I've seen them stashed in a lot of places,
but never in a boot.
That makes for a good ash sole, stiff pasteboard.
I guess you could use some of this.
Pretty hot. Mm.
That's better.
So you're back with the living.
Thanks to you, Mr....
Friends call me Case, Case Silverthorne.
All right, Case, I'm Dex Harwood.
That a friend of yours back there
wearing a hemp neck piece?
An acquaintance.
What made you mess in it?
I don't exactly know, marshal.
Never did like necktie parties,
especially the impromptu kind.
I figure you saved my life, Case.
Maybe I owe you a piece of advice.
Yeah, how's that?
We don't mind gamblers in Marlpine,
provided they give you an even cut, off the top.
Sorry to disappoint you, marshal.
I was a dealer, sure.
Right now, I've retired.
Giving up gambling?
Four years I spent riding the riverboats
to scrape together a big enough stake, but...
hell, read this.
Gave every cent I had for the down payment, $3,200.
But it's worth it.
Something that'll last.
Something nobody can beat me out of with a lucky pair.
You bought the Diamond D?
Half of it.
I'll have to mortgage the balance.
Anything wrong?
Nothing wrong with the ranch.
You bought it from Will Donovan?
That's right.
You never met him.
No, I heard it through a friend in Independence,
said he wanted to sell, so I wrote him.
You read the letter... What's wrong with that?
Just one thing.
That was Will Donovan on the hanging tree.
He must have recorded the sale,
deeded it over to me.
The letter says he got the money.
We can ask Dr. Devlin when we get back to town.
He's township recorder as well as mayor.
I'll tell you something.
If old Doc had known the ranch had sold,
he sure would have told me.
You don't believe me, huh?
Diamond D's a fine spread.
Old Donovan's got two kids.
Always said he was building it up for them.
Never mentioned selling out.
Don't move!
I said, "Don't move."
Look, you wouldn't believe a wild story like that
from a stranger without evidence.
He was heading towards you, marshal.
It's only a little black snake.
Could have been a sidewinder...
You know, it's hard to tell in the dark.
Yeah, I guess it could.
I'd like to ask you a favor.
Don't say anything about my story just yet...
I mean, about buying the Diamond D.
Look, I got a murder to investigate.
Suppose I am telling the truth
and my deal had something to do
with getting Donovan killed.
Would it warrant a murder, let him cover his tracks
if they knew why I was in town?
Well, it makes sense, if you're talking straight.
All right, I'll keep quiet about it for now anyway.
Good, marshal.
No, sir, I don't know of any ranches around here
changed hands in the past few months.
I'd be in a position to know too
since I keep the township records.
I see.
You, uh, you interested
in acquiring some real estate, mister?
'Cause if you are,
I got some real nice parcels I can show you.
Well, I'm all right at the moment, doctor.
Now if the cards should run my way the next few weeks...
You know there's nothing
like owning some real estate
to make a man feel secure.
Now you take Kelly Barnum, for instance.
He kicked around this town for a number of years,
never amounted to much.
But the point is, he saved his money.
Yeah, thrift is a virtue, no doubt about that.
Dex, you wouldn't believe this,
but just two days ago Kelly Barnum come into my office
and plunked down $3,200, cold cash.
Took it right out from under that derby hat of his.
Bought the Trail's End Saloon, lock, stock and hitch rail.
That's pretty fancy saving.
Kelly never made more than 35 a month in his life.
Hmm, you don't say.
Yes, sir, and now Kelly is set for life.
Dex, you ain't gonna be doing any riding for a few weeks.
It's better than pushing up a wooden marker
over at Boot Hill.
That's what I'd be doing if it wasn't for Case here.
Whoa!
Huh, who's that?
More customers?
Young fellow and a girl.
Sharon and Jud Donovan.
I sent my deputy to bring in the body.
Told him to stop by the Diamond D on the way.
Will Donovan's kids?
Right.
Hello, Doc, marshal.
Oh, what happened, marshal?
I guess I got in the way of a bullet.
Your deputy said you wanted to see us.
That's right, Sharon.
Sit down, please.
It's your father.
Pa?
What's he done?
I'm afraid he's gotten himself murdered.
Murdered?
Why would anybody...
We don't know anything yet, son.
Four men did it, all in masks.
The marshal says it looked like a lynch party.
He didn't have a chance.
Yeah, well, you seem to know plenty about it.
He didn't have anything to do with it, Jud.
This is Case Silverthorne.
Lucky for me, he came along, saved my life.
Your father was dead before I reached him, son.
Jud, you think you could give us a little help?
Do you or your sister know anyone
who might want your father dead?
No, no reason at all.
Everybody in town liked Pa.
You and your dad were pretty close, weren't you, Jud?
No, not so close as Pa and Sharon.
He and I used to really go at it sometimes.
What about?
Well, mainly because I liked to come into town.
You know, have some fun...
drink, play cards,
not spend all my time on the ranch.
I would...
I wouldn't know from one year to the next
what went on at the ranch.
Will Donovan always said
he tried to make something out of that place
for you and Sharon.
Now I suppose you'll be wanting to sell it
as soon as you can.
No!
My father put everything he had into that ranch.
It was his life.
He would never sell.
Neither will we.
Well, Sharon, I'm afraid a girl
can't run it by herself.
I guess your brother will have to resign himself
to staying and helping you.
Yeah, yeah, I guess I will for a while.
Well, I've got to get back to my own office.
Now if you kids need anything...
Money or anything else... Don't you wait.
You come right to me, you hear?
All right, Doc Devlin, and thank you.
That's the least I can do.
And you, Dex, remember what I said.
You try to mount a horse
and that wound won't stay closed very long.
Good-bye.
Good-bye, Mr. Silverthorne.
Well, I guess we'd better be heading back too, Sharon.
It's a long drive back to the ranch.
We've got plans to make.
Marshal.
If a man sells his ranch, wouldn't you think
his own kids would know about it?
Yeah, that'd be interesting to know.
You think Sharon and Jud are lying?
Well, somebody is.
You still want me to keep your deal under my hat?
If you don't mind.
What do you intend to do about it?
Well, right now, I'm gonna try
to find somebody in town whose got cash enough
to buy an elegant silver-mounted saddle.
I need a stake.
Just make sure that stake backs some honest cards.
Sure, marshal.
I think I'll drop over and see the new proprietor
of the... what is it, The Trail's End? That's right.
Wouldn't be interested in adding a gambling operation.
Hey, there!
What are you doing with that saddle?
Taking it... what do you think?
What's the matter, are you sun struck or something?
I thought I recognized this fancy rig
when I first saw it.
Oriental Saloon, Abilene, remember?
Yeah, I been there.
You took me for 500 in a red dog game.
Look, you lost.
It was the way you played your cards.
The game was on the square.
On the square.
You forget, I know you, dealer.
Until you cough up the 500,
I'm gonna take your horse and rig for security.
I'd drop it, friend.
Thank you, marshal.
Case, pick up the other gun.
Be happy to oblige.
Hey, you, get over there.
Unload 'em and give 'em back to 'em.
Here you are... take it.
Who are these hombres?
Couple of card players, soreheads.
I don't remember names.
I'd suggest you go find your horses
and ride out of town pronto.
If you want to hold onto your money,
stay out of games with tinhorns.
Looks like you bring your trouble with you.
Well, now, marshal, from what I saw on the trail,
this town had pretty much trouble before I got here.
All right, as long as I
don't hear any complaints about a crooked game.
You understand?
Sure, marshal.
Much obliged, Doc.
Say, uh, I don't suppose you'd be in the market
for a fine-blooded animal and the most beautiful
silver-mounted Mexican saddle...
Mister, you wouldn't consider parting with this pretty rig?
Oh, you kind of like it, huh?
I sure do.
Well, in that case,
maybe I shouldn't even consider disposing of it.
It is a work of art though, isn't it?
It sure is.
Well, I'll leave you and Mr. Hastings
to discuss horse flesh.
I got work to do.
Well, you got a deal, dealer.
A deal with the dealer... That's pretty good, eh?
Tremendous.
Well, let's have a drink on it, lad.
It's better than shaking hands and much more fun.
Now let's get this straightened out.
You stand all your own losses
and I get 10% of all the pots you win.
Is that right? Right.
And may I say, Mr. Barnum,
you never made a better deal in your life,
except maybe, uh,
saving your money to buy this place.
Oh, so you heard about that, huh?
From old Doc Devlin I guess.
By the way, partner, the name is Kelly.
Right, Kelly.
Now where do I set up?
Well, just take that table on the corner there
where the last dealer, rest his soul...
Dinner will be ready in a minute.
Ah, I'm not hungry.
Who could have done it, Jud?
To Pa, like that?
There's no reason.
Well, there had to be a reason, you know,
to just kill somebody, unless they're crazy.
King high, King bets a dollar.
Six of clubs.
Queen of hearts.
Spades...
Who's the new tinhorn?
His name is Case Silverthorne,
and it's the best bet I ever made, Het,
to collect 10% of all the winning pots.
Ah, look at that lad go.
King still bets, bets $3.
How'd he get here?
I don't know...
He just drifted in and I took him on.
Maybe I'll sit in a few hands.
Het, wait a minute.
I've got something good for your brother.
A hundred head of new feeder calves
and they're unbranded,
down at the Thompson Ranch in Southfork.
Do you think Tray would be interested?
He may.
I'll talk to him later.
Next time, boys.
Welcome, stranger.
Sit right down.
An old friendly pastime to make the day go quicker.
Not just the day.
I don't think we've met before, have we?
I'm Case Silverthorne.
Been working the riverboats.
I must say, you westerners play a lot stiffer poker
than I'm accustomed to.
Deal.
You said your name was...
I didn't, but it's Larkin.
Het Larkin.
Occupation?
Punching cows.
My brother's ramrod of the Diamond D.
The Diamond D?
What about it?
Oh, nothing.
Seems I heard somebody mention it, Doc Devlin maybe.
Your bet, Mr. Larkin... The ace.
Oh, yeah, $3.
Ten of clubs, eight of clubs, eight of hearts.
You're still high, Mr. Larkin.
$10.
I call, Mr. Larkin.
Three deuces.
Beats my two little pair.
I don't know how you did on those riverboats,
but you're gonna have to
deal a stiffer game around here.
Maybe I better start dealing off the bottom.
Tray, what about those 100 unbranded cows
on the Thompson Ranch that Kelly tipped us about?
Do we take 'em?
Maybe the way things are, we better pass 'em up, huh?
Not on your life.
Too good a chance to miss.
We'll head out at sun up.
Well, how do we handle Jud Donovan?
He didn't know about our deal with his father.
He will in the morning.
We'll have it out with him before we leave.
Now where you going, Tray?
My brothers and me
got a little business trip we got to make.
Yeah, but with Pop gone,
I need you here 'til I get the hang of things.
Afraid you'll have to get the hang without us.
For a couple days anyway.
We'll be back by the end of the week sure.
Well, as long as you're being paid as ranch hands,
don't you think you can make a show at earning your money?
Well, as far as that goes, we kind of had
a different kind of arrangement with your Dad.
Yeah, we're not exactly cowhands.
We sort of just use that to cover our real business.
Real business?
What do you mean?
Well, you might call us stray collectors.
Yeah, you know, mavericks, yearlings,
calves with no brands on 'em.
Or, uh, not so good brands.
You're rustlers!
Get off this ranch, and you better ride fast
'cause when that marshal comes...
The marshal isn't gonna know anything about it,
'cause you're not gonna tell him.
And nobody's getting off the Diamond D
except maybe you and your sister.
Well, now what makes you think...
I'm gonna explain this nice and easy just once.
Now like I said, we had an arrangement with your Dad,
a real nice arrangement.
You mean my Pop knew what you were?
Will Donovan needed money real bad to keep this ranch.
We needed a place
to keep our, uh, our beef collection.
So...
Lost metal in the bottom of the Box Canyon.
I wondered why all those stairs were down there.
They're ours.
We just put the Diamond D brand on 'em
to kind of disguise 'em.
My Dad wouldn't have made that kind of a deal with you.
You're lying!
You all right, kid?
No hard feelings.
What do you want from us, huh?
Nothing... just for things stay like they were
when your father was alive.
And if I don't?
Look, I gave Will Donovan $3,000.
If you let out a peep about this,
I'll use this note to take over the Diamond D.
3,000?
And when the whole town finds out
what a crook your father was... don't forget that.
Now which way's it gonna be, kid?
I guess...
I guess I don't have much choice.
Now you're being sensible.
Just answer me one thing...
Did you kill my father?
Us?
Why should we?
We had nothing to gain, everything to lose.
$3,000... a nice business arrangement.
We'd be the last ones on Earth to want him dead.
That just doesn't make sense, does it, kid?
No, I... I guess it wouldn't.
We'll see you the end of the week.
Jud?
Well, where are they going?
Well, I sent them up to the line shack
for a couple of days.
Well, I won't miss them.
I never have liked the Larkins much.
Jud, what's that?
Your face... It's blood!
Look, I have to go into town on ranch business.
I might be gone all night.
Why, of course, Jud.
I can understand after a tragedy like this,
you and your sister might be a little short.
Now, uh, how much you figure that you need?
$3,000.
$3,000?
I'm sorry, that's just
a little more cash than I got.
I could let you have 300,
but that's about my limit.
Yeah, but that won't pay.
Well, then you won't want this.
Well, it's a start.
Thank you very much, sir.
You know, you shouldn't have
any trouble raising 3,000.
Where?
At the bank.
They're in the lending business.
A fine piece of property like your ranch
to put up for security, all you got to do
is tell them what you want it for.
Yeah, but I can't do that.
Well, why not?
I just don't want to talk about it, sir.
Well, I can only presume
that you know what you're doing.
Yes, sir.
Thanks again, sir.
Jud, if you should change your mind
or if there's anything I can do for you,
you let me know.
I will, sir.
Nine of diamonds for you, Jack for me.
That does it, Jud.
What's your pleasure?
All of it... Every cent.
All right, what do you got?
Take a look.
Kings.
Back to back.
First two cards, you had it wired.
Yeah, I did.
And you never even bet once.
You were so anxious to boost that little pair of yours,
I thought I'd just give you the pleasure.
I don't understand it.
You outdrew me every hand.
You shouldn't even have been in those hands
and calling 'em.
Kelly, this is a crooked game.
Why do you allow this tinhorn in the place?
We used a new deck.
You shuffle, cut, set it down on the table.
I never picked it up.
Dealt from the top.
You had a fair chance and a fair deal.
You played your cards like a kid in knee pants.
Why you...
I take that back... Like a kid in diapers.
I can't go home... Sharon will kill me.
More advice, son.
Never gamble when you have to win
and put up more money than you can afford to lose.
Here.
Never like to see a man walk away clean.
One cut, double or nothing?
No.
Tell me, dealer, how do you do it?
Do what?
Rig 'em like that.
A brand new deck and you're never touching them.
I know you and the marshal don't believe me,
but I run an honest game, Kelly.
There's your percentage.
Well, now, thank you, tinhorn.
I'll recommend the game to all me friends.
Not your gun-toting friends.
Now what do you mean by that?
I saw what nearly happened just now.
Anyone sits in this game from now on,
I want his gun behind the bar.
Now that's fair enough.
Not only fair.
Any more trouble with you
and I'm gonna close you up, Kelly.
Might as well start the collection with this one.
Well, that's a pretty little thing, ain't it?
I'd never seen one just like it.
It'll make a nice display behind your bar.
That it will, that it will.
Oh, you should have seen him take the kid.
While he's just lost his father,
the dealer taps him out for every cent he has.
I thought you sold your horse and fancy saddle.
I did.
Well, didn't I see it just now out front?
That's right.
It's a funny thing about what's his name...
The man that bought them.
Would you believe it?
He's the unluckiest man I ever met.
He couldn't even pair.
So you won them back.
I've had a pretty good run.
So good you had to take young Jud Donovan.
It's an open game.
Any man has a right to sit in.
And you, Dex, I'm surprised at you,
standing there and watching him take this boy
as though young Jud hasn't had enough trouble already.
Kid's old enough to vote.
If he wants to lose his money, I can't stop him.
Oh, no?
Well, just don't be surprised
if he does something desperate.
Why should he?
He came to me just a few minutes ago in my office.
Wanted to borrow $3,000.
Now, he wouldn't tell me why.
I didn't have that much cash but I did lend him 300,
the 300 you just won.
Why do you think he ran right over here with it?
It's obvious.
Thought he might run the 300 into 3,000 in your game.
Marshal, if anything happens to either one of those kids,
I'm gonna hold you personally responsible.
You know, the time he left your office
'til he came over here, something happened.
Something happened to change that kid...
That kid that suddenly needs $3,000 bad.
Think you could find the answer?
I can try.
I have no idea why you insist
on interfering in our affairs, Mr. Silverthorne,
but your attitude is entirely uncalled for.
If Jud lost that money to you,
then I presume you won it honestly.
Frankly, Miss Donovan, I don't care what you presume.
All right, you already have my thanks
for the gesture you made in wanting to return it.
Now please take the money and go.
You know some people can afford pride and some can't.
From what I hear, neither you nor Jud
can afford to lose this kind of money.
That isn't your business, Mr. Silverthorne.
Did you know Jud got this money from Dr. Devlin?
I'm sure my brother would have told me.
Do you think your brother would have told you
that he tried to borrow $3,000?
3,000?
I don't believe you... You're lying.
I ran a crooked game and I lie.
I guess I don't make much of an impression.
Miss Donovan, if you want to find out
about that $3,000, you can ask Dr. Devlin.
You don't have to take my word.
I had no idea Jud was going to do that.
You have any idea why Jud might need that much?
What is it, Mr. Silverthorne?
Why did you really come here?
If Jud is in some kind of trouble,
I'd like to know what it is.
If he is, what can it possibly have to do with you?
It just might have a lot more to do with me
than I like.
Nobody but the marshal and myself
know what I'm going to tell you.
And maybe I shouldn't even be telling you now,
except maybe it's necessary.
I'm sure you don't know it, Miss Donovan,
but you're in my house on my ranch right this minute.
Where did you get this?
From your father.
You might say it's a receipt as a down payment
for the $3,200 I sent him on this ranch.
You knew my father?
No.
A friend of mine in Independence
told me the ranch was for sale.
We had some letters back and forth
and finally I told him I'd buy the place.
And I got here...
Well, you know the rest.
Can you prove that letter isn't a forgery?
If I have to, the man in Independence
will back me up.
You'll have to believe that I knew nothing
of my father wanting to sell the Diamond D.
All right, I believe you.
I guess you've got a more honest face than I have.
I'm sorry for the things
I said to you, Mr. Silverthorne.
It's all right.
Gamblers have a tough skin.
What is it you want me to do now?
Both the marshal and I want to find out
who killed your father and got my $3,200.
We're sure they'll be one in the same.
In that case, I want to help.
That's the main reason I came here.
If Jud is in trouble, then he might know more
than you think he knows.
Jud couldn't have any connection with this.
I hope you're right, but we're going to have to
trust each other whether we like it or not.
If Jud does know something, the law should know it too.
Do we have a deal?
I know my brother's innocent, Mr. Silverthorne.
That's why we have a deal.
Good.
Good day.
A hundred prime yearling feeders.
Didn't even have 'em long enough to put a brand on 'em.
That's gonna make it a little tougher.
I'll do the best I can for you, Mr. Thompson.
Sure you're in shape to ride, marshal?
Yeah.
Not according to Doc Devlin,
but I've proved him wrong before.
Make sure we don't run any races.
Okay.
Now you show me where you lost those rustlers' trail.
Lost the trail right around here, marshal.
I see.
You might as well go back, Mr. Thompson.
I'll take it from here.
What's over the hill?
Diamond D ranch.
Sure you can handle it all right, marshal?
Don't worry, I'll make it.
Jud, I've been so worried.
Will you get off me?
There's coffee if you...
Jud, where have you been?
To see all our so-called friends, that's where.
Trying to borrow money?
$3,000?
How'd you know about that?
Mr. Silverthorne.
That tinhorn was here?
What for?
To return the $300 you lost.
The tinhorn returned his winnings.
Why?
Now why would he do it?
Maybe he's got some ideas about you, huh, Sharon?
Maybe he thinks he can buy you with $300, huh?
Jud, listen.
Jud, you're hurting my arm!
Now if he ever comes back here,
I'm gonna throw him right off this place!
Jud, if he ever comes back here again,
it'll be to throw us off the place,
and he'll have every right.
You crazy...
Case Silverthorne owns the Diamond D.
Not us, him.
You are out of your head.
He bought the ranch from father.
He sent him the money.
That's why he came here, Jud,
to claim his property.
He told you that and you believe him?
He showed me a letter from Father.
It was his handwriting,
his signature agreeing to sell him the ranch.
And...
that's why they killed Pa.
What do you mean?
That's why they had to kill him.
Jud, put the gun away.
Jud!
Stay where you are, Tray!
Well, now wait a minute, Jud.
What are you doing here, Kelly?
The same thing you are.
Looking for Tray, waiting for him,
but not to kill him.
Now why in the world would you want to do
a terrible thing like that to Tray Larkin?
Not just Tray... All three Larkins.
Hold it, lad... Now wait a minute.
You're really bloodthirsty.
Yeah.
They murdered my Pa.
Now that's a silly idea if I ever heard of one.
Is it?
My Pa sold the Diamond D right out from under Tray
and ruined his juicy rustling racket.
He had to kill my Pa or lose a thousand head
of prime beef headed right down a lost meadow
wearing Diamond D brands.
Well, now, Jud, if what you say is true,
Tray has done a very terrible thing.
But before you kill three men,
don't you think you ought to be able to prove it?
Yeah, well, I can do that.
How?
Well, I can testify to it in court.
But that don't give you any reason to kill, boy.
That's the law's business to bring
your father's murderers to justice... not yours.
Now, Jud, why don't you think it over.
You think that your father
would want his only son to turn killer?
Yeah, you're right, Kelly.
I'll go into town, tell the marshal.
It's his job anyway.
Uh...
Just a moment, Jud.
If you do that, don't you think
that would make your father out a killer?
And if you knew about the rustling,
they'd put you in jail too.
Now, Jud, why don't you just...
Kelly, look, I know
I've made a lot of mistakes in my life,
but this is one thing I got to do.
I can't help what it does to Pa's name or to me.
Jud, where are you going?
Into town to see the marshal.
Kelly?
Look!
What are you doing here, Kelly?
I just left... I just left Jud Donovan.
Yeah?
He knows everything.
How we strung up his father and why.
And he was all ready to kill you
if you'd come back to the ranch.
Where is he now?
He's on his way to town to spill it to the marshal.
We got to get him first.
No, hold on!
Marshal won't be in town now.
We know that.
How?
Saw him a little while ago heading up in the hills.
Besides, that kid isn't our only problem right now.
We got two others.
What are they?
First to get that big herd of cattle
across the Mexican border
without being followed and the gambler.
Oh, yeah, Case Silverthorne.
You're right, that's the guy that bought the ranch.
You might also say he bought your saloon...
At least his money did.
Anyway, we got three birds to kill
with one stone now instead of two.
Hang this up, will you, Kelly?
Kelly isn't here, but I'll put it away for you.
Where is Kelly?
Kelly left a little while after you did.
I expected him back before now.
Howdy, Bill.
Hello, Jud.
Where's the marshal?
He's out tailing some stolen beef.
Well, uh, when will he be back?
Can't say... It shouldn't be long though.
Anything I can do?
No, no, I want to talk to the marshal.
When he comes back, will you tell him
I was looking for him and I'll be back...
It's important.
Sure will.
Thanks.
Two of hearts, Queen of clubs.
That's all, gentlemen.
You can fight over the pot.
Have to close down now.
What do you want, Jud... A fresh deal?
Yeah, maybe that's what I do want.
I just talked to Sharon.
She told me all about you.
Oh?
I believe her for one reason...
It answers a lot of things.
Like what?
Like who killed my Pa and took your money.
That answers a lot of questions.
Take a look.
Yeah, it's Pa's writing, all right.
There's one thing I don't get.
What's that?
Pa loved that ranch.
That ranch was Pa's whole life.
Now, why would he sell it?
The same reason you tried to raise $3,000...
To get rid of the Larkins.
How?
Suppose your dad made a deal with Tray,
not realizing too late what he was getting into?
My Pa was no rustler.
That's exactly what I mean.
When he realized he was stuck with the Larkins,
the only way he could think to get clear
was to sell the ranch out from under 'em.
At least, that'd be my guess.
And when they found out, they killed him
to try to keep the deal quiet.
How many cards? Two.
Do you, uh, think we can pin it on 'em?
I think so, now that we're on the same side.
We'll wait until the marshal gets back
and we'll talk to him together.
The tinhorn, he just shot Jud Donovan.
This is his gun,
the only one like it in town.
This is hanging evidence, men.
Nice work, Kelly.
Now I don't have to guess
that you're in with the Larkins.
And he probably killed Jud's father too.
What's going on, Kelly?
I'll tell you what we should do.
Make an example of this tinhorn.
String him up right now but quick.
Yeah!
Hold it, hold it!
You've got to wait for the marshal.
You've got to give him a fair trial.
Give him a chance to defend himself.
Yeah, well, he didn't
give Jud Donovan much of a chance.
We're wasting time.
Come on, let's get a rope! Yeah!
What's happening here?
Someone was shot in there.
What happened here?
Thank goodness you're back, Dex.
That tinhorn, he shot him with this little pop gun
that you made him leave behind the bar.
He must have sneaked it while I was out.
You see it? The whole thing.
This man's been trying to talk up a lynch party
for the gambler.
I've been trying to stop 'em.
And he's the reason that Case got away.
Now, men, how many volunteers
can I get for the marshal's posse?
I, for one, will go.
I don't need the kind of posse you'd be on.
I'll go after him myself and I'll bring him in!
Now just a minute, Doc.
The marshal and the gambler rode into town together.
How do we know that he might not just let him get away?
Because he's an honest man
and the best marshal we ever had.
Hold it right where you are, Dex.
I take it this was all staged for my benefit.
I thought it might intrigue you a little bit.
Let you get the drop on me, huh?
How'd you know I'd come alone?
I didn't.
I doubled back right after I left town
to see if you was gonna bring a posse.
I'm glad you didn't.
I guess you are.
Not for what you think.
I had to talk to you.
No matter what happened back there,
I didn't kill Jud Donovan.
It was your gun!
And I left it behind the bar
when I got back from the Diamond D.
Ask Kelly's bartender... I gave it to him.
Kelly wouldn't know that?
He's in with the Larkins up to his ears.
Why do you think they killed Jud Donovan?
Because Jud found out they murdered his father.
That's why Kelly was so anxious to hang you, eh?
That's right... to shut me up before I could talk.
Are you sure it wasn't because Jud Donovan
found out about the ranch deal
and wouldn't give it up?
If you're dumb enough to believe that,
go ahead and take me in.
I believed you all along...
Ever since I walked into that saloon.
You really think I would have barged in here
and listened to the baby, let you get a gun on me
if I didn't expect you to show?
How could you know all along?
Trey of diamonds.
Tray Larkin, Diamond D.
I got it.
You know, marshal, you're a natural born gambler,
the way you read cards.
Okay, let's both go get that three of a kind, eh?
Jud, is that you?
It's me, Miss Donovan... Marshal Harwood.
Will you let me in please?
Sharon.
Jud isn't with you?
No.
When he rode off into town,
I assumed it was to talk to you.
He never got to the marshal, Sharon.
Jud's dead.
I guess after Father's death, I can stand anything.
How did it happen?
Well, they say in town that I shot him.
Oh, no, they're wrong... You... you couldn't have.
You... you didn't.
Of course I didn't.
The Larkins and Kelly killed Jud to shut him up.
That's why they tried to frame me.
Tray and his brothers?
Why?
They're professional rustlers, Miss Donovan.
Somehow they got a hold over your father
and made him hide their stolen stock
on the Diamond D ranch.
They killed your father
because he sold me the ranch,
spoiled their operation.
This is all a little too much to...
Where are the Larkins now?
Haven't they been here?
They must have realized
it was getting too hot for them in town.
Well, where could they go?
Maybe up into Lost Meadow.
I found a big herd hidden up there today.
It must have been the stolen stock,
even though they had the Diamond D brand on 'em.
If the Larkins are smart, they've got that herd
moving down toward the border right now.
Well, let's go stop them.
Not without me. No, Sharon.
Marshal, I think I've got a right.
Let her come, marshal.
I may need her to back up
a few things I'm gonna tell the Larkins.
Hyah!
Ha! Go! Go!
You know where we made our mistake?
The first time that tinhorn showed up,
we should have knocked him off.
Then we'd have had none of this trouble.
It's only Het.
Look, Tray, I don't see why we stopped.
Why can't we just keep them moving tonight?
Well, I'll explain it to you.
Try moving a herd that size at night shorthanded.
In the morning, you'd lose half of 'em.
By noon, the rest of 'em would be so tired,
you couldn't move 'em with a bullet in the tail.
Yeah, but what if the marshal comes around?
He's following the gambler, remember?
Now, don't worry... by noon we'll have the thousand head
across the river and nobody can catch us.
I don't think so, Tray.
And I wouldn't even think about drawing
or I'll think about digging you a grave.
I sure got to hand it to you, dealer...
Making your break, trailing us up here like that
and finding us in all these rocks.
You haven't got any big idea
about taking us back,
getting yourself off the hook.
Three of us?
Not taking you.
I came here after a thousand head of beef cattle
wearing the Diamond D brand.
Well, what do you want with 'em?
They're my property... I own the Diamond D.
Oh, no, there was only one deed
that the old man Donovan had, and we burned it.
Sharon Donovan is the sole heir.
Here's a bill of sale leaving the Diamond D over to me.
Pick it up, look at it.
Tear it up if you like.
I'll get her to sign another one.
Looks legal.
So if you don't mind...
Well, there's just one more thing.
Those cattle didn't go with the place...
That wasn't part of the deal.
They're wearing
the Diamond D brand, aren't they?
We put it on 'em... The beef's ours.
Well, now, how could that be unless you rustled 'em?
You call it want you want... The cattle is ours!
The brand don't mean anything.
That's what we wanted to hear!
We? It's a trick, Tray.
If they make it to the top,
we'll never be able to get to 'em.
We'll have to go up after 'em.
I'm afraid I won't be of much help, Case.
This lead on my side
is getting heavier and heavier.
All right, I'll go up.
And don't you try to follow me either.
Cover me!
The gambler coming up alone!
Just what we need.
Het, you go that way... Rebe, that way.
We'll get him in a double crossfire.
Sharon!
Bye-bye, Sharon.
Coming, Case?
Marshal, this is pretty complicated.
I talked to Kelly in jail,
and it seems that Case's money
paid for the Trail's End bar,
so I just made the deed over to him.
Looks legal.
Yeah, but it also seems that Case's money
should have bought a half interest in the Diamond D.
Isn't that just like a gambler...
Getting two properties for the price of one?
Yeah, but the legal question is,
now who owns the Diamond D?
Is it Sharon? Is it Case?
Is it both of them together or what?
I'm no gambler, Doc,
but I'll lay ten to one right now
that that's one legal question
that never comes up.