A Texan Rides the Trouble Trail by Harrington Strong (best short books to read .TXT) 📕
"Not so busy," the gambler replied. "Have a chair and try your luck. My name's Gadley, commonly known as 'Silky' because once I owned a silk shirt. That wasn't in Vista. That was in a town where men risked a dollar now and then."
"Deal a little two-handed stud," Houston said "I'm bringing forth some money. My name's Houston, just got in from Texas. Got a little business to 'tend to here."
They began playing stud in a listless manner. Houston glanced at the Three S men frequently as they stood at the bar in whispered conversation, and "Silky" Gadley watched Houston. The gambler was a tall, thin, middle-aged man fastidiously dressed, and had the icy manner peculiar to his kind.
"Somebody shot at me before I'd been in town fifteen minutes," Houston said, so the others in the room could hear. "I can't guess at the meanin' of it. I'm a stranger here, and never had a ruckus with any of the citizens, far as I know."
"Mebbe it was a mistake," Gadley s
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“They’re all dead except Ed Foster and Sid Jarles,” he reported. “Foster won’t last long, but Jarles will live. These men he brought to town were his fighters. The rest of his outfit won’t give us any trouble.”
“How about our boys?” Houston asked.
“We got off pretty well. They wasn’t expectin’ us to take a hand. I’ve got a burn on one arm, and the saloon man’s wife will have to ‘tend bar for a few days. Bullet got her husband in the leg.”
They carried Sid Jarles to the walk and propped him up against an awning post. Houston looked at him.
“Mr. Jarles, yore bossin’ hereabouts is at an end.” Houston said. “If yuh’re a wise man, yuh’ll understand that. The whole town’s agin yuh, and the whole range will be, soon as the truth of all this is known. Yuh can stay on and behave yourself, far as I’m concerned, personally, or yuh can sell out and ride. I’ll be around here to see that yuh behave.”
“Then you’re going to stay here?” somebody asked.
Houston glanced up to find Clara Brandell standing near him, smiling, and with glowing eyes.
“Yeah, I think I’ll stay, now that this is a right peaceful place,” Houston said. “Me, I like peace and calm. And I’ve got an investment here that’s got to be protected.”
“And even that ain’t all. I want to get better acquainted with you.”
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