"Don Felipe." "Don Felipe." " Raiders, cutting out the cattle." " It's the Marlows." " Where are the vaqueros?" " Driving the other herd to town." "They are rushing them toward the Trinity." "Old Felipe Robles raises nice stock." "Won't do him no good." "How is he going to pay us the money he owes us if we keep topping off his herd?" "I don't buy mortgages to get paid back." "I buy them to foreclose." "The black soil of Dallas County will make us rich." "We'll bleed that old buzzard broke, huh, Cullen?" "The way I say." "There'll be no killing here." "Things won't be like they were in Georgia." " We didn't do so bad in Georgia." " Thanks to me." "Any sniping here, I'll bust your trigger finger." "And that's for you, too, Bryant." "You're too quick on the draw." "That doesn't do my business any good." "So stay out of Dallas, understand?" "Any visiting to do, I'll do it." "You boys hightail it." "I'll take care of them." "Raiders cutting out your cattle, Mr. Robles." "I tried to stop them." "They're your men, Will Marlow." "My men?" "You aren't blaming me for all the war-bred scum in Texas?" "Isn't my fault Texas isn't back in the Union." "And there'll be lawlessness until she is." "The Marlow brothers and trouble came here together." "I'm still willing to buy your land and take my chances against the raids." "There would be no raids if you owned the Hacienda del Norte." "Luis." "Will just got through telling you not to do stuff like that." "Yeah." "Yeah." "Said to stay out of Dallas, too but I don't aim to." "Brave, strong just like lizards in dark corners." "But your day of looting is almost done." "A marshal of the United States is on his way." "Be into Springfield, Missouri in about 10 minutes." "Folks traveling west or south change coaches." "Yankee marshal?" "United States Marshal." "United States?" " All who thinks we're united, say, "Aye."" " Aye." "I'm inviting a lady carpetbag to set betwixt her own breed." "With pleasure." "Cold as a witch's broomstick." "L..." "I'm..." "I'm Butterfield, Saint Louis." "Dry goods, ladies' hose, and notions." "I'm Martin Weatherby, Boston." " Stopping in Springfield?" " Momentarily." " I have business with a William Hickok." " Wild Bill?" " Greatest marshal ever lived." " Yeah, I hear Bill's retiring." " Ain't got no competition left." " You say." "I saw he's scared he'll meet up with Reb Hollister." " That desperado?" " Desperado, you say?" "Patriot, say I." "Maybe Lee surrendered, but not old Georgia Reb." "No, sir." "He's a one-man war, still marching on." "Stage for the West leaves in 30 minutes." "Them that want vittles better hurry." "Great day in the morning." "It is pleasant." "There he is, boy." "The pride of Vicksburg." "The terror of Kansas." "That's Blayde Hollister." "You mean to say that a common outlaw can walk the streets like that?" " Is there no law enforcement here?" " There's the law, Wild Bill Hickok." " Hickok, I have a letter to present to you..." " Duck." "Spoiled the party for you boys." "I guess that settles who's running this town." "I'll take that." "Mister, bring his horse." " Nice shooting, marshal." " Yes, sir." "Shot him dead." "Well, if he ain't, we'll put the hemp to him." "Here." "Take your carrion out of town." " Well, go on." "Don't stand there gawking." " Just a minute." " I had nothing to do with this." " Get going." " We heard you give that rebel yell." " You're quite mistaken." " I have a letter of introduction..." " Boys, you wanted a hanging party here's a warm one for you." " Good riddance." " Just maybe the town will settle down now." "Ruined my Sunday go-to-meeting hat." "Keep going, blue-belly, or I'll fry you for breakfast." "This may not be my official district but you've fallen into the hands of a United States Marshal." "You like your bacon lean or fat?" "As soon as I've eaten, I intend to take you back to Springfield, to the authorities." " What's the matter?" " Like Hickok said:" "Duck." "Thieving varmint." "That a way to return a favor?" "Stealing my hat?" "You dang blasted showoff, you cost me my best six-shooter." "Now, hold on, Reb." "I wouldn't stoop to such dirty doings, carting off your relics advertising I shot them off Reb Hollister." "Now, where's my hat?" "Well, I tell you, Bill, there's a little boy I know who'd be mighty proud to have Wild Bill Hickok's hat." "Well, now." "That's a real nice thought, Reb." " Want me to autograph it for the kid?" " Your initials are in it." "That's good enough." " Have some vittles." " No." "I gotta be getting back to town." " The fight look convincing?" " Whole town ate it up." " You're dead as a doornail." " You sure untied my hands, Bill." "It'll make life a lot easier for me, Reb Hollister being dead." " Aren't you going to arrest him?" " Oh, forgot about you." "I'm sorry I had to tin-can you, mister." "I had to move Reb out of town before those yahoos found out we was just play-acting." "Besides, I was afraid that getup you're wearing might start more shooting." " Preposterous." " It sure is." "I'm speaking of your dereliction of duty." "I'm informed..." "You're informed?" "And who or what might you be?" " My name is Weatherby, Boston." " He's a United States Marshal." " It ain't possible." " On the contrary, I have a..." " Hit something." " Wh...?" "What for?" "Well, Bill's a man that needs convincing." "Marshal, I'm glad I met you while you were still with us." "You're gonna be the shortest-lived marshal on record." "As I tried to explain this afternoon, I have a letter from the Attorney General." "You're to accompany me to Dallas County, in Texas." "Brigands are terrorizing the district." " Brothers." " What's their name?" "Is it the Marlow brothers?" "Well, yes." "Yes, that's it." "Evidently, a poetic family." "There's a Bryant Marlow, a William Marlow, and a Longfellow." " Cullen?" " Yes, that's it." "You know them?" "I've never seen them." "These are orders, Hickok." "Your patriotic duty demands..." "Sonny, there are duty scars all over my hide." "From now on, folks are gonna buy tickets just to look at them on the stage of a theater." "You mean you're going to be an actor?" "Why not?" "You're what marshaling has petered down to." "Folks will be glad to pay to see the genuine, hairy specimen." "Happy hunting, marshal." "The law is in your purty hand." "Marshal, this..." "This outlaw." "If you don't arrest him, I shall." "Outlaw?" "Let me tell you something, son." "This ain't Boston." "We had a war down here." "You'll find men in high office who are thieves, cutthroats." "You'll find others who are branded outlaws that are only fighting for what's their own." "There's those known as bad men and those as are bad men." "You better learn to tell the difference." " Hey, where are you going?" " With you." "What, to Dallas?" "Well, Hickok's out of circulation, ain't he?" "You mean that you'd take Mr. Hickok's place?" " Why not?" " Why, I don't know you, Mr. Hollister." "You're branded as an outlaw, a Southern guerrilla." "Though I can see merit in what Mr. Hickok says." "Heaven knows you're more capable than I, but..." " Oh, to make you my deputy." " You still haven't got the hang of it." "I beg your pardon?" "I'm not gonna be your deputy." "You're gonna be mine." "You're not known in Dallas." "Neither am I. So I'll be Marshal Weatherby." "Nothing new in that idea." "A regular custom up north, I understand." "Hiring other people to do your fighting for you." "I was at Chickamauga, Mr. Hollister." "My brother was at Gettysburg." "Well, you're something brand-new in carpetbaggers." "Well, anyway, you can forget about the Marlows." "One of them, anyway." "You just swear me in, and I'll kill off Bryant for you all in the name of the United States government." "There's to be no bloodshed." "I merely want them apprehended." " Apprehended?" "Bryant Marlow?" " Yes." "You remember that little boy I was telling Wild Bill about?" "You're him, bub." "Boston bean." "I look like a Yankee cod, but I hope I don't smell like one." "Might be an improvement over a Johnny Reb." "Take it easy, blue-belly." "You're lucky I stomached you this far." "But that's the way it's got to be." "You're me, but I'm not you." "And..." "And when you're talking to me, you're talking to yourself." "When I'm speaking to you it's not me I'm speaking to, it's..." "It's you." "Well, anyhow, you get the idea." "Anyway, I hope I can pass for a railroading Weatherby." "You look that part more than I look like Bill Hickok's downfall." "Only a Yankee tailor would outfit a feller this way to ride across Texas." "I may as well tell you, I got into this only to impress my fiancée." "Well, you can write back to Boston and tell her all about it." " She lives here." " Why?" "She only came to Boston to visit me." "Her name is Antonia Robles." "She's very lovely." " You ain't all Boston." " What do you mean by that?" "Codfish ain't known for warm blood." "I haven't met her family yet." "They're in cattle." "It seems they're involved in a land war, so to speak harassed by those Marlow ruffians." "Keep your hand off that gun." "We're looking for the Robles' place." " Robles?" " Where is it?" "I'm the new marshal." "You are there." "Follow me, senores." "Don Felipe." " This isn't the reception I'd expected." " You are strangers." "I hope Tonia's more pleased to see me than her father." " Now, wait a minute..." " Antonia?" "Then you..." "You are Martin?" "Do forgive me." "You would be welcome under any circumstances." "But coming as you do, the marshal of the United States." "Antonia has told us so much." "I beg your forgiveness, and welcome to Hacienda del Norte." "Let me present my son, Luis." "Luis." "I apologize for my son." "It was nortenos, men from the North, that crippled him." "Oh, I understand how he feels about nortenos, as you call them." "We call them carpetbaggers." "Oh, I forgot." "Don Felipe, my brother, Daniel Weatherby." " Daniel?" " From the lion's den." "Father was a great Bible student." " How do you do?" " Antonia made no mention of your brother." "Well, I didn't tell her about him, black sheep of the family." "Father kept him hidden." " Martin." " Tonia." "Tonia." " Tonia, dear Tonia." " Martin." "No, no, no." "Leave them alone un momento together." "You are Tonia, aren't you?" " Who are you?" " Well, I'm not Martin." "I know that." "But on the other hand, I am Martin." "Martin's my brother." "Hey, Daniel." "Come in here." "Oh, Tonia, darling." "Martin, why have you brought this crazy one with you?" "Oh, Senorita Robles, Mr. Hollister." "You overdid that, Reb." "You didn't have to be so convincing." "I had to hush her up." " Martin, answer me." "Why is he here?" " To ensure success against the Marlows." "He's my deputy." "Or rather, I seem to be his." "Whatever he is, he needs a tight rein." "He needs a drink." "It's hard to explain, but it's important that he be known here as Martin Weatherby." "No one except you must know who he is." "He has enemies." "This I can understand." "For your information, I'll soon have fewer." "My interest in these parts is the Marlow brothers." "My family must be told who you are." "They can be trusted." "That gringo-loving brother of yours?" "Don't mislead yourself, young lady." "No gringo could be his friend." "Tonia, you must trust him." "He's come here to help us." "It won't be too long a hardship, senorita." "I promise." "I never expected a deputy fiancé." "Martin was right." "You are very lovely." "And so is the Hacienda del Norte." "Good green land fit for cotton." "Got a nice, easy roll to it like..." "Like your home?" "I have no home." "You are Martin's friend." "This is your home." "Well, let's apprehend them." "Never launch an attack, Yankee, until you know the tactical situation." "You learn that at Vicksburg, rebel?" "Foreigner." "I'll make it simple so you can understand." "The best place to reconnoiter is where the barleycorn flows." "I'm raring." "I can lick any man in the place." " Howdy." "What's your undoing, gents?" " Straight Kentucky." "I never drink before 5." "Set that glass right-side up." " Why?" " Like I told you, turn it over." "By Godfrey, another one wanting to lick every man in town." " I said nothing of the sort." " You turned your glass upside down." " Let me cool this one." " Wait, Dan." "Don't draw." "That hat my brother's wearing, he shot it off of Bill Hickok." "Yes, sir." "There's Wild Bill's initials right in the sweatband." "Dirty Dan here, he sure cut the map of Kansas through the old buffalo's hair." " Sure enough?" "That don't give him no call to be so overbearing." "Bear with him, boys." "A thing like that goes to a young fellow's head." "Set them up, bartender." "The drinks are on me." " My name's Weatherby." " Weatherby?" "You're the new marshal." "Say, been expecting you." "New marshal's here." "New marshal's here." "New marshal's here." "Hey, folks." "New marshal's here." "What'd you say your name was, marshal?" "Weatherby." "Why?" "Seems to me I've seen you before." "You haven't." "Coulter's my name, Bar W Ranch." "Welcome, marshal." "Welcome." "I'm Judge Harper of the federal district." "You haul in the culprits, marshal." "He'll jail them." "When the evidence warrants it, Mr. Walters." "Evidence?" "Why, everybody knows the Marlow boys are back of all this plundering." "Nobody's seen them breaking the law." "Particular, aren't you?" "Dallas will be run by federal law, not by mob rule." "We're not wild Westerners." "We're facing east, and that's our future." "We intend to build industries here and culture." "Dallas will raise people, not cows." "If your carpetbag riffraff doesn't choke her to death in her cradle." "This seems a matter for community action." "Back home, when faced with any problem we had a town meeting." "I suggest we call one." "Where's your town hall?" " Yes, every town should have a town hall." " We ain't got around to building one yet." "Well, I'll speak to Will Marlow about it." "Your judge here seems to think he's a model citizen." "If you're gonna fool around over there, you better take Dirty here with you." "Yeah." "He ought to be marshal." "He sure ought to." "I told you to keep your mud tracks out of Dallas." "Now you're here, and you even dragged these pack rats in." "It gets lonesome out there in the barrancas." "Then go buy yourself a bottle." "I never worried about your not having something to keep you company." "Which one of you is Bryant Marlow?" " Who are you?" " My name's Weatherby." "Marshal." "I told you I'm not interested in buying any property right now." "You can take your deal somewheres else." "Don't bother me." "I'm Will Marlow." "Sit down, marshal." "You ain't trailing my worthless brother, are you, marshal?" "I didn't say that." "I'm in the market for some real estate." "I thought I might be accommodating the new marshal with a dwelling." "I even heard they might send Bill Hickok down here." "Bill?" "Oh, he's fired his last shot for the law." "He got drilled?" "Fought it out with a fellow named Hollister." "Hol...?" "Where is he?" "Hickok?" "He's retired." "He's on his way east to do some play-acting." "No, Hollister, Reb Hollister." "Where is he?" " Oh, he's dead." " Come on, we'd better get out of here." " You sure?" " Hickok had it all his own way." "I just happened to be there when Hollister was laid out cold." "This calls for a bottle of bonded." "We owe Wild Bill a drink." "Well, my call isn't social." "I wanna buy a building for a town hall." "I suppose you know a valid deed when you see one." "Marshal, you don't need to worry where Will Marlow and legalities are concerned." "Well, here's 500 on account." "I'll post the balance of 10,000 at the bank to be delivered by me when you produce a deed." "Ten thousand?" " Ten thousand?" " That's a big bundle." "You happen to know of a good ready-made hall?" "Yep." "Know one would make a dandy." "If I was to manipulate Bill Walters' head in front of that top O in "saloon" could you let air in it?" " Ain't nobody could make a shot like that." " Especially not from here." "Bill Walters got some horses I been wanting to trade for." "You know, I never expected to find a marshal with so much civic spirit." "Been to Georgia lately, Mr. Marlow?" "I've never been in Georgia." " You have, Bryant." " That ain't Bryant." "Meet Jason Trask, my handy boy." " Well, here's to Bill Hickok." " Here's to all good marshals." "You're doing your duty when you hunt the likes of my brother Bryant." "You know, Mr. Weatherby here's likely to be the ruination of your job, Jason." "Honest citizens don't need a bodyguard when there's a marshal around, fit to keep the law." "Looks like one of them longhorns got Bill Walters." "Poor old Bill." "You know, I've knowed a lot worse skunks." "Odd happenstance." "Walters' place would make a fine town hall." " Yeah." " Who asked you?" " Gun's still warm." " What gu...?" "Don't cock that hammer, you crazy coot." "Why not?" "Works good this way." "What's your name?" "It's still cocked." "We're riding out." "Coming?" "Have you got no brains?" "Shooting from this office, smearing your filth on me." "Get out, you and your scum." "Take the back stairs, and don't come back." " What happened up there?" " I just spent 10,000 of your money." "Cullen, get that dude!" "Keep a keen eye, Dirty." "You did this to Cullen." "You're tempting me, Bryant, every second you're in my sight." "Come out of there, all of you, with your fingers in your ears!" "Wired trigger." "Bryant Marlow's gun." "I should've known that." "My own brother Bryant he's been a cloud on me everywhere I tried to go." "Looks like an honest man hasn't got a chance." "I tried to hold him for you, marshal but he led Cullen wrong and got him killed." "You done right marshal." "You only followed duty." "I'll help Dallas to set the noose around him." "I'll give a reward for his capture." "I'll pay my tithes to set this county free." " Marshal." " Quiet." "Don't let them know I'm shot." "Get the horses." "Gotta get out of town without advertising it." "Should've taken you straight to a doctor." "That's how you lost Bull Run, Yankee:" "Letting the enemy know your casualty." "He's right." "It's best the Marlows detect no weaknesses." "Don't worry." "We are good doctors here." "We had to be." "What a brave one." "The valiente who was to remove the Marlows." "You had your chance at Will." "Why didn't you shoot first and ask questions afterwards?" " Or is it that you're afraid?" " Luis." " Go from this room." " Let the little scorpion stay." "He's right." "I was afraid." "Afraid I'd die and leave Bryant Marlow alive." "I can't die, not until he's dead." "I'd give much to be able to believe you." " My brother wasn't always like that." " He has a nasty bite." "Don't blame him." "You'd be bitter, too, if you were in his place." "Amelia, the iron." "Martin." "Let's face it, Tonia Boston was one place but this is another." " Are you sorry you came?" " No, I didn't say that." "But every day I realize more that I've walked into a world of which I know nothing." " Could go back to your world, Martin." " And admit I'm licked?" "How long would I keep your love then?" "I came here to take care of you and I'll do it." "Martin." "That's for trying." "But learning to shoot like Mr. Hickok won't help if you get sunstroke." "Here." "Duck!" "Here comes Will." "Welcome, brother." "You can take over now." "I've had me a bellyful of this coyote music and I ain't just a bird cooing." "You'll stay here and like it." "That marshal's after you so you pull a murder for an introduction." "Harper says your gun's evidence enough to hang you." "And I had to do plenty fast-talking to keep myself out of your mess." "You and your talking." "If you'd done it my way, we'd be living in the Robles' hacienda by now." "Hacienda, he says." "So I wind up living in a dirt-floor parlor." " It's not your first one." " Shut his mouth for him, Bryant." "Tell him what you said." "Tell him who's gonna be boss." "Boss?" "So that's it." "Do you want me to take a trip?" "What for?" "I might drop by some Army post." "Military always been interested what happened to the Hollisters over in Georgia." "You was guiltier than I was." " You're the one..." " To cover you, you trigger-crazy..." "You leave evidence, Bryant." "I don't." "That's why I could give evidence against you." "But you're the only one that could." "She can now." "Can you handle her?" "You'd better mind, Will." "We don't want no Cains or Abels on our souls." " No Lot's wife either." " Take it easy." " Nobody has to get hurt." " Except that marshal." "And I'll take care of him." "Last time you tried to take care of things, you lost a gun." "Leave him to me." "I still got him on the hook for $ 10,000." "Town hall, remember?" "If you know what's good for you, you just keep putting the spurs to old Robles." "Martin who is he?" "He's a wanted criminal." "Is that such a blow to you, Tonia?" "He's our friend." "I had to know the truth." "I coded a message to the Attorney General." "The government says he's carried on guerrilla action but I've got his record." "I know who his victims were:" "Carpetbaggers, men like Will Marlow." "I should arrest him, but how can I when I know that if the South had won and men had dug their hobnails into us I'd have been an outcast too." "I wish now I'd never laid eyes on him." "Why do you say that?" "I'm a fool." "I'm trying to arrange a pardon for him." " Lf I succeed..." " Have you told him?" "Oh, no." "Nor can you." "Hopes can be brutal, Tonia if they don't materialize." "How's things in Dallas?" "I saw Senora Walters." "She will do as you say." "And Bryant Marlow?" "Like you, he stays out of sight." "Thanks for the loan of your horse." " Where are you going?" " Hunting." " You're not well enough to ride." " I'm fine." "You can't arrest Bryant Marlow alone, not with that pack he has around him." "Arresting's your idea." "Well, I lose my bet." " What bet?" " With myself." " Once you started serving your country..." " I have no country." " And you call me "foreigner."" " You and all blue-belly." "We washed your gray and hung it out to dry." "Not mine, Yankee." "If you wanna try, just send for that Gettysburg brother of yours." "He's still at Gettysburg." "Well, I guess I'm wearing a good name." "Had one of my own once." "Small pumpkins maybe, compared to the railroading Weatherbys, but it set well." "It meant "cotton."" "I been talking in my sleep." "Soil around here would grow better cotton than ever came out of Georgia." " You ought to put a bug in Felipe's ear." " I've got a bug in my own." "I want to get a railroad headed this way." "This is a big country, Reb." "You said so yourself." "Cotton, railroads." "Weatherby, Hollister." "Dreams, fried up, short order." "Must they be dreams?" "You know what "Texas" means?" "It's an Indian word for "friend."" "It's a big land with room for everyone." "You could be a part of it, in time." "Time?" "That's for you two love-doves." "The space of a lifetime to be together." "I've got no time." "For me, time's running out." " What's up?" " Senor, she says..." "I wanna talk to Marshal Weatherby." " Well, who are you?" " Mrs. Walters, Mrs. Bill Walters." "I'm the marshal." "What's wrong?" "That Bryant Marlow, bullying and threatening for his brother Will." "He's bringing a bill of sale out tonight, made for me to sign away Bill's leavings." " Where?" " At my house, right outside of Dallas." " Well, I'll go with you." " Bless you." " Who was it?" " Senora Walters." "Senora Walters?" "Impossible." "I just left her in Dallas." " Then who...?" " I don't know." "Carlos. ...call the vaqueros." "Find the marshal and tell him the woman lied." "Alberto!" "Manuel!" "Higher." "Higher." "Nice work, Flo." "Get down off that horse." "Just raring to ride, huh?" "Yeah, too much "giddap" and not enough "whoa."" "I knew you weren't Mrs. Walters." "Figured I'd gamble on a lead." "Remember how you poured it into Cullen?" "You're rushing me, but I'll try." "Just take your time." "I never did like to eat my striped candy too quick." "Scared?" "Bumps like an alligator." "You shoot, and you will draw them in here." "Let them chase an empty saddle." "Slippery as a greased hog, ain't you?" "But it ain't gonna gain you nothing." "Pop that gun off, it'll cost you $ 10,000." " What are you talking about?" " The town hall." "I posted my cashier's check with the bank." "Will gets it when he comes in with the deed, if I sign the release." "Don't you bite on that." "No Marshal Weatherby, no 10,000." "And Will will just skin you alive." " Lf you don't plug him, I will." " Let him have it, lummox." "Oh, shut up." "I'm trying to think what..." "What Will would do if he was doing the thinking." "It's a good gamble, Bryant." "My life against a wad of money." "I'll just ride out of here nice and easy while you're thinking." "Will will call down fire and brimstone on you." "What would Will do?" "Well, what am I worrying about Will for?" "It's me he's got the evidence on." "I'm worth more than $ 10,000 to me!" "You'd get your pockets picked in a graveyard." "Sap-sucking yahoo." "He won't get far in this brush on my horse." "Reno." "Reno, boy." "Reno." "Gerry, you and Bill circle this thicket here." "Rest of you, fan out but don't let him get away." "Reno, boy." "Reno." "Reno." "Hey, fellas, Reno throwed him!" "He's afoot!" "Come on, root him out!" "Hey." "Hey!" "Help!" "Get over here!" "Think you're smart, don't you?" "Hey, you fellas, get over here!" "Hey!" "Hey, you fellas, get in here." "Come on, cut me down." " What happened?" " Never mind what happened." "Cut me down." "Here he comes." "Where's Will Marlow now?" "Matt Coulter's inside doing the honors." "You gotta make Will believe you're on his side, remember." "Downright perjury." "In case..." "Don't ask me to bear witness against myself." "A job like that takes a big-caliber man, Mr. Marlow." "Just call me Will." "Evening, Matt." "Evening, Mr. Marlow." " Evening, judge." " Oh, just call him Will." "I was telling Mr. Marlow about our idea." "We got to have a go-getter for mayor." "Oh, indubitably." "In a city such as ours, we'll need lights pavements indoor water closets." "Oh, good evening, marshal." "Pour yourself some spirits." " Good evening, marshal." " We've been feeling Mr. Marlow out on running for mayor." " Marshal won't think I'm a go-getter." "I been working on that deed for you, but Mrs. Walters here..." "Didn't she tell you?" "I bought the deed from her." " Evening, Mrs. Walters." " Good evening, marshal." "I'm afraid Mr. Marlow won't be available to run for mayor." " Why not?" " I aim to have him behind bars." "That's a mighty poor joke." "I wouldn't advise making irresponsible statements, marshal." "He's in cahoots with his brother." "One's guilty, so is the other." "Somebody's lying." "Anybody says I was ever tied up with Bryant, I'll sue for libel." "Bryant just got through ambushing me." "It ain't possible." "He wouldn't dare to go against..." "He had a.44 halfway down my gullet." " You drilled him." " He shot the guns right off me." "I had to talk my way out." "He let you...?" "Praise heaven he saw the light." "No man wants his brother to have a killing on his soul." "Interesting thing is how I talked my way out." "He didn't know I'd bought the Chuckaway any more than you." "He thought if he killed me, it'd cost you money." "Figured it better to let me walk out than to have you on his neck." "Mr. Marlow, this is hard to believe that a citizen like you..." " It's Bryant, that renegade." "He's always been against me." "Hates my law-abiding principle." "He's trying to put the blight on me." "Will's right." "Bryant pulled one on you, marshal." "Will's in the clear." "Why, you were there." "He promised to post a reward for Bryant's capture." "I'd hate to hang by my toes till you do." "Well, you know, a man hates to put the dead mark on his brother." "You hear that?" "He's making it dead or alive." "Now, any man that's big enough for that is big enough for mayor." " Yeah!" " Yeah, he's right!" "You're right, Matt." "You're going to eat crow, marshal." "I'm authorizing you to announce my reward:" "Two thousand dollars for Bryant Marlow." " Dead or alive." " I guess I ought to be man enough to say I'm wrong, Mr. Marlow." "Thank you, marshal." "Thank you, gentlemen, one and all." "Good night, Matt." "He's gonna make a good mayor." "I wish it was Saturday night so I could take a bath." "Hey, Bryant." " What?" " Here's Reno." "Reno, boy." " What's this?" " What?" "Two thousand dollars?" "Oh, no." "Will wouldn't do that." "Oh, no. "Brother Willy wouldn't do that."" "Thought it out pretty, didn't he?" "Marshal will bust his buttons trying to get you and you'll curl them, and the town will posse up and no matter which way you turn they'll be pouring led at you until they get that reward." "And brother Willy will be in the clear, and have everything going his way." "Pete." "Pete." "Marshal." "Bryant, marshal." "He's down behind that little rock by the cut." "Get behind the brush and when I shoot, let him have it." "Now, hold it." "That marshal knows where the hideout is now and he'll be coming back with a posse." "You fellas stay covered up inside them rocks and you can pick them all off as they come." "Oh, Reb." "Reb." "You've come back." "You're safe." " Where's Martin?" " In town." "He and Luis were out all night with Father and the vaqueros." " They're still searching for you." " They shouldn't have left you here alone." "I'm going to Dallas." "I've got to find Martin." "He'll come back here." "L..." "I can't wait." "Tonight I'll finish up my business in Texas." "I won't be back, Tonia." "Won't be back?" "I told you, I wouldn't be here long." "Yes, I remember." "It's what you wanted." "That was three weeks ago." "Nothing's changed." "Everything's changed, Reb." "I can't let you go." "You're engaged to Martin." "He's the one you're due to marry." "What about him?" " What about you?" " Forget about me." "I'm a wanted criminal." "Yes, I know that." "Martin told you?" "Why?" "Was he afraid I'd forget?" "You haven't answered my question." "What about you?" "I've answered it." "Forget me." " You don't mean that." " I do mean it." "I have to mean it." "A long time ago, it might have been different." "You wouldn't have been engaged to Martin." "I wouldn't have to be hiding behind his shirttails." "I'd have had a name, a home." "You have this home." "I told you that when you first came." "Martin, he's safe." "I heard in Dallas." "Congratulations, Reb." "Did you see Will Marlow?" "And Trask." "Every time he tries to ride out to Bryant, Coulter corners him for a drink." " Popularity is beginning to go to his head." " Matt Coulter?" "Friendly with the Marlows?" "It's a scheme of Reb's." "Where are you going?" "He's going to Dallas." "I'm going with him." "You're staying here, where you belong." "Didn't expect to find you here." "Thought you'd be waiting in Dallas for Bryant." "Bryant will think that too." "Or else he'll expect me to organize a posse to come after him." "By night, his nerves will get the best of him and he'll come in to see what I am doing." "You stay here too." "I don't want you underfoot." "Reb, what are you going to do about her?" "I came here gunning for Bryant." "When that's done, I'll move on." "You don't have to move on." "I do have to, you know that." "You even told her." "You're willing enough to keep it quiet everywhere else." "What if you weren't a wanted man free to go or stay?" "What would you do then?" "I'd sink my roots in Dallas and take her away from you." "Any way I could." "Glad you said that." "Makes it all right for me to play that way too." "You'd be a fool if you didn't." " Where's Reb?" " He's gone." " He wants you to stay here with me." " I heard him." "But you still want to go with him?" "You wouldn't want me to pretend." "No, I wouldn't want that, but I don't want you to go either." " I must..." " Tonia, he has it the way he wants it." "What do you mean?" "Remember what I said about the brutality of hope?" "There's to be no pardon." "He's still a wanted man." "Maybe I'm not as smart as I figured." "Maybe Bryant's not coming in." "Will's not gone to him." "I've been thinking." "We ain't the kind to get quite so popular..." "Any fool could see the marshal had rigged me." "Now the town's standing against my getting word to Bryant." "Any moment he'll come roaring in and..." "Haven't they got homes to go to?" "A month ago, there wouldn't have been one of them there." "Now you ain't asked them and they're all here expecting that maybe you'll want to send a posse after Bryant." "If they rode out there, half of them would never ride back." "They know that." "They're still willing." "You gave us more than a town hall, marshal." "You gave us the grit to get our town back." "We're willing to fight for it again." "Worth fighting for." "There's a lot of the history of Dallas standing over there." "One fella settled at Trinity Forks when old Johnny Brian was still chinking at his log house." "New settlers from the East and South." "They're all just Dallas now." "I guess that old Scotsman knew what he was writing about when he said:" ""Breathes there a man with soul so dead..."" "I know the rest." "Glad you do, marshal." "We'd be pleased if you'd make this your native land too." "You're not talking about me." "You're talking about a tin badge and the Weatherby checkbook." "Besides, I'm sitting on a short fuse." "Hear you all got cotton dirt around here." "Pick your half-section, settler." "Come far?" "Through corn lands and cow lands and land oozing filthy grease that dang-near ruined my wagon." "Keep that wagon out of there." "Great Caesar's ghost." "Betty, drive these down a bit." "L..." "I don't wanna roust you around, but this smells like gunfighting weather." "Roust all you like, colonel, and if you want a good gun hand again..." "What are you talking about?" "Don't you remember me, sir?" "Hillis from Macon." "I rode with your Georgia regiment." "Sergeant in Troop C." "I never been in Georgia." "If that ain't Colonel Reb, this ain't Texas." "What did you say?" "I could swear that's my old colonel..." "The name, man, the name." "You said Reb?" "I sure did." "Colonel Hollister, sir." "Fifth Georgia Cavalry." "That settler seemed to know you." "Don't go probing, judge." "That short fuse is about to blow me out of town." "How did Will Marlow get away?" "Will?" "He's in his office." "He just passed me riding south like the hounds of Hades was on his tail." "South?" "Then he's not going to Bryant." "You see a man come out of that building?" "I don't know where he come from, but he lit out like he was turpentine when I said you was Colonel Hollister." "You and your big mouth." "You were the turpentine." " I didn't mean..." " Anyway, you've done one thing:" "You've proved they were all in it in Georgia." "Dogs that ain't kill sheep, don't run." "We're gonna catch Will before he sets a long trail." " I'll be back for Bryant." " Good luck, Reb." "You fellas stay out of this." "Get inside." "You ain't gonna talk your way out of it this time, marshal." "You won't either, Bryant." "You can't fool me." "There ain't only one man in the whole world can shoot like that." "Reb Hollister." "Hollister get my brother, Will." "He set the fire in Georgia." "Drag out the sour mash." "We're drinking to old Reb." "Good idea!" " Warrant?" " Yes, it was his warrant." "Reb Hollister." "This is impossible." "How could he have come here as...?" "Did you know this?" "Sure I knew." "That's why I put my chips on Dallas." "But, judge, how can you be so vindictive?" "Yesterday he was your hero, and today he's an outlaw." "And he's still the same man, a man who's helped all of us." "It's not a matter of being vindictive." "It's a matter of the law." "Only facts have any bearing." "Facts?" "What if they burned your family home to the ground so what they done wouldn't show in the ashes?" "Reb's father and sister are still missing." "Would you think the war was over, judge just because some fellas signed some papers over in Virginia?" "I wouldn't." "Not while the guilty ones was still alive." "Reb thought Bryant done it alone, but he learned different." "The one who put the torch to the Hollisters' was Will." "But he had no right to take the law into his own hands." "Rights?" "He's been drawn and quartered by legal rights." "We've all been." "I respect the man as much as any of you, but I respect the law more." "Weatherby, you've perpetrated a fraud in allowing this criminal to assume your place." "It must be reported to the Attorney General." " Reb's no criminal." " No criminal?" "Here's direct evidence." "This is of later origin." "It came yesterday." "Pardon?" "On what grounds?" "Service as a United States Marshal." "Have you forgotten he killed Cullen, stopped the cattle raids and now killed Bryant?" "You had this and didn't tell him?" "I hoped that Bryant would win the fight." "You can blame me that he's gone again thinking himself a criminal." "Sure appreciate your interest in this, Mr..." " Mr..." " Abernathy." "Be a feather in my cap picking up a desperado like Reb Hollister." "Here he comes." " That's him." " Sure?" "Don't start arguing." "Go on, sheriff, jail him." "Keep him there until they get a rope around his neck." "Hello, high pockets." "How's the...?" "Been a long time since we picked up anybody who packed a shooting iron in their boot." "Better put them on." "Them floors get cold." "Never mind my health." "Look up that fella that gave you the word." "His name's not Abernathy." "It's Will Marlow." "He'll be heading back for Dallas." "Take it easy, fella." "Judge Tomkins will see you Monday morning." "Tell your tale of woe to him." " Monday morning?" " Monday morning." "Well, that's four..." "I can't..." "Make yourself comfortable, boy." "You ain't gonna do nothing on that chair nohow." "Miguel." "Miguel." "Wait." "You stay here." "Who are you?" "They're my boys, Felipe." "Luis." "Take the men and get back to your spots." "Close the doors and the shutters." " Vultures." " Get your cutthroats out." "Yelp all you like." "I've been cursed by deadbeats before." "You've got no right living like grandees with my note coming due." " Note's not due yet." " It is if I say so." "I'm closing my accounts here." "I'm taking my rightful money with me now." "You've stolen our cattle." "We haven't enough left to raise the money." "Get it." "Tonight?" "Where?" "Weatherby." "He'll give you the 25,000." " You get nothing!" " Would you...?" "But you don't tell Weatherby why you want it." "You do and you'll get your pups back in gunnysacks." "But what can I say?" "You didn't find any trouble thinking up reasons when you wanted to borrow money." "If I were you, I'd be in a hurry." "I'll pay you." "But if you harm them, you'll pay me." " Remember that." " You remember it." "Tell the whole town about what..." "You fool!" "Are you crazy?" "Quiet!" "Help!" "Help!" "Help!" "Help!" "Help!" "Hey, open this door." "Open this door." "Fire breaks out." "We'll get you out of the building." "Halt." "On your horses!" "Hurry up!" "All right, men." "Burt, Curly, pick up that wagon." "Rest of you boys follow me." "But, Mr. Robles, there isn't $25,000 cash in the whole town." " There must be." " But why do you want it?" "Don't ask me." "Don't ask me anything." "And say nothing to those you talk to." "It means more than my life, Martin." "You wait here." " Got it?" " From merchants, the banker even Mrs. Walters." "It's all here." " You told them nothing?" " No, nothing." " You've got to tell me what it's for." " I can't tell you." " Then I'll go with you." " No, no, you mustn't." "Does Will Marlow have anything to do with this?" " Has he returned to Dallas?" " No." "Don Felipe, is Tonia all right?" "I hope so, my boy." ""Hope so"?" "Oh, Mr. Robles." "Keep your eyes peeled for old Robles." "If he's not alone, tell the men to start shooting." " Where's Will Marlow?" " Thought you were following him." "He outfoxed me." "Got me jugged over in Fort Worth." "Means he'll double back here." "He has doubled back." "That's why Felipe wanted the money." "What money?" "Well, he was here." "He made me get him $25,000." "He wouldn't say why." " But he said it wasn't Marlow." " What have you got under that hat?" "Why would anybody keep silent?" "Because he's got a gun in his back." " Yes, but Marlow wasn't..." "No." " Marlow wasn't with Felipe?" "Must mean he's got Tonia and Luis, holding them as hostages." " New gun, huh?" " Yeah." "I'll go get a posse together." "You stay put." "I got a ready-made one coming." " How long ago Felipe leave here?" " Too long." "You can't overtake him." "I can try." "Bring them along." "Well, your pa will be back in a minute or two." "Be a comfort to you." "Three of you, tied up together." "You're making a noose for your neck." "This house will tell its secrets." "Ashes don't tell secrets." "Hollister learned that in Georgia." "Robles is coming!" "Robles is coming." "Robles is coming." "He's alone." " It's all right." "He's alone." " Bring him inside." "It's Hollister!" "Here comes Weatherby and a posse!" "Open up, Will." "Use up your powder, Will, then I'll kill you." "What will you do when your bullets are gone, Marlow?" "You got one left." "Didn't figure you for two guns." "That leaves five." "Fool, wasn't I, Will?" "I should've killed you weeks ago." "But you were smart." "You covered your Georgia trail." "All I had was Bryant's scent." "That's three left, Will." "And then I'll kill you." "Barehand." "Like I dreamed of killing Bry..." "And all the time it was you that lit the flame." "Keep away from the window, Will." "You make too good a target." "Did you really think the ashes would cover for you, Will?" "That's your last bullet." "Where's Tonia and Luis?" "I didn't hurt them." "They're upstairs." "I didn't hurt..." "Get up on your feet." "Let me go." "You won't regret it." "I'll leave Dallas." "I'll never come back." "Oh, no." "Oh, no, Will." "Never." "You like to see them burn, remember?" "Now it's your turn." "Your neck, Will." "Rope burn, with the whole town looking on." "Burn legal, Will." "The way you like it." "Here's a couple more for you, sheriff." "Why, Mr. Abernathy, you've got him again." "You'll like him, sheriff." "Here." " Antonia, Luis." "Where are they?" " Upstairs." "Will Marlow." "He's the wanted one." "Antonia." "Luis." "Antonia." "Tonia." "Reb." "Oh, Reb." "Oh, Reb." "Well you won my bet for me." " What?" "Tin-badge bet, remember?" "You couldn't finish Marlow off, could you?" "You had your chance, but you couldn't do it." "That oath you took as marshal crowded you too much." "Here." "Free man." "Sink your roots in Dallas." "Grow your cotton." "Raise your kids." "Martin..." " I hope..." " You don't have to say it." "I know what your hopes are." "Where are you going?" "Well, somebody's got to tote that cotton." "I got me a railroad to build." "That Yankee foreigner's talking American." "So are you." "{{{ the end }}}"