded.

And I know what

I've got to do.

That's a trooper.

Hear his saber?

Get in there, Bill,

quick.

You might set the table

for three, Mrs. Cody.

Who's there?

Courier from

General Custer.

General Custer's compliments.

You're to report to him right away.

How do you do, ma'am?

Howdy, soldier.

Hi.

What's up?

Custer's been ordered to move

against Sitting Bull and the

Sioux up in Big Horn country.

What does General Custer

want Will for?

The General doesn't let me

in on all his secrets.

Come on, get a move on.

Go ahead.

I'll be right behind you.

Grub's ready. Hustle them

dishes. I'm cavin' in all over.

Light out, Bill.

I've got a pack all fixed

for you and I brought a horse.

Good-bye, ma'am,

and thank you

for everything.

Thanks for the coat,

Bill Cody. I'll take

good care of it.

Take care of what's

inside of it,

you old bushwhacker.

Will, what does

General Custer

want of you?

Bill. Bill, you ain't fit

to ride far.

Why don't you lay up someplace

and take care of that arm?

That's what I'll do.

I'll need this arm

when I find Lattimer.

Ah, forget it.

You ain't got a chance

against Lattimer's men.

Hmm. I've got

nothing to lose.

Nothin' but your life!

When you talk like that,

I could bounce a rock

off n your bean.

Why don't you try it

next time you see me?

When'll that be, Bill?

Where?

Oh, up around

Deadwood someplace.

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