town. No one is allowed into town.'
'Pretty good plan Vic and Ned worked out.'
'Yeah. What are you goin' to do, Frank?'
'See this girl. Then I'm going to open the road ... or die trying.'
--------
*Twenty-two*
Frank talked briefly with the frightened young lady in his office. She told him basically what she had told Jerry. She ended with, 'What do you suppose will happen to Dean?'
Frank didn't want to tell her that her beau was probably already dead. 'He'll have to stand trial, miss. I don't know what the judge will do.' _If he is alive he'll spend the rest of his life in prison_, he thought.
After the young woman had left, Frank told Jerry, 'Have a wagon hitched up. Transfer one of those Gatling guns over to it, and fill all the magazines.'
Jerry looked at him.
'And some dynamite and caps, too,' Frank added.
'Sounds like you're about to declare war, Frank.'
'I am, Jer. For a fact.'
Jerry left the office at a run, and Frank began putting together some gear. He was filling the empty loops in his ammo belt with .44-.40 cartridges when Mayor Jenkins came in.
'Coffee over there on the stove, Mayor,' Frank told him. 'It's fresh and hot. Help yourself.'
'Good.' Jenkins reached into his suit coat and pulled out some papers. 'While I'm doing that, you sign these where I've put an X.'
'What am I signing?'
'Some very important papers.' He pushed a pen and inkwell across the desk. 'Sign them and date them.'
Frank scrawled his name, looked at the calendar and printed in the date, then pushed the papers away.
'I just spoke with Dr. Bracken, Frank. There is no change in Mrs. Browning's condition.'
'I know.'
'Doc Bracken is worried about Conrad. The boy is very shaky.'
'He's learning that death is a part of living, Mayor. The kid is tougher than most people think. He'll be all right.'
'I know you're about to do something. You want me to put a posse together, Frank?'
'No. This is something I have to handle myself. There has been enough loss of innocent life this day.'
'One man against two large gangs?'
'If I decide I need help, Mayor, I'll send word back. What I would like for you to do is officially deputize some of those men I had guarding the prisoners earlier. They can take care of the town. I want Jerry with me at the blockade.'
'I'll do that immediately.'
'Thank you.'
'Be careful, Frank.'
'I won't promise that, Mayor.'
Jenkins smiled his understanding, nodded his head, and picked up the papers. 'I'll send over your copies in a few days. I want to have these recorded.'
Frank finished filling the loops in both gunbelts, .44-.40 and .45, then filled up a large canteen with fresh water. Jerry walked in about the time he was finished.
'Got the Gatlin' gun loaded, Frank. Several cases of filled-up magazines.'
'Dynamite?'
'Enough to blow up a mountain. You ever handled dynamite?'
'Plenty of times. One more thing: go over to Angie's and tell her to fix us some sandwiches to take with us.'
'On my way.'
Frank stowed his rifle and canteen in the wagon outside the office and looked over the team: good, powerfully built horses. Doc Bracken walked up. Frank guessed the doctor was taking a much needed break from his patients.
'Mrs. Browning is drifting in and out of consciousness, Marshal. She wants to see you. You'd better come now. I don't believe she can last much longer.'
Frank walked over to the doctor's office and pushed open the door leading to the tiny clinic. Conrad was sitting by his mother's bed. He looked up at Frank.
