Episode Five concluded with:
Marshall Carson’s voice remained friendly and
calm. “Those are fine duds you’re wearing.”
“Yeah, so?”
“Must have cost some money.”
“I paid for it, proper like. Ask Swanson over at
his store, he’ll tell ya I paid--”
“I’ve already talked to him. Mr. Swanson tells
me he was sort of curious as to where you got the money. I’m curious too.
Where’d the loot come from, Tully?”
Episode Six
“I
won it at cards.”
Carson
gave a loud laugh. “I knew you’d say that. Checked with some of our gambling
men. You’re not a bad poker player, Tully, but you’re not a particularly good
one either.”
“All
it takes are a couple of lucky nights!”
The
Marshall fell silent, continuing to look at Tully; finally the lawman spoke in
a low voice. “What’s been going on, Tully? Why is Akando so anxious to have us
turn you over to him?”
Tully
Jones turned his face downward. He was a man who had reduced his life to illusions
sparked by booze. But one of those illusions was greater than the rest and
worth gambling with what was left of his life. Dehner saw a look of combined
desperation and determination streak Tully’s face.
Tully
looked directly at the Marshall. “Ain’t none o’ your business what Akando’s
thinking. You gotta protect me from that savage!”
The
questioning continued for a while, but it was hopeless and Bret Carson knew
it. The marshall’s voice was deep and angry when he and Dehner stepped back
into the office. “I used to think Tully was a harmless drunk. Harmless! He’ll
allow an entire town to be ravaged and its people killed because…because… I
don’t know the because!”
Dehner
nodded his head in sympathy. He then stepped out of the office and did a quick survey
of the town. People remained scattered about on the boardwalk, their eyes
focused on the hill to the east. They appeared scared and the detective didn’t
blame them. As Dehner looked at the Indians on the hill, they looked as if they
hadn’t moved at all since he originally spotted them. They looked stoic and
patient, waiting for the moment when they would destroy the town and everyone
in it.
Dehner
stepped back into the Marshall’s office wondering what he could do to prevent a
massacre, or if he could do anything at all.
Tomorrow: Episode Seven of Ultimatum
