"John!" "Here I am!" "Look..." "look up here!" "Oh." " I'd like to see Mrs. Devlin." " Would that be Miss Sandra?" " She's Mrs. Devlin now." " Your name, Sir?" " I'm..." " Mr. Devlin?" "Yes..." "Mr. Poli?" "Yes." "So you are the man who married my daughter." "Well, we, uh..." "Sorta got the idea in a hurry." "Throw him out!" "Ornery cuss, that Poli." "He don't fiddle with nobody." "He used to run a stagecoach line, before he went in for railroading'." "Huh?" "Wait!" "Papa is just as crazy as you are." "He'll get his gun, and what about me?" "Papa's kind of high strung, isn't he?" "Papa says you are a gun-totin', highbindin', tinhorn gambler." "Well, papa shouldn't talk like that in front of the children." "But you are." "Sandra!" "How'd you get out when I locked the door!" "?" "Get him, men!" "Heya!" "You'd better come back, or from between the ears" "I'll shoot you!" "Wait... my bags!" "We hadn't better make any stops now, Sandy." "All right, then." "If I can't look pretty, you can't either." "We're cleaned out for sure now." " Who said so?" " Lunch?" "No..." "Twenty thousand dollars." "That cinches it..." "Sandy, I love ya." "Who wouldn't?" "You couldn't win that much in a poker game." "You mean, unless I was dealing." "That's papa..." "He's shooting at us!" "Hurry up!" "Ah, that's nothing." "All I want to know is do you take after papa or mama?" "Papa always wants to shoot things out." "He has no more sense than you have." "I do hope he doesn't kill us." "He'd never get over it." "Well, I'd feel kind of regretful about it myself." "He's got himself another gun!" "Can't you go quicker?" "!" "Do you suppose it could be, Sandy, that we weren't meant for each other after all?" "I don't like to butt in, but I thought maybe I oughta ask if you wouldn't prefer another carriage?" "Heya!" "Sit tight, Sandy!" "We're headin' for California!" "Well, do we have to go to California?" "Know a better place?" "!" "How about Dakota?" "Did you say Dakota?" "Yes, Dakota." "Oh, I thought you said Dakota." "We'll make it California." "Heya!" "Turn left at the next crossing." "Oh!" "What's the matter?" "You all right, sir?" "Are you all right?" "Yes, sir." "You're fired!" "Get your horses!" "What are you doing here?" "He's only angry now." "Wait till he finds out I sold the Gainsborough from his library." "What's wrong with Dakota?" "It has lots of people in it, hundreds, and it's a great wheat country." "What does a man do in a wheat country, open a bakery?" "There are lots of things we could do." "Once we've established ourselves..." "Let's talk it over in California." "But some day, when Dakota is admitted into the union, you could go into politics." "Oh, our money!" "Speaking of politics, where we're going there are only two parties" " The quick and the dead." " All aboooaard!" "That's our train." "How much do we owe ya?" "Oh, forget about it, my friend." "It's on the house." "Maybe you hadn't better draw up any plans until..." "Until what?" "I was gonna say until your money runs out." "All aboooaaard!" " Did you say this is our train?" " Yes." "That lady is Sandra Poli, Bigtree." "Her father owns this railroad." "That so?" "Well, guess maybe she's somebody we oughta know, huh?" "Mm-hmm." "Hurry up... don't let them get away!" "Quick, send a telegraph to Bells Crossing!" "Yes, Mr. Poli." "To Jake Bonzo on train 67..." "Say, "hold my daughter!" ""Take from her the big tin horn and knock out his teeth!"" "No, wait..." "It's too much." "Just his front teeth, that's enough." "And uh, wait..." "No... no... no." "Maybe it would break her heart." "Maybe she would be mad..." "it's no good." "No... no." "Uh... say, "don't knock out his front teeth."" "Say... oh, what's the matter with you?" "Are you crazy..." "How can you send such a telegraph?" "!" "Huh?" "She's my own little girl." "Maybe she loves him, that big no-good." "And you will break her heart, huh?" "!" "Me?" "Send another one." ""To my daughter, Mrs..." "Uh..." "Mrs..." "Uh..." "Now what's his name?" "Devlin... no..." "Yes, Devlin!" ""Have a good time," ""and remember your papa if you need money or something."" "Oh, she's a sweet girl..." "Oh, something else!" ""If maybe you get tired of your wonderful, big, lovely man," ""don't worry, we'll put him in jail," ""that no-good rat!" "I myself will take him and..."" "He's bigger than I, that's the trouble." "But there's nothing in California but flowers, and everyone knows flowers give you hay fever." "I got it myself, right now." "Look, Sandy, with $20,000, we can open a little place in the gold fields..." "A saloon and gambling palace with dance hall girls..." " Wouldn't you just love that?" " Tickets, please." "I brought the tickets, like you told me." "When do we get to St. Louis, conductor?" "St. Louis!" "?" "Can't do it and stay on the tracks." "We're headed for St. Paul." "Why... why, you see, John," "I had to do it." "I couldn't do anything else." "You couldn't, eh?" "I just couldn't..." "I couldn't." "I love you and it was for you, so I did it." "But why St. Paul?" "Because from St. Paul, we'll go to Dakota." "Wait." "Last night papa had some of his business friends to dinner, and I heard them say they're going to extend the railroad into Dakota." "In a few weeks, papa will send agents to Fargo to buy up all the land and the right of way, so what we'll do..." "Is beat him to it, option everything in sight, make him pay through the nose." "But the catch is to make the profit, we have to go to Fargo." "But it's a wonderful place!" "Sure." "There's probably nothing there but a trading post." "We'll be stuck up there with nothing to do but..." "Make love." "Hmm, what's wrong with that?" "What's the matter?" "Stop it!" "Bells crossing!" "Get rid of them." "Thanks for pitching' in." "It's all right." "Looked like you could use some help." "He's a good man." "Bigtree?" "Telegram for Mr. Bonzo!" "He'll do... my name is Bender, Jim Bender." "I'm Devlin..." "This is Mrs. Devlin." "How do you do, Mrs. Devlin?" "Mrs. Devlin?" "Yes..." "Thank you." "May I?" "Surely." "It's from papa..." "Everything is all right." "He says if we need more money or anything, we just let him know." "Isn't he wonderful?" "Nice guy to do business with, by letter." "Going to St. Paul, Mr. Bender?" "I'm going to Fargo." "So are we." "Really... that's fine." "We'll probably be seeing a lot of each other." "Heya!" "We've passed the fort." "Should be in Abercrombie in a few minutes." "And you look just as fresh as when we started, Mrs. Devlin." "Thank you..." "We bought some things in St. Paul." "Oh, aren't they soldiers?" "Huh?" "Probably an escort from the fort." "Must be some hostile Indians around." "Indians... oh!" "John, now that we know something about it, do you really think we should go to Fargo?" "Well, we've come this far." "Maybe we oughta stop off and, uh, take a look around." "What do you expect to do in Fargo, Mr. Devlin?" "We are going to invest some money in land." "Farmland..." "We thought we'd pick up a few acres and grow some wheat." "You wouldn't want us to believe you was a farmer, would ya, Mr. Devlin?" "Maybe I oughta sprout a beard, eh?" "I can't imagine why you'd want to buck a proposition as uncertain as you may find in the wheat country." "Wha... what's uncertain about it?" "You don't think nobody's gonna let you walk into Fargo and jump any claims, do ya, ma'am?" "Bigtree means, you might have a little trouble getting hold of a decent piece of land" "Good acreage is scarce." "Tryin' to tell us that they don't take kindly to strangers in Fargo, Mr. Bender?" "I don't imagine they'd welcome strangers who come to farm, uh, without implements, Mr. Devlin." "Whoa!" "Everybody out..." "We done it again!" "Fort Abercrombie, folk." "Mr. Bender?" "I'm Bender." "Compliments of colonel Worden, sir." "He'd like you to ride over to the fort when you're rested." "Well, I was gonna sail on the Sioux Princess." "Have you got any idea what he wants to see me about?" "There's been some killings at Fargo." "They've burned the homes of most of the Bonanza farmers." " Indians?" " Well, according to Mr. Stowe, it was made to look like the Sioux were mixed up in it, but he doesn't believe it." "Stowe wasn't burned out, was he?" "Yes, sir." "It seems only the little fellas are left now, the homesteaders." "Mr. Stowe's at the fort now." "He and colonel Worden have been waiting for you to get back." "For me?" "I think Mr. Stowe has some idea of organizing a law enforcement agency at Fargo." "Oh... well, you tell 'em I'll wash up and be over after supper." "Well, the Sioux Princess sails at six, sir." "Well, I'll arrange to miss that and go with captain Bounce on the river bird." "My compliments to colonel Worden." "There ya are, Devlin, that's Fargo for ya." "What's Fargo?" "Didn't you hear what the lieutenant said?" "Mentioned a colonel somebody or other, fort... somethin' going' on?" "No, nothin' much, nothing very interesting." "Bigtree, get our bags out of the Sioux Princess, will ya?" "I'll see you and the Mrs. Down at the boat, huh?" "Yeah, sure." "That, uh, Fargo boat, Sioux Princess?" "That's one of 'em." "T'other's the river bird, that's ol' cap'n Bounce's tub." "She's a huff er and a puffer." "But if I was a making' the trip," " she's the one I'd take." " Better boat?" "Nope, but if ya sail on the river bird, you'd have it practically to yourself, and if the moon happens to be ridin' along with ya, and you're travelin' with live baggage, wow!" "Come on now, you slab-sided puddle snipe." "Kick her off from back there!" "Come on, now." "Now just ease yourself ta port, ya sweet little lovin' lamb." "Swing it ta port, ya ol' wing-tailed mudhen!" "There now." "Now just sneak up on that there landing'." "Now if that flat-footed swipe ain't fell overboard or somethin'..." "Blast ya, Nicodemus, where ya at!" "Nicodemus, if you're sleepin'," "I'll knock ya out from the back o' your teeth, by juppy!" "Oh, back line, ya pretty little river swan." "Shake your hips." "Shake your hips ya potbellied..." "I'll tiptoe up to that Abercrombie levee." "Nicodemus!" "Nicodemus, if'n you're still aboard, you better start runnin' up river!" "Yes, sir... coming, cap'n." "Hurry, hurry, hurry all the time." "Wow!" "Comin' cap'n..." "Nicodemus'll get it goin'!" "We'll show them Abercrombie folks how it's done, ya pussyfootin' little moonbeam." "Hey, on shore there, somebody!" "Hop aboard and throw off'n rope!" "I done lost my Bosun!" "What the..." "Shut off them engines!" "Cap'n!" "Cap'n Bounce, the bell is busted!" "It won't stop ringin'!" "Just keep ringin' and ringing!" "It's ringin' because I was ringing it!" "Like I'm gonna ring that neck of yours if you don't obey orders!" "Did you want some'in, cap'n?" "What do ya think them lights is back there?" "!" "Oh, uh." "You mean them lights way back there in the dark?" "That, you river happy jaybird, is Abercrombie!" "If you ever get me to eat saddle of venison again, you're going to have to unsaddle it first." "Contrary animal, the deer, gentle on the hoof, tough on the plate." "Sailin' north to Fargo, Grand Forks and Pembina!" "All passengers for the river bird, casting' off in 20 minutes... all aboard!" "River bird, mister?" "Nicodemus!" "My Bosun'll take care of your baggage." "Pembina?" "Fargo." "How 'bout you, lady?" "Oh, we're married." "Well, now!" "Sure good to meet nice, clean folks." "I'm gonna puts it in my log..." "I'm captain Bounce." "Nicodemus, take the folks' baggage, and get it down there afore we shove off, or by juppy, off comes your bosun's ratin' and back ta wiping' ya go!" "Well, cap'n, I ain't never stop wiping'." "I just wipes, 'n..." "Does you wanna wipe as a bosun or a low-down seaman?" "Man never knows when he's well off, he don't." "What do we owe ya?" "Well, uh..." "Uh, two fares ta Fargo, that's seven dollars..." "Each, and, uh, the staterooms 'll be, uh, two dollars, for one, and then there's, uh..." "The meals are extra, a dollar each for meals." "What do we owe ya all together?" "Well, let's see, that's, uh..." "Seven and seven and two and two, and two times three that's, uh, thirty-four dollars..." "I mean, thirty seven!" "Wouldn't take 24, would ya?" "Is we gonna argue over a coupla pennies?" "Road folks, ain't we?" "Glad to have seen you again, Mr. Stowe." "Thank you, colonel." "I wish you could've talked to Bender in my presence." "Well, we'll try to arrange a little parley later." "I'm terribly shorthanded and have plenty to handle down here, but if you need us badly, I'll try to get a company up to ya." " Good-bye, Mr. Stowe, and pleasant trip." " Thank you, colonel." "Good night." "Good night." "You better get aboard and claim your stateroom." "It's number one..." "The one with the door on it!" "Mr. Stowe, I'm glad ta see ya." "Here we go." "Calm yourself, Sandy." "Nothing's gonna happen to us." "We won't turn up the well-known toes until ol' man time catches up with us." "It didn't take old man time long to catch up with us." "Ooh, you're hurt!" "A little." "Please..." "Tell Mrs. Stowe..." "Not to sell to Bender." "John, do you think there'll be any more trouble?" " No." " Why wouldn't Mr. Stowe want his wife to sell to Bender?" "That's the question." "This is the boiler room." "Mr. Bender sailed on the Sioux Princess, so he couldn't have done any shooting." "This must be it..." "It's the only one with a door on it." "Lookin' for me, folks?" "I think this is our stateroom, Collins." "Only, uh, what counts around these parts is..." "Who gets there first." "Let's take the other room, John." "I think Collins wants us to have this room." "Well, I guess a man traveling with his wife should have a room with a door on it." "Didn't hurt your gun hand, did ya, Devlin?" "I can still..." "Write with it." "A man's got ta watch hisself." "An accident like that could put him out of business, huh?" "See ya." "Look out now, you sweet little hunk a misery." "Look out... she's right up ahead there." "Port ta helm, Nicodemus!" "Comin', cap'n." "Now here she comes..." "Look out now." "Look... drop." "Drop, you sneakin' cousin of a sneaking' catfish!" "Pop your innards!" "Bust is coming!" "Get over there!" "There, see how easy it is when you wanna do it?" "Got her over that one, didn't ya, cap'n?" "Oh, she's scared." "She's been hangin' herself up on them river warts for five years, and she knows if she just sets herself down just one more," "I'll blow her higher than the cost of livin' in Fargo!" " John?" " Yes?" "You know what happened in Abercrombie was not a fault of yours." "It was Mr. Stowe they were after." "And you might have been killed simply because you drew a gun, which you couldn't have drawn if you hadn't been carrying it." "When I see a gun pointed in my direction, so far as I'm concerned, I'm part and parcel to that deal, and I'm gonna act accordingly." "What's that for?" "Must be takin' on passengers." "John?" "If I did something that would make you angry, what would you do to me?" "What a fella should do to a little girl that's done something she shouldn't a done." "You wouldn't?" "I'd be embarrassed to death." "Well, what brought this on?" "Well, as I was saying, if you hadn't reached for your gun, they wouldn't have shot at you." "Don't scare me like that." "What you fellas want?" "!" "We'd like to come aboard, cap'n." "Injuns snuck up on us last night and stole our horses." "We started to leg it but got off the trail." "Give me a hand, will ya, big fella?" "You know what this means?" "I ain't gonna take much of your time, mister." "Hey, what's goin' on down there!" "Get your head back in there, pop." "Which pocket's that money in?" "Who told you I had any money?" "An injun came to me in a dream last night and says as how you was loaded." "Get back there, flatfoot!" "And you, mister, stay right where you are." "Yeah, sure." "Oh, ain't I the lucky one?" "Look what I found." "That's all we have!" "Get back, lady." "Yellowtail!" "Get back!" "Wouldn't lend me your gun for a coupla minutes, would ya, Collins?" "Would ya lend me yours, Devlin, if it was loaded?" "No." "But those men, they're getting away with our money!" "Too bad, ma'am." "But my momma told me, when I was a little shaver, if I never butted into to nobody's business," "I'd never get hurt." "Good advice for anybody, ma'am." "Well, I can't do much fighting' with an empty gun." "Then it only cost us 20,000 greenies to find that out." "Well..." "How was I to know anything like this was going to happen?" "I'll never touch your ol' gun again!" "And if you're going to get your silly head shot off," "I'm not going to care..." "Much." "Funny part of it is if you hadn't emptied my gun," "I mighta taken a few slugs in the back." "What would you say, Sandy, if I were to tell ya that you look as good to me without money as you did with it?" "Oh, John." "Take that, dag blast ya!" "Come back here and I'll blow it through your thieving' bones!" "Boardin' a man's ship for illegal purposes!" "Hold on." "Look out for them sand bars, you...!" "Nicodemus!" "Nicodemus!" "Get them engines started!" "What are you doin' there?" "!" "Well, cap'n, if'n it's them oil-sweatin' suckers y'all referring' to, right here is where I'm turnin' 'em over ta y'all." "Get back in that engine room, for I start takin' you apart!" "Look out, nicodemus!" "So ya went and done it!" "Got yourself hung up!" "Hung up for keeps, just like y'alls been tryin' ta do!" "Well, folks, as cap'n of this here now doomed ship," "I'm givin' my last and final order!" "Man the lifeboats and abandon ship!" "Beat your lifeboats and ship your oars!" "Poor captain Bounce, wasn't he cute?" "But where is he?" "Well, he went down with his ship, didn't he, like a good captain should." "Well, how's a man goin' down with his ship." "What ain't never up?" "But he won't be able to stay aboard." "Why doesn't he come with us?" "Ya got me." "Ya oughta be ashamed of yourself, sittin' on a sand bar like a hen sitting' on a nest." "You're nothin' but a no-good woman, that's all!" "And when a woman two-times a man, there's only one thing to do!" "And that's put on the pressure!" "You're goin' now, you contrary female." "I'm gonna git you off'n this sand bar if I has ta blow ya off!" "I shouldn'ta said it, honey." "I shouldn'ta said it." "Po' cap'n Bounce." "He did a powerful lotta shouting', but it's been a whole lot worse'n he was." "I hopes when they get him where he's goin', they don't put him to no wiping'." "Look." "We gotta get him outta there." "Give me a hand, Collins." "Where is he?" "He's gone." "Come on, Nicodemus." "Yes, sir, this all belong to Mr. Stowe, more'n 10,000 acres of it." "It's what they call a..." "A Bonanza farm." "Now over here's the Stowe home." "They... oh." "Don't look like there is any Stowe home." "Accordin' to the way them ashes piled around, this musta been the jumpinest fire what ever was." "Does Mrs. Stowe live in that teepee?" "Well, if'n it's the same Mrs. Stowe that come up with me on the river bird three years ago, she's probably there waitin'..." "Waitin' for Mr. Stowe ta come home." "That poor dear." "They came here ta settle down and grow wheat, her and Mr. Stowe, and that's what they done." "Looks like that's about all there is left for Mrs. Stowe..." "Wheat." "Mr. Devlin?" "Bein' as how I'm just an ol' mud turtle and ain't used to breakin' bad news to fine ladies," "I thought maybe you could spit it out for me, huh?" "I mean about Mr. Stowe gettin' plugged and all." "Well, uh..." "I'll tell her." "Thank you, ma'am." "They're probably lost, Tonka." "Why, it's captain Bounce!" "Oh, captain Bounce, you're just about the last person" "I'd expect to visit me here." "Tell me, you've been at Abercrombie?" "You saw Mr. Stowe?" "Yes'm, he was there." "Mrs. Stowe, this is Mr. Devlin and Mrs. Devlin..." "How do you do?" "How do you do, Mr. And Mrs. Devlin." " And my bosun, Nicodemus." " Nicodemus." "I hope you'll excuse me for not getting up, but we've had a fire, as you can see, and my..." "Well, I got burned a little trying to save a few things." "Tonka, haven't we something for our visitors to sit on?" "No got." "Well, I'm sorry, it doesn't seem we've got very much left." "Poor Anson" "That's Mr. Stowe" "He works so hard." "They came and raided and burned the place the night he left." "Oh, but you must be very tired and hungry." "Oh, no... we've just come a couple of miles." "We wondered if we could borrow some horses?" "Well, there are four of you..." "You may have four, of course." "Well, thank you very much." "We'll return them as soon as we can." "But I think if you're able to travel, you should go with us to Fargo." "No..." "I'll be all right here until Anson gets back." "Well, that's just it, uh..." "Go on, get the horses." "This here's what they call Fargo in the timber." "Over there's Fargo on the prairie." "Why are they wearing those foreign costumes?" "Oh, I dunno, some kinda doin's." "She is what you call a get-together." "Each year, once we have her." "We use the national costumes." "How are ya, Mike..." "I'm glad ta see ya." "Hello, cap." "I want you ta meet Mr. And Mrs. Devlin." "My name is Mikhail Pontelivonich Corino." "Herr Koffka, senior Baroni, m'sieur Lafond." "Listen... they're playing a waltz." "Lady, you like to dance?" "Oh, I..." "I'd love to but..." "Oh, a nice place you have here." "Oh, yes... it belongs to m'sieur Bender." "We make arrangement with him for the homesteaders to have it for one night." "Si..." "Mr. Bender's a fine man, Si?" "I hope they have room for us." "Did you ever see anything so colorful?" "It makes Dakota a melting pot, doesn't it?" "Ever try Kansas city in July?" "Got here all right, eh, Devlin?" "How did you get here, Collins, as the crow flies?" "Met up with a coupla friends with horses." "Mr. Slagin..." "Mr. Devlin." "Nice ta see ya again, Slagin." "You never met me before..." "Musta been my brother." "Oh, a big fella?" "Yeah, as handsome as they come." "About as handsome as a prairie dog." "He's a bad man to mess around with, Devlin." "Well, he sure got the job done." "And he's awfully fast with a gun." "About as fast as you are, I suppose?" "Yeah." "Just how fast is that?" "Oh, John, if you're not in..." "Oh." "This is Mr. Slagin." "You met his brother on the boat." "Was that your brother?" "I thought it was you." "I mean..." "How do you do?" "You know Collins, of course." "Yes." "I guess you'll be wantin' a coupla rooms, eh, Devlin?" "Yeah... one for us and one for the cap'n." "What were you about to say?" "I was going to say let's dance, but it seems kind of silly now." "I mean, I don't feel like it anymore." "Oh, sure you do." "Do us a little favor, will ya, Slagin?" "Yeah." "Will ya step outside and arrange for someone to stable our horses?" "When a lady wants to dance, we gotta fix it so she can, right?" "Yeah, sure." "I want ya ta have your fun while ya can, Mrs. Devlin." "You never can tell how ya feel about things come tomorra." "Here ya are, Devlin." "Any time we're not here, and you want to see me or Bender, look back in the office." "Take whichever room ya want, but leave us one with a bed in it." "Darling, why do you take such chances?" "After all, no one here's on our side." "I learned one thing from general Morgan, Sandy..." "That's when you're surrounded and haven't a chance..." "Attack." "Hello." "Met your brother this morning." "Yeah... how's he doing?" "Not bad, but it looks like there's some sad days ahead." "John?" "Yes?" "Do you think I look good in black?" "There ain't no gol' darned horse thieves holding' up no ship o' mine." "So I grabs my carbine, I gets the pair of 'em in my sights and wham!" "You wouldn't believe this, but, eh..." "Missed 'em, clean as a whistle." "This our key, cap'n?" "It don't make no difference, it fits all the doors." "I just stopped by to talk to the ladies a minute." "They remind me of my dear old aunt Minnie." "Oh, this is Mr. and Mrs. Devlin, ladies." "They work here..." "They're doin' a song and dance act." "Of course, they're off for tonight on account of the big doin's." " I'm Jersey Thomas." " I always thought Jersey was a state." "Could be, on occasion." "That's New Jersey you're thinking of, dear." "They certainly manage to attract all the obvious types here, haven't they?" "Just one big happy melting pot, eh?" "But don't melt too easily, will you, dear?" "And you thinking all the time that Jersey was a state." "Why you!" "You open this door, you big lady killer!" "Well, glad I met'cha, good-bye." "He must be one of those one-woman men I've heard so much about." "Oh, I guess he just gone down to git hisself a drink." "Suppose we leave it unlocked, Devlin?" "Some of the boys might want to drop in." "How are ya?" "For the moment, short about $20,000." "Is that so..." "How'd ya lose it?" "Turning backflips." "That couldn't be it, could it?" "You prove it's yours, and you can have it." "When I walk out of here, if it's in my pocket, will that prove anything?" "You wouldn't take advantage of a man with a bad leg, would you, Devlin?" "Well, you wouldn't hide behind it with my $20,000, would you, Bender?" "You talk like you might try to take that money away from me, and I don't think I like that." "You're not in Fargo to stay, are you, Mr. Devlin?" "Oh..." "Bad character, eh?" "Oughta move on." "Well, I don't like to seem blunt, but we've got a pretty nice little community here, and we don't exactly cotton to sharp wits who come here with the idea of trimming the folks hereabouts." "Friend of yours or mine?" "Better hand over the money, Bender." "I got the place surrounded." "That's funny, so have I. Things ought to start to break shortly, huh?" "Right now..." "Let's have it." "Go ahead and take it, if you like that kind of a gamble." "There's an easier way to get it, though, Devlin." "Leave on the first boat?" "There's nothing personal about it at all." "This country's my country, and the people in it are my people, and I'm gonna look after their interests." "But it's not to their interest to let you run around with your hands full of money, buying up options on their land, very cheaply, for the railroad." "You got all the facts right on file, haven't you?" "You're married to Poli's daughter..." "far as I'm concerned, that connects you with the railroad." "And that provides me with a neat little life insurance policy too." " Does it?" " If you got me, she'd scream for help, and papa Poli'd be up here with the united states army before you could saddle a horse, which leaves you holdin' the small cards, Bender." "So I'll take the money." "Look out!" "Sweet little baby." "Now don't you get to flirtin' with them sand bars, and papa'll buy ya a nice new ton a coal when we git to Grand Forks." "I never see'd this river kick up like this before..." "Must be a storm a brewin'." "Hey!" "Them windstorms come up without givin' no advanced notice, don't they?" "I see'd your wife..." "Hurt her hard." "Picked me up and slammed me down like I was a old spittoon or somethin'..." "Allowed them to keep their doors closed in hurricane season." "Which way'd she blow, from the north or the south?" "Sandy?" "Here, use my key." "They're all alike..." "It fits any door in the house." "Lookin' for your wife?" "Don't guess she'd be in that suitcase, do ya?" "You ain't figuring' on shootin' her, are ya?" "Now wait a minute!" "Maybe it weren't her fault." "For a woman, she didn't look too bad." "The man don't show much sense, shootin' a woman..." "Especially in this country, where they're so scarce." "Hold that light closer." "John." "It was an accident, John." "They didn't mean to hit me." "It was you they shot at." "This man know his business, Bender?" "If he doesn't, your wife may die..." "In which event I also cash in, right?" "Now if someone will hold her other arm." "Take a deep breath, Mrs. Devlin." "John, I'm frightened." "Not so much of a wound, the doc says." "Trouble is that bullet's pressing on an artery." "If he happens to make a slip and puncture that artery, then she's gonna be in trouble." "Is that it, doc?" "That's it." "Anything else you wanted to see me about, Devlin?" "She be all right, doc?" "Her shoulder may be stiff for a coupla days." "My guess is that she'll out live you." "How long will it take ya to finish up?" "A few minutes." "What's the matter, Devlin, you in a hurry?" "Yeah." "Get over there with Bender!" "Let me remind you, if I hadn't gotten Mrs. Devlin." "Over here to Dr. Judson, she might've died." "I'm remembering' it, and also how she came to get hit." "Maybe I oughta fix it so accidents like that can't happen again." "That calls for killing two men in cold blood, doesn't it?" "Yes." "It requires a certain type of man to kill without excuse, Devlin, somebody more like myself." "You coulda killed her, Bender." "That's all the excuse I need." "John?" "Is it..." "Is it all over?" "You seem to have a sobering effect upon your husband, Mrs. Devlin." "You better take your wife back to the hotel, Devlin." "Perhaps it'd be to the benefit of all of us if you pointed out the advantages to him of both of you returning to Chicago." "Suppose you point 'em out." "An agent commissioned to option land for the railroad can't function very well without money, can he?" "I'll be over tomorrow for the money." "Tomorrow may be too late for it to do you any good." "Have it ready." "Nicodemus!" "Comin', cap'n." "Get up outta there!" "The town's done cleaned out!" "Where's everybody at?" "Cap'n, why... why does you have ta wake me up ta ask me that?" "They're all goin' ta Fargo on the som'dother, on da other side of them trees." "Fargo on the prairie?" "What's goin' on over there?" "Why... why ya has ta ask me that, cap'n?" "Man goes someplace, it's a visit." "A bunch of men go someplace, it's a party." "Everybody goes someplace, it's a meetin'." "Whatever's goin' on over there has got to be a meetin', cap'n, 'cause that's where they's all at." "Well, come on..." "Let's go over." "Is you comin', or is I gotta shove ya overboard!" "Comin', cap'n." "So as soon as I saw the crop was gonna be too big for us to handle, being President of the wheat growers association," "I guess it was up to me to figure out a way to get the crops harvested and off to the market." "So like I told ya, I went to Mr. Bender and made a deal for him to lend us the money to bring in a gang of harvest hands, and to take care of shipping' costs." "But why you go to Mr. Bender?" "!" "The bank in Grand Fork, she's got plenty of money to lend!" "What's the matter with Bender's money, ain't it any good?" "Mr. Bender's done plenty for us around here." "He's give us credit at the store and staked a few of us." "And I say here and now!" "If there's any side money to be made around here, he's the man who ought to get it." "But this contract we are to sign, if something is wrong with crops, all our land will belong to Mr. Bender?" "Well, a man has to have some kind of security for the money he puts up, ain't he?" "It's dumb butts like you that keep us smart folks from progressing'." "What you got to say about this?" "You don't farm no lands!" "Nobody can talk that way to me!" "What he... what he don't know is that I..." "I got secret holding's." "I got a piece of 10,000 acres, and I aim to see that wheat cut with Fargo money." "And if there's any profit to be made," "I want my good friend, Mr. Bender, to collect it, see?" "!" "And another thing..." "If anything happens to the crop," "Mr. Bender's gonna pay us for what the land is worth, accordin' to government valuation" "A dollar an acre!" "And why would anybody want to buy worthless prairie acreage with nothin' growin' on it?" "What Mr. Collins said sounds logical enough." "All I know is this deal is fixin' things so there's a possibility of Bender buying our land." "And another thing..." "The whole blamed layout is so slick and pretty I don't believe it." "There's gotta be a catch in it." "Exactly what I was thinking, Mr. Plummer." "If anything happens to the wheat crop, looks to me like I'm stuck with about" "50 square miles of worthless prairie." "So as a favor to me, will you let out a man-sized protest about the whole deal, and give me a chance to squeeze out of it?" "Don't guess it'd do me any good for me to say anything, Bender, a couple other men tried that and got nowhere." "Seems like I have too many friends, doesn't it?" "It seems to me that worthless prairie or not, you're going to own all the land around here, Mr. Bender." "Do you expect anything to happen to your wheat, Mrs. Stowe?" "Well, along with some other bonanza farmers, like Mrs. Stowe and Mr. waters," "I didn't expect to get burned out." "Somebody come along with a torch, eh?" "What happened to our farm buildings could happen to our wheat." "If anything happens to your wheat, I'm the loser." "So I think we better take steps to see that nothing does happen to it." "What kind of steps, Mr. Bender?" "When the peace of a community is disturbed by violence and acts of vandalism, Mrs. Stowe, there's only one thing to do about it and that's bring in the law, so that's what we'll do." "Sounds honest enough, didn't he?" "I'd never had suspected him, if Anson hadn't said he was just no good at all." "I probably wouldn't have myself, if it wasn't for the fact that everyone that was burned out got an offer from him for their land first." "Come on, Nicodemus, this is no place for us." "Comin', cap'n." "So the one with all the eyebrows says to me, he says..." ""What makes you so different?"" "Of course, I could always trim his eyebrows a little, but even if I did, what would I have?" "A wheat farm." "I'll take a nice, dirty miner with gold dust caked under his fingernails." "If you can spare one." "Me, too." "There I was in California, up to my elbows in hard-rock men, and I had to come here." "I could've married, settled down and had myself a nice home." "And a native son." "Put it in a gilt frame, and I'll buy it." "Look, girls, the bell of the northwest gets in tonight, and Collins wants you all there at the landing when she ties up, looking your best, so be there." "Oh, excuse me..." "I thought this was the kitchen." "Well, it is the kitchen." "Looking for anyone in particular?" "I wanted to get a couple of eggs." "Well, in that case, come on in." "We'll thank you to speak of us with more respect, Mr. Devlin." "We usually take the egg to the customer, unless the customer insists on coming to the egg." "We want you to be happy, of course." "And you're just the little girl that can do it, eh?" "Well, these eggs are for Mrs. Devlin, and I thought I'd take them up to her." "You see, she, uh..." "She has a headache." "People get them in Fargo." "If you want to get back to your crocheting, girls," "I'll look after Mr. Devlin." "How about a couple of eggs for Mr. Devlin, Nora?" "Ain't got no eggs..." "The girls ate 'em all up." "But we grow them right outside the door, if you've got to have them." "Well, I'm an old egg rustler." "No fun rustling alone." "Did I say rustling?" "I meant rustling." "It's not locked!" "Where on earth did you go for the eggs?" "!" "Mornin', ma'am." "Oh." "Where is Mr. Devlin?" "He's getting me some breakfast from St. Paul, I think." "Is it something important?" "No, ma'am, I don't guess it is." "But Bender is over in Fargo on the prairie gettin' them farmers to sign contracts." "I thought maybe Mr. Devlin would like to know about it." "Oh, I'm sure he would." "Run down to the kitchen." "Never mind, I'll go myself." "Look..." "I don't know why, but there's a man down there who's been watching this window." "Keep an eye on him." "He's spying' on someone, huh?" "Well, we'll soon find out about that." "Hey, go away!" "Dagnabit, I gotta learn to keep my head out'n them windows for I get all cut up." "For the record, you were with Morgan's raiders..." "First company..." "Fast with a gun..." "None faster..." "A killer..." "With both hands..." "And you're an agent for the railroad?" "Uh, they know that." "Mm-hmm." "Well, that's for Collins." "Now what's for me?" "Well, not much, honey." "Just married?" "A coupla weeks." "Good, eh?" "Swell." "Nice gal?" "The best." "She'd have to be, of course, or you'd have sent her down for the eggs." "These hens seem to be a little slow on delivery." "Think they're in the mood?" "They've no excuse." "I just showed them how it's done." "Well, I'd like to tell ya that I think you're an all-right gal, but you wouldn't want to hear that, would you?" "Mm-mm, nothing secondhand." "And this may not be final..." "Who can tell?" "Anyway, I'll check with ya from time to time." "Well, in the meantime, don't pass up anything that'll do just as well, eh, Jersey?" "See ya later." "Come to think of it, you might as well wait." "I don't believe you'll be going anyplace for..." "A couple of hours." "Why not?" "Why..." "I think..." "Bender's men..." "They've orders not to let you out of the hotel." "Why?" "What's up?" "Why, I think..." "Bender and Collins, they're at Fargo on the prairie signing a contract with the wheat growers." "Don't be a fool." "It's not only them, they've got 20 men." "You haven't got a chance." "Yeah." "I know." "Have you seen Mr. Devlin?" "Please, have you seen Mr. Devlin?" "He's riding to Fargo on the prairie..." "On business, I think he said." "I just wanted to say, friends," "I'd like to thank Mr. Bender for puttin' my name up for office and all you boys for gettin' in back of me." "But at the same time, I want to warn ya, friend and foe alike, as long as I'm Marshall, there's gonna be law and order in Fargo." "Looks like important things happening in Fargo, Mrs. Stowe." "Yes, and all in one day too." "Oh, Mr. Devlin, meet Mr. Plummer." "How do you do?" "How are ya?" "How is your very charming wife?" "She's all right, thanks." "Is this a free expression of the will of the people?" "Eh, a little farmer who didn't know very much, opened his mouth to say something and found he was chewing on Cobb's knuckles, and the will of the people curled up like a sick mackerel." "Then the deal's been made." "Yes, and if our crops are harvested," "Mr. Bender takes a profit." "If they're not harvested, he takes us." "In other words, with Collins as Marshall, we'll be drawn and quartered." "Well, if you don't like it, one other thing you can do..." "Pack up and get out." "Or organize an opposing team." "Devlin, I believe I have some money of yours." "Would you like it now?" "No place to invest it around Fargo, is there?" "Might open up a popcorn stand, the community's bound to grow when the railroad comes through." "What railroad?" "I see you made Collins Marshall." "Yeah, good man." "You ridin' my way?" "Yeah." "Come on." "Now about that railroad, I..." "On second thought, Bender, maybe you better let me have that money now." "It's safe at the hotel." "You found a use for it?" "Yeah, I'm pullin' out tonight." "Chicago?" "Nope, Grand Forks." "Dakota?" "Yeah." "You're tryin' to run a blazer on me, Devlin, but you're bettin' against a bad hand." "Think so?" "Yep." "You see, I followed the surveyors up here." "I happen to know the government's granted the right of way and plans have already been drawn for the railroad to run through Fargo." "But they could change those plans, run through grand forks." "Not after they've spent all that money runnin' a survey through here." "How much do you think that'd cost?" "Fifty thousand dollars." "And how much would it cost to buy that contract you made with the farmers?" "One-half million dollars, good American go..." "Oh." "See, it'd still be cheaper to run another survey and bypass Fargo." "Yeah, I suppose anything is possible." "Like consigning that contract you have with the farmers over to me..." "For a consideration, of course?" "Let's go in my office." "Why not?" "There ya are..." "Twenty thousand on account, and eighty thousand when the railroad comes through." "You're takin' me over, Devlin." "Maybe, but a sure hundred thousand is better than half a million in the bush." "Well, there it is, consigned to you personally, right?" "Naturally." "Here she comes..." "The boat's comin'!" "Here she comes!" "There's Nicodemus..." "The horses must be ready." "But I still can't understand why we're leaving." "You've got the contracts." "We're leaving because we gotta stay away from Bender until the wheat's harvested." "If he can't get his hands on that contract, he won't burn the wheat-- It won't do him any good." "What if someone sees us taking our bags out?" "They won't." "After Bounce arranges to have us picked up, he's comin' back for 'em." "Then they'll see him." "Let's not make the worst of it until we get it, Sandy." "We'll go down and see the riverboat come in." "Do you think we should?" "Why not?" "They're watching us..." "Let's let 'em see us." "Then they won't think we're up to any tricks." "If you weren't trying to be so fine and noble, we wouldn't be in this awful mess." "Sure... you can remember me as a man who..." "Gave his all for his fellow man." "I remember you as a big so-and-so, who I'll never be able to live without." "Wait a minute..." "Tears and everything." "What is this, good-bye?" "I don't know, but..." "I just don't want anything to happen to us." "Like things the way they are, eh?" "Where would I ever find another handsome, easy-going..." "No-good man like me?" "Yes." "In any first-class jail west of the Mississippi." "How'd you do with them pesky sand bars?" "Get yourself hung up on ol' camelback?" "!" "Sure, I did, and I got myself off of'n 'em, too, by jucifer!" "Get aboard, 'n come up here!" "We had an escort from the hotel." "Yeah, Slagin and Cobb." "Looks like Bender's traveling." "He's probably leaving on the boat, too." "That's right, check up on us." "Let's find out." "Good evening." "Good evening." "Devlin..." "Mrs. Devlin, how's the shoulder this evening?" "Better, thanks." "That's fine." "Not going away, are you?" "Yes, I am, for a few days." "Grand Forks?" "No, Chicago." "I made a little deal." "I'm going to check up on it." "John, look!" "It's Mr. Geary." "Geary?" "Father must have sent him here to buy the land for the railroad." "Sandra." "I did it again." "Because you love me?" "Your father told me that you skipped off with a rascal named Devlin." "I didn't believe it, of course..." "I mean, about his being a rascal." "Somehow I couldn't imagine you marrying anyone who wasn't made of bone and muscle..." "That makes you Devlin, right?" "I can't get out from under it either." "I'm Geary, congratulations." "You married a great little girl." "I've known her all her life." "Been with her father for 25 years." "I shouldn't talk so loud." "I'm here, more or less, incognito." "Speak right out, Mr. Geary, we're friends here." "Nothing you say'll ever be used against you." "I'm Jim Bender..." "This is Mr. Collins, our Marshall." "Uh, Mr. Geary, I, uh..." "We were just going to the hotel." "Yeah... see ya later, Bender." "I'll walk along with you." "It's always good to talk to somebody from the outside." "It's supposed to be a big secret, I know, but, uh, we all know that you're here to buy a few pieces of land for the railroad." "But don't you say a word about it, unless you feel you're among friends." "Well, the biggest part of my job is to keep my mouth closed, but of course, you're privileged to think what you please." "I'm pleased to think that you just saved me a good piece of money." "By the way, Mr. Devlin..." "Slagin, you and Cobb go after him." "Bring back that contract." "Collins, round up what men you've got, and meet me at the store." "Something tells me I turned up at the wrong moment." "Oh, you certainly did." "Got everything fixed up just like you wanted, ma'am." "Cap'n sparks is gonna slow down and pick ya up right off'n where the river bird went down." "But you know, it's just like he was sayin' when I was tellin' him what's goin' on around here." "You don't suppose we're chasin' around, duckin' our own shadows, do ya?" "But captain, right now Bender's men are looking for Mr. Devlin, and we've got to help him." "Oh, I don't think that much is gonna happen." "But it will... it is!" "Look, captain, you know most of the men in Fargo." "Please let them know what Mr. Devlin's done for them, and ask them to stand by." "Well, I'll talk to some of the boys and see what they say, but I don't think they're gonna be interested." "What if he does manage to find help, what then?" "Oh, Mr. Geary, if anything happens to that big so-and-so," "I'll just die, that's all." "A rider go by this way, partner?" "Italian?" "Ciano." "He seen one looked just like Devlin." "Mr. Plummer?" "Oh, hello, Mr. Devlin..." "How are ya?" "Hello!" "What'd you do to your foot?" "Oh, sprained it, I guess..." "makes it kinda awkward, too." "I wanted to go over to Stowes'." "I'd like to talk to ya a minute." "Well, come inside." "We're holding a meeting to talk things over." "At the Stowes'?" "Yes." "Hilda, this is Mr. Devlin." "Howdy, Mr. Devlin." "Mrs. Plummer." "There's a few of us might not like the way the Bender/Collins faction will handle things, so we thought we'd get together and sort of, uh..." "Count our guns." "We haven't much to offer in the way of comforts." "We were burned out." "Yeah, we had to throw up a sod house" "Had to have some kind of shelter." "Well, Bender's a little careless with matches." "Well, I've got something here that may make you feel a little better." "I got Bender to sign over that contract he made with the farmers to me." "The railroad's coming through here, and this land's gonna be worth a nice chunk of money." "This is wonderful." "And if you want to stay here and kinda look this thing over," "I'll go over to the Stowes' and bring the boys back here." "Well, wait a minute." "What do you get out of this?" "Well, when the railroad pays off, you can take 20,000 out of the kitty for me." "Call it a house cut." "Let's see now..." "I'll say, "come on, boys, and git your guns and come along." ""Things is gonna bust wide open."" "Then they'll say to me, "what things?"" "When I'm tryin' to think of the answer to that one, someone'll fetch me over the head with a sack a meal, and that's what I'll get for throwin' in with this fool kinda business." "I said it before, and I'll say it now..." "Nothin's gonna happen to nobodies... no time." ""To John Devlin, I, James K. Bender, relinquish all rights and interests."" "That's it..." "All right, men." "You and I'll get things started and head back to town." "Huh, don't look like the Plummers is ta home neither." "Whoa." "Mr. Plummer!" "Mr. Plummer!" "Guess I'll take a look." "Mr. Plummer!" "You there, Mr. Plummer?" "!" "Nope, nobody home." "Lookin' for people that ain't around is a fool business." "If they ain't at the Stowe place, they ain't no place, and that's as far as I'm goin'." "Giddyap, horse." "Our friend?" "Yes, he'll suppose he's here too." "Oh, do you mind?" "The lady and I have some things to talk about." "Could we have this table?" "And where am I going to sit, partner?" "It's all right, lady, I won't listen." "Uh, my name's Suede." "No... we can talk some other time." "If'n you fellas hadn't cut through the wheat," "I'da met ya comin' back from the Stowe place." "Hey, you ain't headin' into trouble messin' around like this, are ya?" "How would you handle it, cap'n?" "Well, Collins is the Marshall here, ain't he?" "If someone did shoot the Plummers, why, he's the one to do somethin' about it..." "I'm sayin' if, somebody did shoot the Plummers." "I don't guess nobody did." "Understand I ain't agreein' they was shot, mind you?" "'Cause the way you told it ta me, it coulda been one of them suicide deals where one party says to the other," ""close your eyes for a second and I'll shoot your head off"..." "Somethin' I'm figurin' on doin' to myself after while." "Let's get outta here." "That's it." "Get the boys, and don't forget the white handkerchiefs." "Well, I'll do it, but don't forget what I said." "Ain't nothin' gonna happen!" "There's John!" "Give me that contract!" "I'm lookin' for ya, Devlin!" "You're a might too free and easy with that gun of yours, Devlin." "I'm holdin' ya for murder." "I got a hunch that badge is gonna get you in trouble." "How ya gonna hold him, Collins?" "There ain't no jail in Fargo." "What's it to ya, friend?" "I'm the law around here, and I'll be responsible for 'im." "There's been a killin' done, folks, and there's no court of law here!" "Who's gonna try him..." "How's he gonna get what's comin' to him?" "There's a way of takin' care of killers here, ain't there, folks?" " Come on!" " Just a minute, fellas!" "The man's entitled to a fair trial around here!" "Get back." "The wheat fields are burnin'!" "The whole country's ablaze!" "The wheat fields are on fire!" "Come on, let's get out there!" "We'll need all the help we can get!" "Bender, you killed Mr. Geary." "I saw you do it." "Don't let it worry you, Mrs. Devlin." "The gentlemen on horseback are not my friends." "Your husband's a..." "Very lucky fellow." "Hey!" "What's goin' on here?" "!" "Hey!" "Hang on to 'im." "Finish him off." " Hey!" " Oh, there ya are." "Better be gettin' back ta the boat, hey, Mr. Devlin?" "Heyah!" "Wheat burning', fellas shooting' at each other" "Fargo ain't what she used to be!" "Not goin' lookin' for me, are ya, Bender?" "I..." "I was just comin' after ya." "I'm glad ya stopped in." "I might a had trouble findin' ya." "Yeah, I figured you would, so I come over." "I know'd you wouldn't want to leave me behind, and skin off with that 20,000." "Well, we can, uh, split it up now, if you like." "Your pocket's on the other side, ain't it, Bender?" "There's his horse!" "Yeha!" "John!" "Well, there it is." "Count it." "And if it isn't all there, you'll have to collect the rest of it yourself." "Stand by afore and aft!" "She's ready to cast off!" "Get on that spring line over there!" "I hope they get the suitcases aboard, but bags or no bags, we're headin' for California." "You know, John, that railroad money isn't going to help everyone that was burnt out." "That's right." "They oughta form some kind of a pool and fix it so everybody'd have enough till the next harvest." "That's wonderful..." "Why don't you do it?" "We're goin' to California." "But you're a hero now." "We could go into any business we like." "Maybe, um, riverboat." "Yeah?" "With a railroad comin' through?" "But it will be almost a year before it's finished, and in the meantime, we could handle all the shipping." "Cut it out, Sandy, before you have me in tears." "I did it because I love you, that's why I did it." " What?" " Order in the gangplank!" "Bounce!" "What are you doin' there?" "!" "Sure good to feel a ship under my feet again!" "Much obliged to ya, Mr. Devlin!" "Much obliged?" "What for?" "I bought the Bell of the Northwest..." "You what!" "?" "And put captain Bounce in charge."