'Bank's goin' to be crowded, Frank.'
'Yes. Full of people. Let's don't get any innocent person hurt or killed.'
Jerry paused in his rolling of a smoke. 'That might be just wishful thinkin', Frank.'
'I know. But we can try.'
'Here comes one of those men ridin' up to the bank big as brass.'
'And not a head on the street is turning in curiosity,' Frank observed. 'These ole boys are pretty damn sharp in their planning.'
'It's goin' to happen soon, Frank.'
'Yeah. Get going. Jer? Good luck.'
Jerry smiled. 'All in a day's work, Frank.'
'Let's hope there aren't many days like this one.'
Jerry walked off up the street, speaking to the ladies as he slowly strolled along.
Frank watched as the livery man rode another of the fine horses up the street and hitched him to a rail on the other side of the bank. Then Frank watched as two of the newcomers in question came strolling up, paused for a moment, then entered the bank.
_OK, boys_, Frank thought as he spotted another of the six men come riding up. _Let's do it and get it over with._
--------
*Nineteen*
Frank walked up the block to the corner before turning and crossing the street. He had already spotted the lookout, and kept on walking past the street intersection. He quickly cut into a very narrow alley and then surprised a couple of ladies who were shopping for bustles or corsets or dainties or something along that line.
'Pardon me, ladies,' Frank said, quickly walking through the store. 'There is apt to be a little trouble on the street in a few minutes, so please stay inside. Thank you.' He exited the store as fast as possible. Being around a gaggle of women shopping for unmentionables always made Frank nervous.
Just as Frank closed the door behind him, he heard one woman say, 'I think he's so _rugged_, don't you, Ophelia?'
'And so _capable_, too.'
'Oh, Lord!' Frank muttered.
Frank eased up behind the lookout man and stuck the muzzle of a .45 in the man's back. 'Take a hard right, hombre, and step into this store. That's a good boy. You try to give any type of signal and I'll blow your spine around your guts.'
Frank stepped out of the store just in time to see three more of the outlaws enter the bank. That left the livery owner still out somewhere. Frank and Jerry would have to worry about him later.
'What the hell is going on here, Marshal?' the man blustered as soon as Frank had him inside the store.
Frank relieved the outlaw of his guns, holstering his own .45. 'Mr. Harvey!' Frank called, ignoring the outlaw's question.
'Marshal,' the store owner replied.
'You have a gun?'
'I sure do.'
'This man is part of a gang that is right now in the process of robbing the bank. If he tries to move or yell, shoot him. Will you do that for me?'
Harvey reached under the counter and came up with a Greener -- a sawed-off, double-barreled shotgun. 'Rob our bank? Why that sorry son of a bitch! You bet I'll keep him here and quiet. This here is loaded with nails and screws and bits of metal from the smithy's shop, Marshal. If that man tries to move, I'll spread him all over the store.' Harvey jacked both hammers back with an ominous sound.
The outlaw paled. He wanted no trouble with a Greener. He cut his eyes to Frank. 'How'd you make us, Marshal?'
'Just luck, hombre. Now you be very still and very quiet.'
'I ain't movin' nothin'.'
'Not if you're smart,' Harvey warned. 'I've fought Injuns and outlaws, and killed my share of both. One more wouldn't bother me one whit.'
'I believe you, mister,' the outlaw said. 'I do believe you.'
'Where is the man from the livery?' Frank asked.
The outlaw smiled. 'He's out yonder somewheres. Chances are, he'll find you.'
'Play it your way, hombre. See you in a little bit, Mr. Harvey.'
'I'll sure be here, Marshal. And so will this one. Either standin' up or in pieces all over the store.'
'Sit down on the floor and put your hands under your butt,' Frank told the outlaw. 'That's good. Now stay that way.'
