Louis LAmour - Long Ride Home

Contents

W ALKING S TRAIGHT INTO D EATH

T HE STREET BROKE in a thundering roar through which he found himself walking straight toward the Barlows, his guns hammering. He knew the first shot he had taken at Joe had been too quick. Suddenly it seemed as if a white hot branding iron had hit his left shoulder. He dropped that gun, feeling the warm blood run down his sleeve. His arm was uselessbut his right gun kept firing.

Suddenly, Joe was falling from the steps, and almost as in a dream Clip saw the man straighten out, arms widespread, blood staining the dust beneath him.

Clip started to step forward, and realized suddenly that he was on his knees. He got up, feeling another slug hit him in the side. Gonny was facing him, legs spread wide, a fire-blossoming gun in either hand. A streak of red crossed his jaw.

Clip started toward him, holding his last bullet.

Authors Note

The Cactus Kid Pays a Debt

I have written several stories about the Cactus Kid. In this case some of the activity takes place in San Francisco. Bull-Run Allen was a known man on the Barbary Coast and vicinity and his place at the corner of Sullivan Alley and Pacific Street was notorious. One-Ear Tim was also known and his ear was said to have been chewed off during a physical arbitration with an unwilling robbery victim.

The Barbary Coast was known for its dives and for its multitude of ways of relieving innocent victims of their funds. However, once in a while they picked on the wrong man. The odds were against anybody with money, and the sooner one got away from the area, the better.

Many of the tough joints along the water-front were built over the hulks of old ships sunken in the bay to enlarge the land area. Most of the dives had a convenient trap-door for the disposal of surplus bodies or through which shang-haiied sailors could be taken by boat out to a waiting ship. It was not unusual; for a sight-seer to have a drink in such a dive and wake up on a slow boat to China. It was often a one-way trip.

THE CACTUS KID PAYS A DEBT

F OUR PEOPLE, TWO women and two men, boarded the San Francisco boat in company with the Cactus Kid. Knights Landing was a freight landing rather than a passenger stop, and the five had been drawn together while waiting on the dock.

Mr. Harper, pompous in black broadcloth, wore muttonchop whiskers and prominent mustache. Ronald Starrett, younger and immaculate in dark suit and hat, looked with disdain at the Kids wide white hat, neat gray suit and high-heeled boots.

The Kid carried a carpetbag that never left his hands, a fact duly noted by both men and one of the women. The Kid, more at home aboard the hurricane deck of a bronc than on a river steamer, had good reason for care. He was taking fifteen thousand dollars, the final payment on the Walking YY, from his boss, Jim. Wise, to old MacIntosh.

What time does this boat get in? the Kid asked of Harper.

Around midnight, Harper said. If you havent a hotel in mind, Id suggest the Palace.

If you go there, Starrett added, stay out of the Cinch Room or youll lose everything you have.

Thanks, the Cactus Kid responded dryly.

Five feet seven inches in his sock feet, and a compact one hundred and fifty-five, the Kid, with his shock of curly hair and a smile women thought charming, was usually taken to be younger and softer than he was.

On the Walking YY and in its vicinity the Kid was a living legend, and the only person in his home country who did not tremble at the Kids step was Jenny Simmsor if she did, it was in another sense.

Its a positive shame! the older woman burst out. A young man like you, so nice looking and all, going to that awful town! You be careful of your company, young man!

Nesselrode Clay, otherwise the Cactus Kid, flushed deeply. I reckon I will, maam. Ill be in town only a few hours on business. I want to get back to the ranch.

Harper glanced thoughtfully at the carpetbag and Starretts eyes followed. The younger woman, obviously, a proud young lady, indulged in no idle conversation. Miss Lily Carfather was going to San Francisco with her aunt, somebody had said.

It looks like a dull trip, Starretts voice was casual. Would anybody care for a quiet game of cards?

Mr. Harper glanced up abruptly, taking in the young man with a suspicious, measuring eye. Never play with strangers, he replied brusquely.

I think, Lily Carfather said icily, gambling is abominable!

On the contrary, Starrett defended, it is a perfectly honorable pastime when played by gentlemen, and we are gentlemen here.

He drew out a deck of cards, broke the seal and shuffled the cards without skill. The Cactus Kid considered Ronald Starrett more carefully.

Harper glanced at his watch. Well, he mumbled, there is a good bit of time.A little poker, you said? He glanced at the Kid who shrugged and moved to the table.

If, Starrett glanced at the women, youd care to join us? Please dont think me bold buta friendly game? For small stakes?

Lily Carfather dropped her eyes. Well she hesitated.

Lily! The older woman was shocked. You wouldnt.

On the contrary her chin lifted defiantlyI believe I shall!

Ronald Starrett shuffled the cards and handed them to Harper for the cut. No limit was set, the Kid noticed, as play began. Picking up his cards the Kid found himself with a pair of jacks.

T HE CACTUS KID had lost his innocence where cards were concerned in Tascosa when he was sixteen, and as this game proceeded, he grew increasingly interested, He stayed even, while his observant eyes noted that the end of the middle finger on Starretts left hand was missing. Also, Mr. Harper played a shrewd and careful game, while behind the seeming innocence of Lily Carfather was considerable card savvy.

Suddenly the Kid found himself holding three nines. He considered them, decided to stay and on the draw picked up a pair of jacks. He won a small pot. And he won the next two hands.

Youre lucky, Mr. Clay, Starrett suggested, smiling. Well, maybe well get some of it back later.

The Kid drew nothing on the following hand and threw in, but on the next he won a fair-sized pot. He found himself feeling a little like a missionary being banqueted by cannibals. He lost a little, won some more and found himself almost a hundred dollars ahead. He was not surprised when Starrett dealt him four kings and a trey. He tossed in the trey, drew a queen and began to bet.

After two rounds of betting, Harper dropped out. Starrett had taken two cards as had Lily. On the next round, with both the Kid and Lily raising, Starrett dropped out. On the showdown Lily had four aces. She gathered in the pot, winning more than a hundred dollars from the Kid alone.

Harper dealt and the Kid lost again, then Lily dealt and the Kid glanced at his cards and tossed them into the discard. The fun was over now and he was slated for the axe. When it came his turn to deal, he shuffled and easily built up a bottom stock from selected discards, passed the cards to Lily for the cut, then picked up the deck and shifted the cut in a smoothly done movement and proceeded to deal swiftly, building his own hand from the bottom until he held the three he wanted.

Harper threw in his hand but Starrett and Lily stayed. The Kid gave Starrett three, Lily two, and himselffrom the bottomtwo. Picking up his hand he looked into the smug faces of a royal flush.