C (17:44)
Knock Walked along beside me back to the Bull Run in silence. And then just before we reached o' Shea's well oiled swinging doors, we heard someone rolling up behind us. Doc. Doc, wait a minute. Who's that? Elton Pearsall. I'll help out at the livery. Staple. Oh, you remember me or something wrong? Wait a minute, Doc, before you go into the saloon, you just came from down the stable, didn't you? That's right. Did you look at that girl? That Chinese girl they got in that room with the shutters closed? Yeah, I saw her. I just wondered if there was something real wrong with her. I heard her for about an hour, just a groaning and calling out in that kind of engine talk they use. Well, she's got the water fever over from the three well stop in the stage. That's right. Charlie knows better than let anybody drink that. Well, as a matter of fact, Doc, Charlie told me about it. He'd done it a purpose why? Well, you know Charlie, he just plain me. He seen they was foreigners, and so he just let him drink that there water and never said a mumbling word. He did, huh? What did you want from me, Elton? Oh, I just wanted to know how that little gal was, that's all. I carried her up to the room. She didn't weigh no more than a yearling calf. She just looked up at me out of them funny slendy eyes, scared like to death. I tried to smile at her because I didn't want to scare nobody. And dang, if she didn't try to smile right back at me, burning up like she was. She'll be all right in a few days, Elton. Well, that's good. I was kind of worried, Doc. You know how you get sometimes. Like when I found that jackrabbit out back of the stable a month ago with the leg broke. I just plain couldn't stand to see it sucker in that way. So I just took it into my bunk and kind of fixed the leg up. You set a rabbit's broken leg up? Well, as a matter of fact, the rabbit died. I don't mind telling you, Doc, I was plumb broke up over it. So you can see. I kind of felt responsible for that little Chinese gal. I mean, my carrying her up to the room that way. Well, I hope you have better luck than you did with the rabbit, elf. You ain't making no fun of me, are you, Doc? No. Mike Leary says I'm a button short, taking on over critters that way. I'm not making fun of you, Elton. Oh, thank you, Doc. I don't like to see anything except for myself, rabbits or Chinese girls. Not sat at his table in the Bull Run drinking many cups of o' Shea's black coffee. I knew he was worried and puzzled, and so I waited. The thing is, he's right, see. He hasn't got anything in China to go back to. And if you just turned her loose in some town, why, she'd get gobbled up alive like a chicken in a wolf pack. Well, perhaps the best thing is. Is to forget her, Doc. But you can't just let it go on. Slavery. Out and out. Slavery. Oh, you couldn't prove it, Doc. And if you could, what would that little girl gain? Frightened, with no friend. Yeah, I know. Oh, he's just come in. Yes, there at the table. Ah, he's going to play poker with those cow punches on the barrow way. I wish I could figure way out it, Doc. Occasionally it is necessary to mind one's own business. She's just as much my business as any of those slaves we freed during the war. You know, Doc, I am a very lucky man. How do you mean? Because I have no conscience whatsoever. And therefore, in this world of injustice, I can drink with a light heart. Am I not right, Document? Never mind, Mr. K. The Mandarin became a very popular man at the Bull Run Saloon. He had been in town for a week, and he had spent almost all of that time at the Bull Run gambling with cards or dice. You see, I am by profession a gambling man. Whether I gamble on the turn of a card or the increased value of certain imported commodities, there is always the fascination of race. Knock went back each day to see the little Chinese girl. Now you're feeling a lot better, aren't you? About all you can say, isn't it? Yes. Please tell me. Do you know where you're going? Do you know where Kung is taking you? How do you feel about it? Would you like to be free? Do you mind being imported like a. A piece of jade or silk? Yes. Pink. I wish I could find out. Wish I could talk to you and decide what to do. Decide whether to help you or even whether you want me to. It's no use. Yes, please. Well, I'll see you tomorrow. Bye, Pablo. If only I was sure that she had some place to go. Yes, but you are not. There's no use in getting mixed up in it unless I know I'm helping her. Mr. Kung will not take lightly in interference with his merchandise, particularly now. What do you mean? He has been playing poker at the Bull Run with Matty Burns from the Flying W. He has been losing heavily, that's how. Over $1,000. If he expects to make a profit on his consignment, it will be very precious to him. That wouldn't bother me. If only I could be sure. When we arrived at the Bull Run in the evening, the game was still in progress. And Mr. Kun did not look his imperturbable self. His face was sallow and covered with sweat, and his knuckles were pale as he gripped the cards. Ah, Doc Pavreau. What'll it be? The usual? Oh, say, the usual Muffin at ball. Flash coming up. And Doc, I'll. I'll bring you coffee. What are you looking at? Oh. Oh, yeah. That foreigner's bit off more than he can chew. And Matty still losing, huh? I figure Matty's into him for about $1,800. Charlie, Peter's got about $300 to go. To think he'll quit. Some of them can't quit. Doc, I've seen a lot of gamblers. White men, red men, yellow men. All the same, he ain't gonna quit till he's so flat broke he can't raise a nickel on his shoe. I suppose you're right. I'll get your coffee. Duck, can I see you a minute? Oh, hello, Elton. I wanted to talk to you about that girl Sulan. Yeah, Doc, we've been talking together. You speak Chinese? Oh, now, Doc, you know I got all I can do to speak regular thought so folks can understand me, but. Oh, I don't know. Somehow when I sit up there in that room with that little girl, it just don't seem to matter. How do you mean? Well, we kind of plain understand each other. I reckon she don't want. Want to go wherever it is he's taking her. I can tell that. Do you know where that is? Well, no, but I know she don't want to go. How can you tell? Oh, now, Doc, don't ask me that. What do you want, Elton? Well, Doc, I. I just wanted to ask you something. What is it? Oh, there ain't no law about it, is there? Law about what? I mean, if a fella and a girl. I mean, if they wanted. Well. Well, you know, I got that little place of ground up by Bare Rock. It ain't much good, but you could run a few head of cattle. What are you trying to tell me, Elton? Well, me and that girl. There wouldn't be no law against it, would they, Doc? No. No, there wouldn't. Where you going, Doc? Never mind, Elton. I'll be right back. Oh, I will. 15 and raise 15. How? See you, Mr. Queen. You just don't live right, mister. Got a flush. Ace high. Just shove the money over this way. I want to talk to you. Oh, not now, Doctor. I'm very busy. Listen, that girl, would you let her go? Doctor, please don't bother me. Listen, it's important. If she could find somebody around here, would you let her go? Now, look here, Doc, this is a game of cards. You got any more cash on you, mister? You busted out of the game. Well, unfortunately, I have no more cash. And I guess you busted out of the game, mister. Gotta give your place up to somebody who hasn't making. No, no. If you will only extend me the credit. Fun of me, mister? Credit in a poker game when I never seen you before. Your like is not to be out of town before Sunday. But I cannot stop now. I've lost everything. I must have a Chance to win it back. You're tough, mister, but nobody asked you to sit in. But I cannot stop. I must win some back. Mr. Kong, I'll give you credit. What? I'll play you, Kong. I'll bet cash against your merchandise. So, Doctor, I could not do that. Are you afraid to risk it, Kong? You afraid to take a gamble? Oh, no, no, no. But my merchandise is worth $4,000. I'll match it. Duck. $4,000? You'd have to sell everything. Quiet. Pablo. Welcome. Very well. What will we play? Let's get it over with. We'll cut. Very well. $4,000 cash against my merchandise. Shuffle. We are both men of honor. You may shuffle. You draw first, Mr. K. I am your most humble and unworthy servant, Doctor. Go ahead, draw. Very well. Jack. First card. It is an excellent card. Will you draw, Doctor? Sure. Okay. Hey. Oh, that is also a good card, Doctor. I shall have the merchandise delivered to you. Excuse me, gentlemen. I have nothing left. I must leave the game. Goodbye, Doctor. Goodbye, Mr. Cone. Doc, I never thought I'd see the day. I couldn't believe my eyes. No, sir. What are you talking about, Maddie? Well, I'm just disappointed, that's all. Doc. You know darn well that was the ace I had in my last hand. You had it up your sleeve. Think so, Maddy Elton. Oh, yes, Doc. You better go down to livery stable and see if you can explain to Sue Bland that she's going to be settling at Bear Rock. Raising cattle, among other things. Do you mean it, Doc? All settled. Oh, you mean that easy. As easy as turning over a car. And so Elton built a log hut at Bear Rock. And somehow he must have overcome the language barrier because there are now three or four or possibly five. The two pierce holes with straight black hair, large black, slanted eyes. Mr. Kong won his stage ticket to Chisholm City by rolling double or nothing with Charlie Peters. Mr. Kong was using loaded dice. You have been listening to Dr. Six Gun.