"I could have taken that letter when I wanted it, even while you held the gun on me." "Put the gun away, counselor." "What good is proof to a dead lawyer?" "Morning, Hey Boy." "Good morning, Mr. Paladin." "Oh, thank you, Hey Boy." "Hey, you still win?" "I still win." "Pass the cigars around." "Well, I figure they're costing me a hundred apiece, Paladin." "I'll raise you $50." "I'll see that $50 and raise you a hundred." "And another hundred to you." "Now that about cleans me, Paladin, but temporarily." "Only temporarily." "Call." "They're all red." "A full house." "Thank you, gentlemen." "Thank you very much." "Well, I guess that's all for us." "Good night." "One hand to showdown for a thousand dollars, Paladin." "Well, Mr. Bernard, you don't have any more money." "That's a bill of sale for a box the hotel is keeping for me down in the cellar." "50 rifles and a thousand rounds of ammunition." "What do you say?" "You're covered." "The two of hearts, a king, a six of clubs and a pair of kings." "A four of hearts, an ace, a three of spades, and here's three kings." "Deal 'em." "A five of diamonds and a seven of... a five of diamonds." "Mr. Bernard, that does look like a small straight, doesn't it?" "Oh, that Bernard." "50 rifles... 50 antiques, circa 1812." "Manager say sorry," "Mr. Bernard check out early and leave no forwarding address." "Thank you, Hey Boy." ""War brewing between ranchers." ""Angle Bar ready to fight Circle-O" ""over cattle right of way," ""claiming that Pedro Valdez, owner of the Circle-O Ranch" ""has blocked his cattle path" ""leading to summer grazing lands." ""Jared Martin, owner of the Angle Bar Ranch" ""in the Sierra Valley said today that Valdez's actions can lead only to bloodshed."" "Jared Martin..." "Sierra Valley." "Pedro Valdez." "Whoa." "Paladin?" "That's right." "Mr. Martin?" "Yes." "Ross, have the men unload these rifles." "Sparky, you heard him." "Get busy." "Now, wait a minute." "We've got a little talking to do first." "What about?" "The price of these rifles for one thing." "Why, of course." "I forgot this is just a business transaction to you." "Name your price." "I can't do that until I'm sure how the rifles will be used." "As a matter of fact, the guns won't be used at all." "My men have plenty of rifles." "What do you want with mine, then?" "I don't." "I just want to make sure that Valdez doesn't get them." "Sparky, get a rope." "Sierra Valley has a small post office, Paladin." "There are two letters that came from the Hotel Carlton in San Francisco." "One to me and one to Valdez." "You made him the same offer, right?" "No argument." "Valdez has plenty of friends, but he only has half a dozen rifles among them." "I plan to keep it that way." "So I see." "I'd have done business with you on your terms but you started quibbling about morals." "Well, a man can have morals even in business." "Hi-ho!" "All right, come on!" "We've got to stop him!" "Hyah!" "Hyah!" "How is it, Russ?" "I should have killed him when I had a hold of him." "Don't worry." "I'll see that you get another chance." "Go get the wagon." "Take him back to the bunkhouse." "Check on Buck on the way." "And get into town and round up every one of our men." "Round up anybody else that has a gun and wants to make some money." "What are you going to do?" "Now that Valdez has those guns, we're going to have to move fast." "They won't expect us to drive through the portals for a week." "You can't." "Not until the cattle are rounded up." "No, but we can take it and hold it and that's just what we're going to do." "Tonight." "Come on." "I'll help you down." "Señor Valdez?" "Yes?" "Paladin." "Con mucho gusto." "Señor Paladin." "Did you get my wire?" "I received your answer." "I got your card, but I sent no answer, señor." "Pedro, I sent the answer." "You should not have done so." "I'm sorry to have inconvenienced you, señor, but I do not wish more trouble than we already have." "Pedro, we do not seek trouble." "It is already upon us." "Ay, pobrecito." "You heard firing from the Martin Ranch a few moments ago." "We did." "I shot two of Martin's men on that set-to, and..." "I brought these for you." "You see?" "This is how a professional does things." "I see." "What do you ask for the rifles?" "You tell me after you've used them." "You're not afraid that I will cheat you?" "If that were my greatest fear, then I would indeed be fearless." "What were you doing at the Martin Ranch, señor?" "Choosing my side." "And you choose this one?" "I'm here." "Perhaps you have not chosen too wisely, señor." "We are greatly outnumbered." "Well, with just a few men, Jackson held New Orleans." "And with fewer men, Washington took Trenton." "You speak knowingly of the art of war, señor." "I've had some training." "I'd like to look over the disputed territory." "This is no dispute." "The land belongs to us." "We bought and paid for it." "You have proof of that?" "The proof is with the man of the law in the town." "What does the lawyer say?" "He says that a paper cannot stop Martin, so we must fight." "I will provide a horse for you so you can inspect the portals." "Juan, Chico." "Open up the box and hand out the rifles." "Momentito, muchachos." "Por favor, señor, not yet." "Now you want money?" "No." "The rifles are yours at your price when you want them." "Well, then why do we have to wait?" "Only to prevent an accident." "These are extremely dangerous weapons." "Esta bien." "Mr. Paladin, I've done all I can to help the Valdez brothers, but their claim to the land has no legal validity whatsoever." "They told me that you had legal proof of their ownership of the portals and the high pasture land that leads to it." "Now, it may be proof to them, but to a court of law, never." "Is it proof to you?" "What do you mean?" "Mr. Haskins, do you think the Valdez boys own the land?" "Of course." "Pedro Valdez is a man of scrupulous honor." "Why, I'd believe him even without the letter." "You have the letter?" "Yes." "Right here." "In John Longworthy's own handwriting." "Longworthy was the original owner?" "Yes." "I had the honor of being his attorney for many years." "Unfortunately, I was in St. Louis at the time of this sale." "Longworthy died before I returned." "And?" "Pedro and Carlos worked with John on his ranch for over 20 years." "They saved their money and finally bought that northern section." "Where does Martin come into the picture?" "Well, after Longworthy died," "Martin came in and purchased the entire ranch." "The original ranch." "Wait a minute." "You mean Valdez paid his money and got nothing to show for it?" "They trusted one another." "They'd been working together for 20 years." "When they bought the land, it became theirs on Longworthy's word." "That was all the proof they needed." "So they didn't bother to file a new deed?" "Pedro Valdez is a fine man, but he's uneducated." "Such things mean little to him." "What about Longworthy?" "He must have known there'd be complications after he died." "Yes, you're right." "But which of us expects to die?" "I'd like to see that letter if I may." "The important passage is on the top of the page there where it's marked." "This letter was written by Longworthy to Pedro Valdez, is that right?" "That's correct." ""You are an old, trusted friend, Pedro," ""and it gives me great satisfaction" ""to know that now you have a fine ranch of your own." ""The northern quarter is good land" ""and I would not have parted with it to anyone but you." ""You purchased it with faithful service as well as with dollars," "John Longworthy..."" "Well, now." "What's that for?" "Kindly return the letter to the envelope and hand it to me, please." "You're not taking any chances, are you?" "It has occurred to me that you might have been hired by Martin to destroy this bit of evidence." "You said that the letter is worthless as legal proof." "Still, it's all we have, and under certain circumstances, it might be made legally valid." "What circumstances?" "Well, Martin would have to acknowledge in writing that he accepts the letter as legal proof of Valdez's claim." "Has Martin been approached on that basis?" "He has." "That's how Carlos Valdez got his broken arm." "Mr. Haskins, how long do you think we have to settle this?" "Well, Martin's cattle will be rounded up within a week and he'll try to drive them through the portal." "And Valdez will defend it." "There will be a lot of bloodshed and a lot of innocent lives lost unless you can prevent it." "Thanks for your time, Mr. Haskins." "Oh, sorry." "Watch where you're going, you clumsy ox." "Well, maybe I didn't hear you right." "You heard me." "You're a clumsy ox..." "Sorry." "I guess you didn't hear me right." "After you." "Say, the way you handle that gun, you ought to be coming with me." "Where?" "The Martin Ranch." "They're paying five dollars for one night's work." "What's the job?" "Easy." "Scare a few Mexicans out of Martin's cattle path so he can take his herd through." "You sure about this?" "Ed Sandy rode through town about an hour ago, said any man that wanted to make an easy five ought to be out there tonight." "Tonight?" "Sure." "Well, you coming?" "I'll see you there." "Mr. Haskins, I'll have to trouble you for that letter." "But..." "I can't allow that." "I don't have much time." "Martin's going to force a showdown tonight." "I still don't know you haven't been hired by Martin." "If I had, this would be a lot simpler." "What do you mean?" "I could have killed you anytime and taken that letter, even when you had the gun on me." "Put the gun down, Mr. Haskins." "The law is your business, guns are mine." "If you're so good with a gun, you'll never have a better chance to prove it." "What good is proof to a dead lawyer?" "Put it down." "Thank you, sir." "I'll return this letter to you tomorrow." "The rifles are a very good joke, Mr. Paladin." "Carlos, listen to me." "Martin is planning to attack tonight." "Not next week, tonight." "You're going to stop him with these?" "Yes, if you listen to me, we have a chance." "You are a worse enemy than Martin himself." "You trick us with false hope to steal our money." "That's not true." "You say Martin attacks tonight?" "We will be ready." "But first we must deal with you." "A traitor." "Ya esta listo." "Muy bien." "Carlos." "I challenge you to tell these men how I betrayed you." "You brought us those old rifles to use against men armed with real weapons." "Did I ask you to pay for them?" "Didn't I tell you you could give me what they were worth after you used them?" "He speaks truly, Carlos." "After we use them?" "Would we be such fools as to fire them?" "I hope not." "The odds are they'd blow up in your face." "You see, he admits it." "Pedro, those guns will stop Martin." "How?" "A show of force can win a battle before it begins." "He lies to save his skin." "He would have us face real bullets with those old relics." "Preparen!" "I came to help you." "I ask nothing of you." "Apunten!" "Am I to die because you opened a box" "I asked you not to open?" "Carlos." "Let him speak." "Esta bien, muchachos." "Descansen." "All right, speak." "Martin doesn't know those guns are antiques." "What is your plan?" "When Martin gets to the portals there should be a gun barrel sticking out from behind every rock." "He's not a fool." "He'll hesitate to attack a heavily fortified position." "It seems possible." "What do you think, Carlos?" "As I have said, he speaks knowingly of war." "It's a gamble but it's your only chance." "Try and shoot it out with Martin's men and you'll be cut to pieces." "That is the bitter truth." "Por favor." "Las manos." "Gracias, gracias." "Carlos have your men get those old rifles." "Si." "Now, Pedro, how much coal oil can you get me?" "Coal oil?" "Mm-hmm." "I wish I was riding with you." "There won't be much to it." "Valdez might have a guard or two posted." "We'll pick them off." "I'd give plenty for a shot at that Paladin." "You'll get one in good time." "Now, once we take the portals, we'll dig in and hold it until we've driven all the cattle through." "Then we'll go after Valdez and Paladin." "We'll burn 'em out." "All right, let's go!" "Esta bien, muchachos." "Now all we can do is wait." "Did you have your men pour the coal oil?" "Si, Señor." "It is the sound of many horses." "Bueno, Carlos." "Get the men with the good rifles into position." "Pronto, pronto." "Si, Señor." "Martin, tell your men to hold their fire." "You men want to stay alive, throw those guns down." "You're surrounded." "How about it, Martin?" "We're not licked yet." "We can still make a fight out of it." "A lot of men will be killed on both sides." "How many of these $5 helpers are going to stay with you?" "Carlos, tell your men to hold their fire." "All right, you win this round, but we'll be back." "You can't hold out forever." "There isn't going to be another round." "This is the finish." "I've got a lot of guns behind me and you've got a choice." "You can set off a massacre or you can settle this here, with me, alone, now." "What's on your mind, Paladin?" "Get off that horse and come over here." "I've got something I want you to sign." "This letter says that Valdez bought his ranch and that he owns the ground you're standing on." "You're going to write on it that you accept this as legal proof of his claim." "Now write!" "The rest of you men throw those guns down." "They'll be returned to you tomorrow." "Pedro, Carlos, vengan!" "Bring me one of the rifles- the special ones." "You file this with your lawyer in town tomorrow." "Our words cannot say our thanks, Señor Paladin." "Si, muchas gracias, Señor Paladin." "De nada, amigos." "Look at this, Martin." "This is what beat you." "Now, gentlemen, I have for sale, 50 of these very fine rifles." "What am I offered?" "Mr. Bernard." "Well, this is indeed a pleasure." "Now, please, Mr. Paladin." "I can explain everything." "What is there to explain?" "I must thank you for those guns." "T-The... the guns?" "Yes." "I sold them at a very handsome profit." "I'll see you again." "Mr. Bernard." "Yes?" "If you're in San Francisco for any length of time, we must have another poker game."