The tired horses drank at a waterhole rimmed with dusty scum. Young Pete gazed at the weathered signboard. \u201cFive Miles to Perdition,\u201d he said. The sign pointed toward a group of cottonwoods far down the desert. \u201cMeans hell, or somethin\u2019 like that,\u201d Pete added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a place called Purgatory, out near the White Sinks,\u201d said Dave Hamill. \u201cFunny how many different names there are for hell.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of different kinds of hell,\u201d declared Pete.<\/p>\n
They rode on.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like mine thick and rare,\u201d said Young Pete presently. \u201cAnd plenty hot bread and coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSame here\u2014if you mean steak.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t talkin\u2019 about wimmen,\u201d said Pete.<\/p>\n
Perdition admired to call itself a tough town. The mines back in the hills had closed down, but petty graft and the cowboys from Luna and Magdalena kept the hurdy-gurdy honking and the ball spinning in the wheel. Earnest but indiscreet visitors were received with open arms, wrung dry and tossed out onto the city dump. Awakening next morning sore and sober they were haled before the justice of the peace and fined for disorderly conduct. Perdition\u2019s city marshal, Mr. Collins, was able to get away with this because he required visiting gentlemen to hang up their guns upon entering town.<\/p>\n
Unaware of this handicap, Young Pete and Dave Hamill rode into town, stabled their horses and made tracks for the nearest restaurant. They were sitting on high stools waiting for the two steaks, thick and rare, when City Marshal Collins stepped in through a side door and approached them from behind.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou boys will have to hang up your guns while you\u2019re here,\u201d the marshal said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike hell we will!\u201d said Dave Hamill, swinging round and facing the marshal.<\/p>\n
Pete kicked Dave on the leg. \u201cLeave it to me,\u201d he whispered. Then to the marshal: \u201cHere\u2019s my gun. But I want a receipt for her. I\u2019m leavin\u2019 town in the mornin\u2019 early.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s all right,\u201d said Collins.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s all right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou won\u2019t need any receipt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Young Pete\u2019s grin faded. \u201cYou got my gun. All I got is your word I\u2019ll get it back. I want it in writin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll take your gun, too,\u201d said the marshal, ignoring Young Pete.<\/p>\n
Pete jerked Dave\u2019s gun from its holster. \u201cGive us two receipts and you can have it,\u201d said Pete, rolling the gun. \u201cBut you needn\u2019t pester Dave. All he does is the thinkin\u2019 for this outfit. I do the shootin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re a tough kid, ain\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Young Pete grinned into the muzzle of the gun the marshal had just taken away from him. \u201cJust bite me and see! But don\u2019t count on that gun. She\u2019s empty. That\u2019s why I give her to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
A dark wizened little man at a table across the room laid down his fork and laughed. The waiter, coming suddenly from the kitchen glided behind the big coffee urn.<\/p>\n
City Marshal Collins stared at Young Pete\u2019s lean, dark face. \u201cHand over that gun!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan\u2019t,\u201d said Pete. \u201cDon\u2019t belong to me. What you pesterin\u2019 me for? You got my gun. And Dave, here, ain\u2019t got no gun. It ain\u2019t awful hard to figure.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man who had laid down his fork rose and walked over to Pete. \u201cI\u2019d like to shake hands with you,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re the first sober man that ever called Collins\u2019 bluff. I run a little game over at the Silver Dollar. They call me \u2018the Spider\u2019, down this way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGlad to meet you,\u201d said Pete. \u201cDave, you shake hands for both of us. I\u2019m busy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll be busier if you don\u2019t hand over that gun!\u201d threatened Collins.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo will your friends if you don\u2019t quit pesterin\u2019 me.\u201d Young Pete continued to roll the gun.<\/p>\n
City Marshal Collins glared at the Spider. \u201cThese friends of yours?\u201d he rasped. \u201cThat why you horned in?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I don\u2019t know either of them.\u201d The Spider turned his back on the city marshal. \u201cAny time you want a job,\u201d he said to Pete, \u201cjust let me know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks. Any time you want a new city marshal, just say the word.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Spider signaled to the waiter behind the coffee urn. \u201cFetch those orders over to my table. I think Mister Collins will excuse us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll horn in once too often,\u201d said the marshal.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny time you think you can beat me to it, I\u2019ll accommodate you,\u201d said the Spider, \u201cCome on, boys. Those steaks are getting cold.\u201d<\/p>\n
The waiter fetched their steaks. \u201cNothin\u2019 has smelled so sweet as that marshal since Pansy died,\u201d said Pete. \u201cPansy,\u201d he explained, \u201cwas a mule. She fell into a well. Pass the ketchup, Dave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the marshal\u2019s name is Collins,\u201d said the Spider.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s the homeliest damn catamount I ever seen!\u201d said Dave.<\/p>\n
Pete\u2019s eyebrows twisted in a puzzled frown. \u201cHomely? Mebby that was it. I thought he was makin\u2019 faces at me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Spider ate little but drank much coffee. Dave and Young Pete kept busy until their checks came. Then they took time to stare at each other. \u201cWhat\u2019s yours?\u201d asked Pete.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo dollars and four bits. I\u2019m goin\u2019 to need crutches to get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTable service costs a dollar more than counter service, here,\u201d said the Spider. \u201cI invited you boys to eat with me. I\u2019ll take care of the checks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe ain\u2019t exactly broke,\u201d declared Dave.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter keep your change,\u201d said the Spider. \u201cIf Collins takes a notion to run you in and you haven\u2019t any cash, he\u2019ll hold you for vagrancy and levy on your outfit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe took me for a kid. I don\u2019t aim to let no cheap city marshal get ahead of me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Spider gathered up the checks. When they were out in the street he gestured toward the saloon across the way. \u201cYou\u2019ll find me there, most of the time. About Collins\u2014let him get as far ahead of you as he likes. But don\u2019t let him get behind you.\u201d And the Spider crossed the street and entered the Silver Dollar.<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds kind of like advice, at that,\u201d said Pete.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooks like that there Perdition sign was a warnin\u2019,\u201d said Dave as they walked down the street. With the same thought in mind they headed for the livery barn. \u201cThere ain\u2019t no reward out for me,\u201d said Dave as they came opposite the building. \u201cSuppose you wait and I\u2019ll get our horses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pete stepped back into the shadow of a doorway. In a few minutes Dave returned. \u201cWe\u2019re sure afoot,\u201d he complained. \u201cThe city marshal has left orders to hold our horses till you hand over your gun.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you offer to pay the feed bill?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI sure did!\u201d<\/p>\n
They turned and walked back up the street. Across the street a short, thick man in a big Stetson was keeping abreast of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was in the livery office,\u201d whispered Dave.<\/p>\n
\u201cMebby a deputy, set to watch that we don\u2019t make our getaway,\u201d Pete ventured. \u201cLet\u2019s step in here and see if he follows us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Entering the Silver Dollar they sauntered to the bar. Dave bought a drink. Young Pete, who never drank, bought a handful of nickels and moved over to the nickel-in-the-slot machine. He pushed in a nickel and pulled the lever down. The cards revolved. Pete gazed into the strip of mirror at the top of the machine. The short man in the big hat had entered the saloon and was sitting at a wall table talking with a companion. The revolving cards flickered and stopped, one card short of a straight.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t beat them things,\u201d said Dave as he came up.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I can watch \u2019em go round.\u201d Pete peered into the mirror as he again played the machine. The man in the big hat and his companion had their heads together. The whirring cards stopped\u2014three aces and a pair of fours. \u201cYou win!\u201d said Dave Hamill as several nickels rattled down into the receiver. Pete scooped up the nickels. The man in the big hat had gestured with his thumb toward the ceiling.<\/p>\n
A roustabout removed the dustcloths from the card tables. Pete saw the Spider seated near the faro layout, reading a newspaper. Pete thrust another nickel into the machine.<\/p>\n
A brisk, sallow-faced man entered. \u201cCard-man,\u201d reflected Pete. The sallow-faced man nodded to the two at the side table as he passed. Again the man in the big hat gestured toward the ceiling with his thumb.<\/p>\n
The sallow-faced man, known as \u201cSlicker,\u201d put on a green eye-shade, hung up his coat and took his place at the head of the faro table.<\/p>\n
Three cowpunchers sauntered up to the bar and called for drinks. The faro dealer spoke to the Spider, who nodded without looking up. Two more cowboys drifted in and joined the group at the bar. Dave Hamill played three or four nickels in the machine and lost.<\/p>\n
Pete wondered why the two men across the room had pointed toward the ceiling. Could the gesture have anything to do with the skylight directly above the faro table?<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep rollin\u2019 \u2019em,\u201d he said to Dave. \u201cMe, I\u2019m goin\u2019 to take a look around this joint.\u201d<\/p>\n
Curling a smoke, Pete sauntered from table to table, pausing to watch the play, then moving on. He came to the end of the room, opened a door. The room contained a bed, a washstand, some clothing, a table and chair and a small safe. \u201cThe Spider\u2019s office,\u201d said Pete to himself as he backed out.<\/p>\n
The adjoining door led, eventually, to an alley back of the building. Pete stepped out into the darkness. A pinch of light coming from a shaded window at the back of the dance hall next door caught his eye. The dance hall piano was going. Pete sauntered down the alley. The sound of piano playing stopped. He was almost under the window from which the pinch of light came.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlayin\u2019 the nickel-in-the-slot machine,\u201d said someone in the room. \u201cHim and his pardner.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich might be me, they\u2019re talkin\u2019 about,\u201d reflected Pete. He moved up near the window.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re lucky if we get away with it. The Spider….\u201d<\/p>\n
Pete recognized the voice of City Marshal Collins.<\/p>\n
\u201cEasy,\u201d said the first speaker. \u201cBill is on the roof with a rope. A couple of minutes to twelve, Soapy \u2019ull start an argument with the Kid. Slicker \u2019ull switch off the lights. Just as he switches \u2019em off he\u2019ll drop the Spider. I\u2019ll raid the Spider\u2019s safe an\u2019 put the stuff in a pair of saddle bags. Bill will let down the rope through the skylight while the light is off. Up goes the cash. When the lights come on again, the Spider\u2019ll be dead, an\u2019 the dough and the Kid and his pardner \u2019ull be gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sounds all right, Pelcher,\u201d came the voice of City Marshal Collins, \u201cbut suppose Slicker don\u2019t get the Spider the first shot?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou gettin\u2019 cold feet? Listen: Somebody starts an argument at the faro table. Slicker\u2019s got that ribbed up. Slicker throws down his eye-shade and steps over to ask the Spider to settle the argument. The Spider always is settin\u2019 in his big chair near the electric switch. When Slicker gets close enough to the Spider to make a sure thing of it, he lets him have it.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a pause and the sound of someone striking a match. Then the city marshal\u2019s voice. \u201cDon\u2019t you be too sure the Kid and his partner will run when the shootin\u2019 starts. Calls hisself just \u2018the Kid\u2019 here, but he\u2019s better known as \u2018the Arizona Kid\u2019 elsewhere. An\u2019 he\u2019s got a record over in Arizona. He\u2019s poison with a gun. He\u2019s been in two gunfights since he hit New Mexico. He\u2019s wanted in Vegas right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Arizona Kid! Why, he ain\u2019t much more\u2019n a boy!\u201d Again came a silence. Then: \u201cI\u2019ll fix that. Just before Slicker gets busy I\u2019ll tell the Kid I\u2019m night man over to the livery barn, and that it\u2019s all right with me if he wants to pull his freight. By the way his pardner talked to the boss when I was in the livery office, those two boys\u2019ll jump at the chance to make their getaway.\u201d<\/p>\n
Young Pete heard City Marshal Collins make some remark, just as the piano started up again. Then he hastened back to the Spider\u2019s place.<\/p>\n
The long, wide room had begun to fill up. A poker game was going. Several more cowpunchers had come in. Pete got another handful of nickels and began to play the slot machine. He told Dave Hamill to mill around and find out, without asking, if the man dealing faro was called \u201cSlicker\u201d.<\/p>\n
Pete played the slot machine again. Dave came from the bar. \u201cIt\u2019s the faro dealer, all right,\u201d he said. \u201cHow\u2019s your game goin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWatch close,\u201d said Pete pulling the lever down. The cards whirred. \u201cThey framed it to rob the Spider\u2019s safe,\u201d said Pete. \u201cThe city marshal is in it, and that short fella with the big hat. The marshal figures to let us make a break and getaway. We\u2019re strangers in town. He\u2019ll say we shot the Spider and got away with the cash. But the cash really stays right in town. What you bitin\u2019 your lip about?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou asked me to find out who that Slicker fella was so you could give him a tip?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot any. He\u2019s got the job of bumpin\u2019 off the Spider.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHim. Why, they\u2019re pardners! The bartender told me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPardners in business, mebby. But you can\u2019t tell how they stack up, private.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did you get wise?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOut in the alley. Quit talkin\u2019. Watch me win.\u201d Young Pete nodded toward the flickering cards. \u201cThree aces\u2014deuce\u2014five spot. Tell me when you see the Spider come in.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t beat that thing. Say, Pete, how about stickin\u2019 up the livery stable and leavin\u2019 town right now? I don\u2019t like this here frame-up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I kind of like the Spider\u2019s style.\u201d Pete played another nickel. \u201cAnd that city marshal is goin\u2019 to stick his foot in a gopher hole and break his neck, if he don\u2019t watch out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s playin\u2019 safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody\u2019s playin\u2019 safe that tangles with the Spider.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you was strong for leavin\u2019 town, a while ago,\u201d said Dave.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was. If our horses was fresh I don\u2019t know but what I\u2019d be willin\u2019 to take a chance. But I don\u2019t aim to let a posse shoot me up for stealin\u2019 somethin\u2019 I didn\u2019t steal. And mebby you recollect the Spider offered me a job, when he was in the restaurant? Well, he didn\u2019t mean washin\u2019 dishes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThink he knows you\u2019re the Arizona Kid?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI dunno. I saw him in El Paso once. I was with Tonto Charley. But that don\u2019t make no difference. The idea is, Dave, when you\u2019re a stranger in a town like this you got to side with one bunch or the other, or sure as hell somebody\u2019ll get you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I ain\u2019t so sick I can\u2019t stick around and watch you lose all our nickels,\u201d said Dave.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll right. You stand up near the front of the bar, and when the Spider comes in, tell him quiet-like I wanter see him. If there\u2019s too many folks around, just haze him over to me. Tell him I broke my arm tryin\u2019 to pull a winnin\u2019 hand out of this here machine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s gettin\u2019 close to twelve,\u201d said Dave.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Pete nodded. \u201cAnd I notice likewise, that the fella in the big hat is back. He\u2019s edgin\u2019 over this way. That\u2019ll be Pelcher. That greasy lookin\u2019 sport in the blue suit must be the one they call \u2018Soapy.\u2019 Here they come. You start an argument with me about my havin\u2019 your gun. Make out you\u2019re sore. When I give you your gun, you drift up to the front of the bar like I said.\u201d<\/p>\n
The stocky man in the big hat, and Soapy, a tinhorn gambler with a hard reputation, shoved up to the bar and called for a drink.<\/p>\n
\u201cI reckon I\u2019ll drift,\u201d said Dave, loudly to Pete. \u201cI\u2019ll take my gun, if it\u2019s all the same to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike hell you will!\u201d laughed Pete.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou ain\u2019t takin\u2019 me serious.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pete\u2019s smile vanished. \u201cYou sore?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI sure am!\u201d<\/p>\n
Pete handed the gun to Dave. \u201cAll right. Go and fall down and shoot yourself. I reckon this is where we split.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSuits me,\u201d said Dave, holstering the gun and moving toward the front of the room.<\/p>\n
Glass in hand, the tinhorn, Soapy, turned to Young Pete. \u201cHow they rollin\u2019, sport?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBackwards. This here machine is a liar.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHave a drink?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNope. I never drink when I\u2019m gamblin\u2019. Might get reckless.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re a tough kid, ain\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Kid is all right,\u201d said the stocky man in the big hat. He stepped round Soapy and leaned confidentially toward Pete. \u201cListen, Kid. I\u2019m night man over to the barn. I heard the city marshal tell the boss to hold your horses. Seems Collins has got somethin\u2019 on you boys. It\u2019s nothin\u2019 to me. I been there myself. All I got to say is, the boss is asleep. There\u2019s nobody at the barn right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m right obliged to you.\u201d Pete thrust another nickel into the slot machine. He counted the nickels in his hand. \u201cI\u2019ll shoot these, then I\u2019m done.\u201d<\/p>\n
The smoke swirled near the doorway. The Spider came in. \u201cLost your pardner?\u201d he said as Dave came up alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. He\u2019s playin\u2019 the nickel machine. He says the machine is crooked and he\u2019d like the pleasure of tellin\u2019 you so.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group at the end of the bar laughed. The Spider\u2019s beady black eyes swept the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cGuess I\u2019ll be driftin\u2019,\u201d said Dave stepping in front of the Spider. He leaned nearer, whispered tensely, \u201cSee him quick, Spider!\u201d And Dave moved on.<\/p>\n
The Spider made his way to where Young Pete stood playing the nickel machine. Pete looked disgusted.<\/p>\n
\u201cSay, Spider, I been feedin\u2019 this thing for two hours and I only won twice. It needs fixin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Soapy and the stocky man were so near that Pete dared not risk more than a hint. His chance came when the Spider took a nickel and played the machine. Pete leaned forward as the cards settled down.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe machine is all right,\u201d said the Spider.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right!\u201d Pete counted the hand. \u201cKing, queen\u2014watch Slicker an\u2019 the skylight; they\u2019re gonter rob your safe at twelve\u2014jack, ten, nine! Well, what do you think of that!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can handle it,\u201d laughed the Spider. He laid a handful of nickels on the bar and invited Soapy, the man in the big hat, and Pete to have a drink. It was nine minutes of twelve.<\/p>\n
Young Pete took a cigar and asked the Spider for a match. \u201cI\u2019ll take that job you offered me, now,\u201d said Pete in a low tone. \u201cBut I ain\u2019t heeled.\u201d<\/p>\n
A couple of cowboys crowded up and shook hands with the Spider. They turned to the bar. The Spider swiftly unbuttoned his frock coat and reached for his pocketbook. Pete saw the ivory handle of a six-shooter. The Spider opened the pocketbook. Pete swept the six-shooter into his own holster unobserved. The Spider gave Pete a ten-dollar bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cWill that hold you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks,\u201d said Pete. He invited Soapy and the stocky man to drink with them.<\/p>\n
The Spider declined. \u201cMeet Soapy\u2014and this is his friend, Pelcher.\u201d The Spider gestured. \u201cThis is the Arizona Kid. He wants you boys to drink with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Arizona Kid! Soapy was too startled to offer to shake hands. The city marshal had told Pelcher that the Kid was a bad one to tangle with, but Soapy had no idea that the slim, dark Young Pete was the notorious Arizona outlaw. Pete was surprised that the Spider knew him, but he covered his surprise with a grin. His real name didn\u2019t seem to set very well with the tinhorn, Soapy.<\/p>\n
Dave Hamill sauntered up and nodded. \u201cHello, Dave!\u201d said Pete. \u201cI thought you had drifted?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChanged my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, it needed changin\u2019. The Spider was just askin\u2019 me to entertain Mister Soapy, here, and his friend Mister Pelcher. Mebby you can help.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t sing. But I can dance to beat hell.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pelcher saw that Soapy\u2019s nerve was going back on him. It was five minutes of twelve. \u201cIf you boys are wise,\u201d said Pelcher confidentially to Young Pete and Dave, \u201cyou\u2019ll fade while you got the chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks,\u201d said Pete. \u201cMe, I\u2019m plumb foolish.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019m just as happy if I had sense,\u201d declared Dave. \u201cYou buyin\u2019, Pete?\u201d<\/p>\n
The bartender shoved glass and bottle toward Dave Hamill. Pete turned and surveyed the room. Beyond the faro table, in his big armchair against the wall sat the Spider, reading a newspaper. Pete surmised that the Spider was deliberately playing into the hands of the gang and would continue to do so up to the last minute. The Spider knew what he was doing. Pete was certain of that.<\/p>\n
Somebody at the faro table began an argument with the dealer, Slicker. Slicker pushed up his eye-shade. The clock above the bar mirror showed two minutes of twelve.<\/p>\n
Handing his newspaper to the man seated next to him, and calling his attention to an article about a gold strike, the Spider got up and walked toward the back of the room. The argument at the faro table continued. Slicker threw his eye-shade on the table and walked over toward the man reading the newspaper. In a flash Pete saw how the Slicker had planned to kill the Spider\u2014reach up to switch off the lights and shoot him as the Spider looked up. Just then the newspaper moved. A derringer flashed in Slicker\u2019s hand. Just as he fired he saw that the man behind the newspaper was not the Spider. Another shot boomed as Slicker threw up the switch handle. Slicker let go of the switch and sank to the floor.<\/p>\n
As Slicker shot down the man in the chair, the tinhorn, Soapy, went for his gun. Pete, watching him, thrust Dave to one side and let Soapy have it. With the crash the room went dark.<\/p>\n
The crowd, surging toward the front door, cursed and shouted. Someone had locked the outside front doors. The crowd crashed through and into the street.<\/p>\n
In the darkness someone groaned. Someone was dragging something across the floor. Then a voice said, \u201cHaul away, up there!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey got the dough, anyway,\u201d whispered Dave Hamill.<\/p>\n
The lights flashed on.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy God, look!\u201d cried Dave.<\/p>\n
Halfway between the top of the faro table and the skylight dangled the body of a man, a rope round his neck. The body turned slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cPelcher,\u201d murmured Young Pete.<\/p>\n
On the table lay a pair of saddle bags.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe don\u2019t struggle any,\u201d whispered Dave. \u201cHe must have been dead before his neck went into that noose.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was the Spider that told the fella on the roof to haul away,\u201d Young Pete observed. \u201cThe rope must have jammed. Anyhow, the skylight was open. Now it\u2019s down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Across the room, in front of the chair where he had been reading the newspaper, lay the body of the man the Slicker had killed. A few feet beyond, Slicker lay doubled up against the wall.<\/p>\n
Still, statue-like at the head of the faro table, sat the Spider, a pack of cards in his hands. He was smoking a cigar. He shuffled the cards slowly.<\/p>\n
Pete bent over Soapy. \u201cHe\u2019s done,\u201d said Pete as Dave bent down to look.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know you was heeled,\u201d said Dave.<\/p>\n
\u201cNeither did he,\u201d said Pete.<\/p>\n
The bartender\u2019s head appeared, then his shoulders. He held a cocked gun.<\/p>\n
\u201cDrop it!\u201d called Pete. The bartender put up his hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s all right,\u201d called the Spider from the faro table.<\/p>\n
The bartender came round the end of the bar and walked out into the room.<\/p>\n
City Marshal Collins and two deputies, heavily armed, pushed into the saloon.<\/p>\n
\u201cSteady!\u201d said Pete, as Dave made a move to pull his gun. \u201cLet them start it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere they are!\u201d cried the marshal. \u201cCover \u2019em while I investigate.\u201d He saw the swinging body above the faro table. He stopped, stared at it, at the Spider beyond.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow does he look to you now?\u201d said the Spider.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2014how did that happen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou might ask him.\u201d<\/p>\n
City Marshal Collins walked over toward the body of Slicker, saw a man on the floor covered partially by a newspaper. He jerked the paper back. \u201cIt\u2019s Sweeney!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, it\u2019s Sweeney, another of your rotten gang.\u201d The Spider\u2019s voice was low. \u201cAnd it was your friend Slicker that killed him. Slicker got Sweeney\u2014by mistake. His mistake, not mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy God, Spider!\u201d The marshal stooped and turned Slicker over. \u201cWho shot Slicker here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHard to tell. The room was dark.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tired of keeping his hands up, Young Pete asked City Marshal Collins why he was under arrest.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor robbery and murder,\u201d replied Collins.<\/p>\n
The Spider laid down his deck of cards.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho was robbed, Collins?\u201d he asked the city marshal.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose saddle bags,\u201d Collins pointed to the faro table, \u201cbelong to one of these two boys here\u2014I seen \u2019em when they rode into town.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d said Young Pete. \u201cBut the liveryman had our saddles and outfit locked up in his office ever since we lit in town. He said it was by order of the city marshal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis,\u201d said Collins pointing toward Pete, \u201cis the Arizona Kid. He\u2019s wanted for robbery and murder.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a minute,\u201d said the Spider; he rose and came around the end of the table.<\/p>\n
Young Pete\u2019s lips barely moved as he told Dave to drop to the floor in case the Spider went for his gun. \u201cThose deputies are gettin\u2019 nervous,\u201d said Pete. \u201cSo is Collins. He don\u2019t like the Spider\u2019s talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor robbery and murder?\u201d The Spider\u2019s beady, black eyes were fixed on the marshal\u2019s gun hand, not on his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou mean these boys here planted someone on the roof to haul up those saddle bags after Pelcher had cleaned out my safe? Did they talk Slicker into shooting me down while I sat reading my paper? An\u2019 those saddle bags were under lock and key in the livery offices, along with their saddles and rig\u2014I suppose the Kid stole \u2019em out of the office, huh? Well there were four men in the livery office at half-past eleven an\u2019 two of \u2019em were your deputies!\u201d<\/p>\n
The Spider took a cigar from his vest. \u201cAbout the murder end of it. After the safe\u2019s robbed an\u2019 everything, the Kid stops and shoots his pals Sweeney an\u2019 Slicker an\u2019 Pelcher here, when any orn\u2019nary sensible man would \u2019a\u2019 been makin\u2019 his getaway, huh? An\u2019 yes, I almost forgot Soapy, there. I suppose the Kid killed him, too? Next thing you\u2019ll be saying he murdered me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t any time to get funny, Spider.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen don\u2019t, Collins.\u201d The Spider bit the end off his cigar and struck a match. The cigar in one hand, the match in the other, he stood as though waiting for Collins to speak. For two or three seconds they eyed each other. The match flared up. \u201cTell your men to let those boys go,\u201d said the Spider.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamned if I do!\u201d The city marshal\u2019s gun flashed up from the holster. The cigar and the match dropped from the Spider\u2019s fingers. His lean hands flickered downward like the stroke of a cat\u2019s paw; reappeared with a flashing gun. His first shot took the city marshal between the eyes. Collins\u2019 arm jerked up, dropping the gun he had just drawn. The Spider fired again. Collins pitched forward, struck the corner of the table and rolled over.<\/p>\n
At the Spider\u2019s first shot both Young Pete and Dave Hamill dropped to the floor. Two slugs tore through the face of the bar above them. Enraged that the deputies had fired on them when they had their hands up, Young Pete had pulled his gun as he fell. He fired from the floor. One of the deputies turned and ran. The other, shot through the shoulder, dropped his gun and thrust his hands up. The fleeing deputy had just reached the door when the Spider dropped him with a shot between the shoulders. \u201cYou can go, Smith,\u201d he said to the other deputy.<\/p>\n
Dave Hamill lay where he had fallen. Pete rose, stooped and lifted him in his arms. Dave\u2019s face was streaked with blood.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the hell?\u201d mumbled Dave as Young Pete shook him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re all right,\u201d said Pete. \u201cJust peeled yourself on the foot rail.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dave leaned against the bar and slowly reached for a bottle. The Spider stood by the faro table reloading his six-shooter. The bartender had vanished.<\/p>\n
\u201cI reckon we better drift,\u201d said Dave, pouring whisky on his bandanna and wiping the blood from his face.<\/p>\n
The Spider took up the saddle bags from the faro table. \u201cCome on back in the office,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Dumping the contents of the saddle bags onto his bed he handed the bags to Young Pete. \u201cDon\u2019t ride any farther west than the waterhole,\u201d said the Spider. \u201cThen turn south and head for the Pinnacles. Tell Old Man Enright at the Pinnacles that I sent you. He\u2019ll let you take fresh horses, if you need \u2019em.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks. How about this gun?\u201d Pete drew the ivory-handled six-shooter the Spider had loaned him.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep it,\u201d said the Spider. \u201cCall it a day\u2019s wages.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll stick\u2014if you say the word, Spider.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Spider shook his head. \u201cNo. I\u2019m through, here. I figured to close up the first of the month. Slicker was the only one who knew it. I saw he was getting pretty thick with Collins, but I didn\u2019t think he had the nerve to try it on like he did.\u201d<\/p>\n
A crowd had gathered across the street opposite the front of the Silver Dollar. As Young Pete and Dave Hamill stepped out into the alley a tall, flannel-shirted man in high laced boots and a flat-brimmed Stetson strode in through the front entrance and marched back to the Spider\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen the gang didn\u2019t get you?\u201d the tall man said, watching the Spider stack his money and put it in the safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
The superintendent of the Bluestone mines thrust out his hand. \u201cAwful mess\u2014but congratulations, Spider. We\u2019ll be needing a new city marshal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will,\u201d said the Spider.<\/p>\n
Dave Hamill and Young Pete drew up at the waterhole. Pete reined close to the weathered old signboard, reached up and jerked it loose.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the idea?\u201d said Dave.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll be the first time this sign ever done anybody any good. In a couple of hours I aim to boil some coffee. They ain\u2019t no wood in the bad lands where we\u2019re headed. That coffee\u2019ll carry us from daylight to the Pinnacles.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Pinnacles!\u201d said Dave Hamill grimly. He stared through the darkness toward the bad lands south. \u201cFunny, how many different names there are for hell.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Henry Herbert Knibbs<\/p>\n
Source text: https:\/\/www.gutenberg.org\/ebooks\/79385<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A Young Pete Western-pulp story by Henry Herbert Knibbs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[114,113,117,76,115,116],"class_list":["post-1338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pulp-classics","tag-henry-herbert-knibbs","tag-public-domain","tag-pulp-western","tag-short-story","tag-western","tag-young-pete"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1338"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1338\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1340,"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1338\/revisions\/1340"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/astoundingoutpost.com\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}