wouldn’t have come back from the dead for just anyone, you know.”
“Just don’t die on me again,” she said, “or so help me. I’ll kill you. Remember, you promised to marry me.”
He grinned. “That promise was extorted under false pretenses.”
“I might hold you to it just the same.”
“We’ll talk about it later. In about eight hundred years. Meanwhile, let’s split up and see what we can learn. I’ll meet you back here later.”
Jenny was sitting beside a dapper man who was dealing in a card game when Scott came into the Oriental Saloon. The moment she saw him, she whispered something to the man, got up and rushed over to him.
“Hi. stranger.” she said, with a dazzling smile. “I missed you.”
“Who was that man you were sitting with?” asked Scott, as he stepped up to the bar. Frank Leslie set a glass of whiskey before him with a wink.
You jealous?” Jenny asked, coyly.
Scott was surprised to discover that he was. That wasn’t a good sign. It wasn’t a good sign at all. He couldn’t afford to get involved. Or was he already involved?
“Maybe,” he said. “What if I am?”
“I think I like that,” Jenny said, pressing up against him and rubbing his chest.
“Who is he?”
“That’s Ben Stone. He’s the gambler I told you about. Came to town just a little while before you did.”
“About the same time my friends were killed?” asked Scott, softly.
She looked at him wide-eyed “You think he might have had something to do with it?”
“I don’t know.” said Scott. “What do you think?”
She bit her lower lip. “I don’t think I’d be surprised,” she said. “Not that I know he did,” she added quickly, seeing Scotts sharp glance. “Only there’s something about him… something strange. And dangerous. He gives me chills.”
You ever been with him?” asked Scott, uneasily.
She looked up at him. “Scott. I’ve been with lots of men. You know that. But that’s all in the past now. Oh, I still sit with cowboys and get them to buy drinks because that’s my job here. Sometimes I might let them put their arms around me. but no more than that, honest. No more trips to the back room. All that’s over now. It’s been over ever since I met you. Things are different now. Does it really matter what happened in the past?”
“Sometimes it matters more than you might know, Jenny,” said Scott, somewhat distantly. Then he smiled at her. But that doesn’t change the way I feel about you.”
“Then that’s all that really matters.” she said.
Ben Stone put down his cards and got up from the table. He picked up his hat and cane and came over to them. Scott watched as he approached. He was a tall man, very fit looking. with short, neatly trimmed dark hair and gray eyes. He was clean-shaven except for a dark, close-trimmed, pencil-thin moustache. He was wearing an elegant dark suit and waistcoat, a gold watch chain, and a neatly tied cravat held down by a pearl stickpin. He would have looked like a fashion model. Scott thought, if it wasn’t for those light gray eyes. They were alert, shrewd and calculating eyes. Eyes that didn’t miss a thing.
“You must be the Montana Kid.” said Stone. He offered his hand. Scott took it. “Benjamin J. Stone, at your service.”
Scott nodded. “Mr. Stone.”
“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you,” said Stone.
“Is that right?”
“I wanted to see the man who managed to capture Jenny’s affection. The moment she saw you, she excused herself and rushed right over to you. If I wasn’t such an easygoing man, I might have taken exception. Jenny brought me luck. The moment she got up from the table. I started losing. A man can’t afford to do much of that in my profession.”
“No. I don’t guess he can.” said Scott. “Jenny’s told me about you, but I don’t believe I’ve seen you in here before.”
“I’ve been playing down at the Alhambra for the past week or so,” said Stone. “Thought, I’d come back to the Oriental for a while. You never want to push a streak of luck too far in just one place.”
“So you’ve been lucky, then?”
“I like to think that skill has a bit to do with it. but luck plays a part, as well. May I buy you and the lady a drink with my winnings?”
“It would be a pleasure, Mr. Stone, thank you “
“Call me Ben. Kid. All my friends do. And from what I’ve heard about you. I’d rather count you among my friends than among my enemies.”
“You have many enemies, Ben?”
“A few, here and there Some men like losing less than others. But I’ve always taken great care to stay on the right side of the law. Sometimes the only thing between you and a bullet is the local lawman, isn’t that right, Marshal?”
Scott turned to see that Wyatt Earp had come up behind them.
“Isn’t what right, Mr. Stone?”
“I was just telling the Kid here that a man always has to have respect for the local law, because sometimes it’s all that stands between him and a bullet. Isn’t that right?”
“I reckon I can go along with that.” said Wyatt. He glanced at Scott’s open coat. “See you got that fancy gun rig George Spangenberg had over in his shop.”
“That’s right, Marshal. But I made sure to get that special permit from your brother before I put ’em on. And I picked up that one that he was keeping for me, too.”
I know. I heard about that Seein’ as how you’re workin’ to keep order in here. I don’t guess I mind that too much, so long as things don’t get out of hand. And I suppose that havin’ you wearin’ your guns is a lot safer than havin’ you without ’em. Otherwise you’re liable to prove a temptation to certain folks around here.
“I appreciate your understanding, Marshal.” Scott said. “Like I told you before, I’ll do my best to stay out of trouble.”
“Speakin’ of trouble,” Wyatt said, you bought those guns from Zeke didn’t you?”
“That’s right said Scott, suddenly on guard.
“Mind if I see one?”
“Not at all.” Scott took one of the Colts out and handed it to Wyatt.
“Sure is gaudy-lookin’.” Wyatt said. “I figure folks will be askin’ about your guns as much as they talk about how fast you are with ’em. You seen Zeke since he sold ’em to you?”
“No. I can’t say as I have. Why’?”
“Just wonderin’,” said Wyatt. “Seems after you left, he told George he was feelin’ poorly and went home. After he closed up. George rode out to look in on him and see how he was feelin’.” Wyatt shook his ahead. “Turns out Zeke wasn’t feelin’ too good. Fact is, he wasn’t feeling anything at all. He was dead.”
“Dead!” said Jenny.
“What happened?” asked Stone. “Was it fever?”
“Nope. It was a bullet A bullet from a. 45. just like this one “ he handed the Colt back to Scott. “Zeke was shot right through the heart And ole Ned, down at the corral, said you rented a horse from him this afternoon and rode out of town. Be about the same time Zeke went home to his place:
“Wyatt!” Jenny exclaimed.
“Are you suggesting that I killed him, Marshal?” Scott asked.
“I’m not suggesting anything, Kid. But I don’t suppose you’d care to tell me where you went today?”
“I took a ride out to that old claim my friends had,” Scott replied. “I thought maybe I’d file on it and find someone to work it for me. See if they were really going broke or if they’d made a strike and hadn’t told anyone about it.”
“And what did you decide?”
“I’M still thinkin’ about it.”
“Anyone see you go out there?”
