"Quantity, mr." "Carrington," "Is never a worthy substitute for quality." "Whether it's in the choice of a book," "A play, a friend or a gun." "Thank you." "You have good vacation?" "Too good, hey boy." "All play and no work" "Makes paladin a poor boy." "Well now, what's this?" "Mr. Wilde very famous?" "He's a famous englishman, celebrated for his wise" "And witty sayings." "Excuse me." "Like what?" "He once said, "there are only two tragedies in this world." ""one is not getting what one wants," "And the other is getting it."" "Confucius also say that." "You have tickets for mr." "Wilde's lecture?" "I'm afraid not." "Thank you." "Maybe I get it, double price though." "That's tempting, hey boy." "But I think I'd better consider getting a job." "Now that's also very tempting." ""train bridges washed out." "Noted english author" "Transfers to chartered coach."" "Since bridges are washed out after gospel gulch," "According to colonel j." "L. Carrington," "President of the civic cultural society of san diego," "A special coach has been chartered" "To bring mr." "Oscar wilde to this city." "They are taking every precaution" "To see that he gets here in time." "Hey boy." "Mr. Paladin." "Bring me a pen and ink, please." "Excuse me, sir." "Good morning." "'morning." "My name is paladin." "Col. Carrington sent for me." "Yes, about the matter of the bodyguard." "Please be seated." "He'll be free soon." "Thank you." "Smoke?" "I roll my own." "You, sir?" "No, thank you." "Are you two gentlemen" "Members of the civic cultural society?" "The what?" "No." "Then you're here for the same reason I am." "Depends on what you're here for." "Oscar wilde." "Oscar who?" "The englishman." "Tell the fella we're here on personal business." "Yeah, personal business." "So I gather." "Thank you, mr." "Rook." "If it's not imposing on you," "I'd like you to wait a few minutes." "Don't mind at all." "My friends and I will be right here." "Mr. Paladin is here, sir." "Come in." "Thank you." "You are the mr." "Paladin who is armed," "And enjoys travel, is that right?" "Yes, sir." "Cup of tea?" "No, thank you." "I'll come directly to the point." "Sit down." "Thank you." "Oscar wilde is an international figure." "A great cultural influence." "For this reason, and because we have a fortune" "Invested in his first appearance in california," "We can't afford to have anything happen to him." "He's coming through some rough country." "In order to protect the civic culture" "Of this great state and because as you say," "You can't afford to take any chances," "I'm here to volunteer my services" "For a fee of $1,000." "There are three guns out there" "I can hire for one half your price." "Oh?" "Colonel carrington..." "If you please, sir." "Gentlemen, may I present oscar wilde?" "Guard him well." "As you see, colonel carrington..." "Quantity is never a worthy substitute" "For quality." "If you're only looking for three guns," "You can get three for a lot less" "Than these gentlemen are asking." "You want something a little better," "I offer two guns," "And a third weapon even more important." "Where I come from, mr." "Paladin..." "There's a word for a cheap trick like that." "Showboatin'." "I have another name for it." "Salesmanship." "Colonel carrington, I believe I'll need" "A letter of introduction to oscar wilde." "I'll dictate a letter for mr." "Paladin." "Thank you for coming, gentlemen." "Perhaps another time." "Mr. Paladin." "Mr. Paladin." "There will be another time." "Mr. Paladin." "I suppose I should congratulate you." "That's very gracious of you." "But I won't." "Because I'm not letting you steal this job." "Saw two men dump something off the wharf." "And right away, I got worried." "Ahhh!" "Nasty lump there." "Did they rob you?" "Not completely." "Here, old man." "You all right?" "My doggone head." "Feels like it had an argument with a crowbar." "Is this the stagecoach that was chartered" "To take an englishman to san diego?" "Yeah, you know about that?" "I can guess the rest of it, too." "A man named rook showed up with credentials" "Proving he was your escort." "That was his name, that dirty..." "Where's your passenger now?" "They kidnapped him, I guess." "How?" "Two of 'em rode out from behind those boulders" "And blocked my way." "I went for my carbine," "And this fella rook clobbered me." "That's all I can remember." "You'd be willing to help me find the men who did this?" "I ain't looking for more trouble." "Ten gold pieces change your mind?" "Maybe." "Exactly what do I do for it?" "I want you to stand watch with me along this road." "You expect to see 'em again?" "I think so." "When you kidnap someone, there's no profit in it" "Unless you let someone else know with a ransom note." "Wake up." "Hey, come on." "We've got company." "This is the fifth one." "You gonna stop every rider that comes along?" "This one's in a big hurry." "hey, mister!" "What do you want?" "I ain't got no money." "If I wanted money, I'd have shot you." "Then what's going on?" "Where were you going?" "San diego." "Why?" "None of your business." "You carrying a letter?" "Now, look..." "Give it to me!" "You're going to get yourself in trouble and me in worse." "I've got a job to do." "So have I." "You won't get in trouble unless you don't give me the letter." "Give it to me, or I'll take it." "" j.L. Carrington, civic cultural society," "San diego, ca." where'd you get this?" "A man gave it to me a half hour ago." "Asked if I wanted $50." "I said sure." "He had a letter that had to be in san diego in the morning." "Paid me half then," "And half when I come back with the answer." "Recognize him?" "Yeah, name's carpenter." "Hangs around the saloon." "Where were you supposed to deliver the answer?" "Said I should wait in the saloon when I get back." "What's going on here?" "A kidnapping." "You were carrying the ransom note." ""dear colonel carrington, since mr." "Paladin" "Was unable to undertake the protection of oscar wilde," "I assume you'll be pleased to know" "I have taken over the task." "I would suggest that you or an associate be on hand" "At a clearing a mile north of the city" "Called devil's rock at noon, on June 7." "Bring $50,000 and I'll bring mr." "Wilde." "Should you be so rash as to inform the sheriff," "I'll be forced to turn mr." "Wilde over to you" "In parts, one piece at a time."" "Signed, "jim rook."" "My competition sounds very literate." "Sounds like he means business." "What'll happen to me if I don't bring an answer?" "You'll have an answer." "Now, how does this sound?" ""dear mr." "Rook, you have committed" ""a dastardly and traitorous act," ""but I'm forced to comply." ""I'm sending an associate to gospel gulch with $50,000." ""he'll be at the appointed place at the appointed time." ""see that mr." "Oscar wilde is there, safe and sound." ""sincerely, j.L. Carrington."" "But there ain't no society associate." "There wasn't a moment ago, but there is now." "Where are you going to get $50,000?" "Same place I got the society associate." "Here's the reply you just brought from san diego." "Take it to the saloon and wait until they pick it up." "Should you get the notion to tell your employers" "Who really wrote that letter," "Remember you're a party to this kidnapping," "And should I so inform the people of this town," "They'll probably give you a short trial" "At the end of a rope." "Understand?" "As for you, I suggest you stand by your stagecoach." "I expect to have a most literary passenger" "For you momentarily." "Are you from colonel carrington?" "Paladin?" "You seem surprised to see me." "The last time you saw me" "You were dropping me in san diego bay." "Carrington send you?" "I'm still in his employ." "Turn around." "Get your arms up." "Higher!" "I represent the civic cultural society," "Not a firearms manufacturer." "You can drop them." "Turn around." "Where's the money?" "Where's oscar wilde?" "We're keeping him until we see the money." "I'm keeping the money until I see oscar wilde." "He's all right." "I'd like to be sure." "Well..." "I'll take you to him." "I'll have to blindfold you." "Turn around." "Come on, get down." "In there." "Go on." "What's he doing here?" "Well, your concern is most touching." "I don't believe I've been formally introduced," "Except to your gun butt." "This is chris rook, jim's brother." "I asked you a question." "What's he doing here?" "I've got business with your brother." "I had to bring him here." "He hid the money out," "And he wouldn't get it until he sees the englishman." "He was blindfolded, he didn't see nothing." "Well..." "You're gonna have to wait awhile." "Jim's gone out on a little errand." "Where's the money?" "It's in a safe place." "Colonel carrington insisted I talk to oscar wilde alone," "To make certain he hasn't been harmed before paying up." "I couldn't figure..." "Shut up!" "All right." "I'm going to let you talk to the englishman," "But you ain't gonna leave until jim gets back." "I wouldn't think of it." "Just don't try nothing fancy." "Are you from colonel carrington?" "I am." "My name is paladin." "How do you do?" "Have you paid the ransom?" "In a manner of speaking." "I wanted to be sure you hadn't been harmed." "I'm too valuable a piece of merchandise for that." "Damaged goods must be sold at a discount, you know?" "The gall of that man rook." "Do you know he wanted to ask only $10,000 for me?" "And in dollars, not even pound sterling." "Imagine the insult if that got out." "A measly $10,000 for oscar wilde." "Surely, I insisted it be raised to $50,000." "What idiocy are you up to, paladin?" "Pay the ransom, and let's get out of here." "It's not quite that simple." "I was checking for a loose board." "I said I'd ransom you in a manner of speaking." "Frankly, I do not have $50,000." "However, I wouldn't mention it to my captors" "If you value your life." "Oh, you mean they'd murder me?" "I'm sure of it." "Murder's such a messy business." "One should never do anything" "Which he cannot discuss after dinner." "I hope this affair" "Hasn't prejudiced you against america, mr." "Wilde." "America..." "Do you know I'm quite sure" "It was discovered before columbus?" "But they kept it hushed up." "I've always preferred other people's problems" "Because my own bore me." "Suddenly however, I find that mine have..." "Snuff?" "No, thank you." "A most vital importance." "Right now, my affair is to get you out of here." "This has been a most exciting drama." "An englishman visits america's wild frontier." "The casting of oscar wilde in the leading role," "Is a stroke of genius on the part of mr." "Rook." "However, I hope you'll rewrite the third act" "To my satisfaction, mr." "Paladin." "I do have an idea." "I suggest its immediate adoption and implementation." "You can be a great help by keeping track of all" "The supporting actors at all times." "That will be simple." "Mr. Paladin..." "I just learned of your resurrection." "I knew you'd be delighted." "Chris said they sent the money." "You can see he's in one piece." "Where's the money?" "In my hotel room." "Go get it." "I was brought here blindfolded." "How do I get the money back to you?" "Matson'll go with you." "Matson?" "He's not an interesting conversationalist." "And only one escort?" "Mr. Rook, I'm afraid" "I haven't made much of an impression on you." "Oh, well." "Just a minute." "On second thought, mr." "Paladin..." "A man of your sales ability might require more attention" "Than one man can give." "Chris can ride with you, too." "I'd be delighted." "Mr. Wilde..." "I once read something of yours." "You should think on it while I'm gone." "It went, "the world is divided into two classes." "Those who believe the incredible," "And those who do the improbable."" "I'm afraid mr." "Rook has forced me" "Into my proper category after all." ""and those who do the improbable."" "All right, let's have the money." "I'll get it for you." "Excuse me." "I don't suppose you two gentlemen" "Have ever seen anything like this." "Here's your ransom." "One..." "Two..." "Three." "Now toss the guns over here." "Thank you." "And I'd like a sample of your handwriting." "I don't write." "Oh?" "You'd be better anyway." "I can't write neither." "Don't force me to wake the rest of the people in this hotel." "Sit down." "When you've finished writing," "We'll have your illiterate friend here" "Deliver the letter to your brother jim." "Take this down." ""dear mr." "Rook," "Although you have probably not read..." "The old testament," "I think it appropriate..." "A-p-p-r-o-p-r-I-a-t-e." "Appropriate to quote it tonight." ""one must fight" "Fire with fire." ""extract an eye for an eye." "A tooth for a tooth."" "Mr. Wilde, mr." "Rook." "Good morning." "The fact that it is morning is indisputable." "As to whether it's good or not..." "You two think you're pretty clever." "Mr. Rook..." "Be good enough to ask mr." "Wilde" "To step over here." "And I'll be very happy to pay his ransom." "All right, mr." "Wilde." "Son, if you'd just kick that horse..." "A perfect third act, paladin." "Thank you, mr." "Wilde." "Where is the other supporting actor," "The one who came back with the letter?" "Somewhere in the rocks, behind you." "Thank you." "Please." "Mr. Rook, we have some unfinished business." "What do you mean?" "You're a menace to society and to my livelihood." "You're no business man, mr." "Paladin." "You're a lunatic." "We're going back to town together." "Now, mr." "Rook..." "I will serve as your bodyguard..." "To the marshal." "And I think that will conclude" "Our literary competition for today." "Well, mr." "Paladin..." "It looks as though our enemies are finally vanquished." "Finally and for good, mr." "Wilde." "We can't be too careful in the choice of our enemies." "You know..." "That sounds like something" "I might have said myself." "You will, mr." "Wilde." "Mr. Paladin..." "I look everywhere for you." "Compliments of mr." "Wilde." "Front row to the lecture, tonight." "They're all yours, hey boy." "I've seen all I ever want to see of him." "Tonight I'm going to take some of his advice." "Mr. Oscar wilde give you advice?" "He once remarked, "the only way to get rid" "Of a temptation is to yield to it."" "And tonight I'm yielding." "Oh, boy." "¶ have gun, will travel reads the card of a man ¶" "¶ a knight without armor in a savage land ¶" "¶ his fast gun for hire heeds the calling wind ¶" "¶ a soldier of fortune is the man called paladin ¶" "¶ paladin, paladin where do you roam ¶"