Whispering Smith

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Come on. Let's get.

Hi, Murray.

Hello, Sam.

Well, hiya, Bill.

Hiya, Murray. Hiya, Captain.

How 'bout a splash of hot java?

Coming up. Hiya, Doc.

How are you, Baggs?

Why, you old ticket puncher, I thought

you'd pulled the pin on us and left.

Sure have, Murray. Got myself as

pretty a piece of land as you ever saw.

Say, who's the new brakie?

Him? Oh, that's Willie Figg.

Willie, meet Mr. Murray Sinclair, our

wrecking boss. Glad to know ya, Willie.

And don't forget, Willie. When you pile 'em up,

there's a poor goat that's gotta clean up the mess

What are you doing out this way,

Murray? There was a wreck, wasn't there?

Nah. Just a rock slide and a broken

arm. Lost a couple of empties.

- Hardly worth the trip, was it, Doc?

- No. Hardly. Hardly.

- You sound disappointed, Murray.

- Yeah. The bigger they are, the better I like 'em

It ain't like the old days, Bill.

The roadbed's as flat as a pool table.

All this new equipment, inspections

every time you turn around...

In a few years, we'll be railroading in

a dress suit, the way things are goin;

Get this:
"Warning, all

personnel, Rocky Mountain division.

"Barton Brothers held up Cheyenne

Express last week. Guard murdered.

Barton's heading your vicinity. "

Why, the dirty, murdering snakes.

Yeah, but look what else it says:

"Luke Smith detailed to case.

'Give him every cooperation.

Luke Smith?

Signed, P.L. Bucks, President."

Let me see that.

Good old Smitty.

Now, there's a guy.

You know him?

You hear that?

He asked me do I know him. Why, we were

practically weaned off the same bottle.

Came west, started railroading together

right here on this division.

Yes. Smith rode shotgun for

us in the payroll car. Sure.

A couple of years, me and Smitty

roomed together at Emmy's. Remember?

Yeah. Yeah. That was before

Marian and I were married.

Now he's way up there...

Whispering Smith.

Trouble-shooter

for President Bucks himself.

Guys like Smitty

they don't make anymore.

What's he like? Well, he's

sort of quiet and gentle-like.

Till somebody spits in his

eye. Then he's like a rattler.

He just naturally unwraps himself.

Why, I've seen him toss six slugs into a gent's

belly button and never even seen him draw his guns

Yeah, but why do they

call him "Whispering Smith"?

Sonny boy, if you ever run off

with the company payroll...

and you hear somebody behind you talkin' low and

quiet, it's Whispering Smith and you're in trouble

What in the blazes? What does

he think he's doing up there?

Hey, you, Willie. Get forward and

tell that hogger to keep rollin'.

Maybe somebody's trying to flag us

down. Yeah. Maybe the Barton Boys.

Better get back.

Looking for someone?

Smitty! Smitty, we were

just talking about you.

How are ya, anyhow? Get away

from me, you big buffalo.

What have you been doing

with yourself? Hello, Baggy.

Hiya, Cap. Well, Doc, this

is just like coming home.

Come here, sweetheart. Let me look

at you. Boy, it's good to see you.

You too, Murray. Here. Let me

help you off with these wet things.

Get him a cup of coffee, Cap. You

sure picked a fine night for a walk.

Sit him down. What's the matter with

you? Don't you like horses anymore?

Sure. I had one,

but they shot it out from under me.

The Bartons?

Yeah. The Bartons.

How do you know?

This wire.

They won't get very far in this weather. The

way I see it, they'll hole up in Williams Canyon.

Then maybe you'll be around

for a spell, huh? Maybe.

That's great. Boy, when I take you home, Marian's

gonna just naturally fall flat on her face.

How is Marian? Wait till you see

her, and wait till you see my ranch.

I've got a spread

that'll knock your eyes out.

- Where's the next open telegraph station?

- An operator at Coyote Creek, but we don't stop.

I guess we have to. I gotta wire

the sheriff at Medicine Bend.

Yes, sir.

Coyote Creek it is.

When's the next train?

Which way?

- Either way.

- There's one due about now, but she don't stop.

She'll stop.

Get out your lantern.

Well? Get out your lantern.

Get movin;

Looks like she's stoppin'.

Sure enough is.

You and Gabby unhook the engine.

I'll see nobody gets off.

Come on. Let's go.

All right, hogger.

Back her up.

I said back her up.

Gabby, stand by to unhook her.

What's the matter, Barton?

Did your horses play out on ya?

Drop that gun on the seat.

Come on.

Get over here.

You hold him.

Smitty.

Smitty, you all right?

Get Barton. The operator...

They've shot him.

Go get Doc. Don't just

stand there. Go get him.

Doc can't do anything.

The poor guy's dead.

Hey, Doc! Doc!

They got him!

What? Are ya a crazy fool?

Why didn't you call for help?

Always tryin' to fight the

whole world single-handed.

Marian.

Hello, Luke.

Hello, Marian.

The doctor said

to keep you warm.

This your place?

Yes. Murray brought you.

Oh.

It's good to have you here, Luke,

even if it did take a bullet to bring you.

How bad is it?

You're lucky. By rights,

you oughta be dead. Look.

Oh. Oh, I should've

had this in my side pocket.

Remember?

Yes, if it's the one

I gave you.

It's the same one, all right.

It was such a long time ago.

Five years is a long time.

Where's Murray?

Asleep.

Oh.

You'd better get some sleep too.

It's almost daylight.

The doctor said the only thing

to worry about was fever.

You're gonna be just fine.

Good night, Luke.

Good night, Marian.

Marian?

Yes?

Nothing.

I just want to say thanks

for... everything.

Hi, Marian,

how 'bout that hot water?

Coming.

All right. All right.

So one of these days,

you'll stop a couple of bullets

with your teeth, and you'll end up...

I know. I know. I'll end up probate, with

coyotes chewing the buttons off my pants.

Luke, such talk!

It's not me. It's Murray.

That's all he's been saying

the last two days.

I wish you'd

think up some other words.

Now, on the level, Smitty. When

are you gonna give up riding herd...

on express car bandits and

get somethin' for yourself?

Such as what? Well, for one thing, you

could quit the railroad and throw in with me.

Huh? Sure. I've got more ranch

than one man could ever handle.

You put in with me, you can write your

own ticket. We'll run the Circle "Z" 50-50.

What do you say? Well?

Nice offer, Murray.

It just isn't in the cards.

- Why not?

- Well, l... For the first thing, I've got my job.

Job. You call that thing you've

got a job? A railroad cop?

I like the railroad, Murray. It's

in my blood just like it's in yours.

- You talk to him, will you, Marian? Tell him he's

crazy. - I think Luke should decide for himself.

Well, how about it, Smitty?

- Sorry, but thanks just the same.

Well, I'm not begging'.

- You must be out of your mind, though.

- Look out, Murray. You'll cut his throat.

Well, maybe I should.

Let some sense into him.

There.

Now you can pretty him up.

Thanks for the shave.

But next time, use a pair of pliers.

They'll pull out easier. Say, what are

you whacking into this skirt for, honey?

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