Texas Bluff

CHAPTER 20

Everything was quiet for several days. Still no high-stakes game for Butler. If he hadn’t been on the White Elephant’s payroll he might have left town for lack of action.

And why was he on the payroll, he wondered? What he had told Luke Short was the truth. He did often stick his nose in other people’s business—but he had come out of those situations with some lasting friendships. Hopefully, that was what would happen here. On the other hand, people had also died.

Not only was it three days of no poker, but three days of no action of any kind. There hadn’t even been an argument in the saloon, or the casino, and when men got together to drink and gamble, there were always arguments.

Over supper in the White Elephant restaurant on day four, Butler said, “Has it ever been this quiet?”

“No,” Short said, “and that’s what worries me. When it’s this quiet it’s bound to change with a bang.”

“Maybe,” Butler said, “you really did make an impression on Cramer. You know, with your gun?”

“No chance,” Short said. “I don’t even know why I did it, except that I was mad. All I did was make him even more stubborn. It’s real easy to send someone to do your killing for you.”

“Then why hasn’t he?” Butler asked. “He’s had time to check me out.”

“All I know is the longer he takes, the more anxious I get.”

“Maybe that’s what he wants.”

“What?”

“To make us anxious,” Butler said, “jumpy. He wants us jumping at shadows.”

“You’re right,” Short said, “that’s just what he wants. Poor Bill Ward is a nervous wreck.”

“Well,” Butler said, “we just have to keep waiting. We can’t make the first move.”

“Why not?”

“We’d be in the wrong.”

“Not if we didn’t get caught.”

“So what are you talking about doing, bushwacking Ed Cramer?

“No,” Short said, “I’d never do that. You’re right. We have to wait.”

“And be on our toes.”

“I’ll talk to Victor and the boys,” Short said. “The ‘boys’ being the bartenders. We can’t have them getting careless.” Short hesitated, then added, “Careless is dead.”

Ed Cramer looked up as Sutherland came through the curtain into his office.

“You got him?” Cramer asked.

“I think so,” Sutherland said. “If it’s the same Butler, he’s worth a lot of money back East.”

“How much?”

Sutherland dropped the telegram on Cramer’s desk, then sat down. Cramer picked it up and read.

“That is a lot of money. Is this a legal bounty?”

“No,” Sutherland said, “best I can find out is that it’s private, from out of the East. I guess that’s where he comes from.”

“So, Mr. Butler has gotten a rich man from the East angry enough to put a price on his head.”

“Apparently Butler’s family was pretty prominent, active in politics, wealthy, and got on somebody’s wrong side. They’re all dead except for him.”

“So he’s on the run.”

“Seems like it.”

“Well,” Cramer said, “this is an extra bonus.”

“Meaning you want a piece of the reward?”

“That’s not just a reward, Sutherland,” Cramer said, “that’s a good year in this damn place. Why? Did you think it would be yours?”

“It occurred to me to claim it,” Sutherland said. “After all, we’re not partners. You’re payin’ me to do a job. Anythin’ I pick up along the way—”

“Okay, how about this?” Cramer asked. “We’ll be partners in this.”

“Fifty-fifty?” Sutherland asked.

“Well, I want to be fair,” Cramer said. “Since you’re going to pull the trigger, why don’t we make it sixty-forty…in your favor?”

“But you’re still gonna pay me.”

“Yes.”

“And I still get my try at Luke Short?”

“Oh, yes.”

“All right, then,” Sutherland said. “You got a deal…Ed.”