Now Playing: The Witch of Cooper, Arizona
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Episode Eight concluded with:
The tall outlaw stepped closer to
Krammer. “We want the magic money. Now!”
Those were words the bank president
was not expecting. “Magic money?”
“The money the girl pulled out of
her box yesterday!” The outlaw’s voice was becoming angry. “Get it now!”
Krammer had locked that money in his
bottom desk drawer. The banker once again fumbled with his keys and retrieved
the money. He had placed it in a canvas bag. The talkative outlaw now said
nothing. He grabbed the bag, peered briefly inside, then nodded to his
companion. The two robbers ran toward the front door. Krammer opened the top
drawer of his desk and yanked out the gun he kept there.
Episode Nine
***
Rance
Dehner heard a shot coming from the bank as he stepped out of the sheriff’s
office to begin a morning round. He saw a horseman galloping down Main Street
leading two horses. The rider stopped in front of the bank as two men emerged, firing
shots over their shoulders. The gunfire spooked one of the horses. The
frightened animal lifted onto two legs as one of the outlaws tried to mount
him.
Dehner drew his Colt .45 and ran
toward the outlaws. Though out of range, he fired at them with the desired
result. The spooked horse ran off. The stranded rider looked toward his
cohorts, hoping one of them would share his horse. That hope was short lived.
Two of the robbers rode off, leaving their companion to run for cover as Whit
Krammer ran out of the bank carrying his Smith and Wesson and Rance Dehner got
ever closer.
Dehner watched the outlaw run across
the street and between two buildings. The detective didn’t like it but he might
have to let the man go. The two other outlaws had the bank’s money: money the
town probably couldn’t survive without. Dehner needed to go after them.
The detective stopped at the
boardwalk where Whit Krammer had stopped firing at the departed crooks and was
now hurling curses at them. “Are you okay, Mr. Krammer?”
“I’m fine!” Krammer said quickly as
if the question weren’t important. “Just growing old. I managed to get a shot
at those jaspers as they were going out the door, but I missed and I sure
didn’t hit any of them just now. Guess the hands aren’t as steady as they used
to be.”
“Did they clean you out?”
“No! That’s the crazy thing about
it. They only wanted the magic money.”
“What?”
The banker cringed, embarrassed by
his last remark. “The money that fool girl threw from the buckboard yesterday.
Buck told me it was a thousand dollars when he and Lamar brought it over last
night. I haven’t had a chance to look at it yet. Planned to do that this
morning.”
“You must have a lot more than a
thousand dollars in this bank.”
“Yes , but they didn’t seem--”
Both men turned their heads as the
sound of slamming wood made a distant bang in the morning air. “That must be
coming from the church,” Krammer looked toward the steeple that raised above
the rest of the town. “The church doors are heavy and not put in quite right…”
“Is the church locked?”
“No…never…do you think that jasper
who got left behind…”
Dehner spoke hurriedly. “Get the
sheriff. He’s at home. This was going to be his day to sleep in. I’m heading
for the church.” Krammer nodded his head. Dehner ran in the direction of the
steeple.
Tomorrow: Episode Ten of The Witch of Cooper, Arizona
