The Man From Eagle Creek
Chapter Twenty Two
Tom and Cal spent the night outside the small community of
Bucklin, Kansas and rode over to Dodge City the next day.
They crossed the Arkansas River near Ford, Kansas and rode into
Dodge City about three o'clock in the afternoon.
Dodge City was as busy as Kansas City had been, it just wasn't
as big and wasn't as up to date on a lot of luxuries. The
railroad split the town almost in half and the south side was
mostly shacks and tents. Among these were saloons, gambling halls
and whorehouses. The north side of the tracks was wide streets
and big businesses.
Front street ran through the main part of town, and such notable
businesses on the `good' side of the tracks were, The Long Branch
Saloon, Mueller's Boot Shop, Hoover's Liquor and Cigar Store, The
Dodge House Hotel and other legitimate businesses.
Tom asked directions to the sheriff's office from the driver of
a freight wagon loaded with buffalo hides.
"Right on up yonder a ways Injun, you'll see it."
"Thanks Mister."
Tom had seen the `gun ordinance' sign. This pertained to the
good side of the tracks, the south side was wide open.
`Ford County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Charlie Bassett', the
sign read.
Tom slid off his saddle and looked around at the people hurryin'
to wherever it was they were going, they sure seemed to be
running late. Tom grabbed his Henry as he walked that way.
He and Cal walked into the sheriff's office and met the sheriff
and two of his assistant's.
"I'm Tom Cooper and this is Cal Randal, we're looking for a job
as lawmen, if you're needing any."
"You ever been a lawman before Injun, we don't have many Injun's
in these parts anymore. You might not be taken kindly to around
here."
"I was a deputy for Sheriff Keyes up in Newton, Nebraska for a
while. Reckon you could send him a telegram and get my story. As
for being Indian, I got just as much white blood as Sioux. I
didn't have a lot of say about it either way."
"You both look kinda young, but then we have a lot of young
deputies and a lot of young hell raisers as well. I got one
twenty two year old deputy now so I reckon we can take a look at
it."
"How long you figuring on staying here in Dodge?"
"Sheriff, I'm lookin for a man that killed a friend of mine, I'd
just as soon be able to do it legal. I'll figure to be here a
couple of weeks, three at most."
"Tell you what I'm gonna do Tom. I'm gonna send that telegram
and if your story checks out, I'm in need a couple good men to
walk the south side. If you can handle that, you can handle
anything."
"Yes Sir, Mr. Bassett we'll walk what ever part of town you say.
I don't usually get riled by name calling, but I don't take to
being pushed too far either."
"Come back to see me after you get your horses seen to, in the
meantime I gotta ask you to check your guns with the deputy
there."
Tom and Cal slipped their Colts off and handed them to the
deputy to be hung with all the others on the wall. Tom walked
over and stood his Henry up against the wall also.
"That's some fancy Colt you got there Injun, where'd you get that
rig?" the deputy asked as he looked over Tom's Colt.
"It was made special for my uncle from down in Charleston, South
Carolina by Mr. Samuel Colt. My uncle gave it to me. It shoots
the same .44 cartridge as my Henry."
Sheriff Bassett took the gun and looked it over, looked up at
Tom and nodded his approval.
"Welcome to Dodge City Tom, you and Cal come on back in a while
and I'm sure we'll have a badge for you both," Sheriff Bassett
said as he stood to shake their hands.
Tom and Cal walked down the wide dirt street toward the tracks to
find the livery stable. They talked with the livery man for a
while and left their horses.
Both men were in awe of all the rushing and hurrying as people
went by them in a run.
Sheriff Charlie Bassett Dodge City Kansas stop
Tom Cooper is a friend and a good man stop
He will make a good deputy stop
A good man to have at your back stop
Sheriff F. Keyes Newton Nebraska stop
When Sheriff Bassett read the message he turned to his deputy,
"Bat go find the Injun and his friend, let's get them sworn in."
"You bet, Charlie," Bat Masterson said as he walked out to find
Tom and Cal.
Charlie Basset was coming to the end of his second term as
sheriff of Ford County. The Kansas State Constitution disallowed
three terms in succession. The sheriff was grooming his deputy,
W. B. `Bat' Masterson for the job.
Bat was only twenty two years old but was well respected as a
fair and forcible lawman. He already had some campaign posters up
around town and Sheriff Bassett was speaking up for him to all
the store owners and upstanding citizens as the man of choice.
Bat Masterson dressed as a gentleman, with a small `Derby' type
hat cocked to the right side, a suit coat and vest. Bat and his
brothers had worked as buffalo hunters and skinners, taking
twenty to twenty five buffalo a day, skinning and butchering them
for meat.
Bat had even contracted to work a section of road bed to grade
for the railroad, a job that had taught him more than one lesson.
Not only was it hard work, but his partner in the contract took
all the money and left for parts unknown leaving Bat broke and
destitute.
Bat saw Tom and Cal walking slowly down the side of the dirt
street taking in all the sights and sounds of Dodge.
"Tom, Charlie wants to see you and Cal in his office, he got the
answer to his telegram. Looks like you two are in. Welcome to
Dodge, Deputies," Bat said with a grin and a handshake.
The three of them walked abreast down the street to the
sheriff's office where they were sworn in and given a badge as
well as their guns.
"Tom, Cal I want you to try your level best to keep the law, and
not have to enforce it. Most of the men that come here aren't
really bad folks. They just get kinda rowdy once in a while.
"We get a lot of cowboys off the trail drives that ain't been in
a town for a while and they like to knock the dust off and have
fun. As long as their fun don't harm them or others, we kinda let
it ride."
"Yes Sir, Sheriff," They both answered.
"Call me Charlie, I'll call you by your names as well."
"Yes Sir Charlie," Tom said.
Charlie Bassett shook his head and laughed, "Bat, take the new
deputies on a round of Dodge. Take'em by the Long Branch to see
if Wyatt is there. He'll want to know who they are."
The three young men walked out of the sheriff's office and down
the dusty street once again. By the time they reached the Long
Branch Saloon they were laughing and enjoying each others
company.
Wyatt Earp wasn't a big man but he did cast a big shadow, just
as Bat had told them. He was sitting at a table with two of his
brothers when he saw his friend and fellow deputy, Bat come in
with the tall Injun and the skinny kid, both wearing deputy
badges.
Wyatt was dressed as a business man in black coat, black pants
and hat. He had a large mustache that curved down and out from
his mouth, covering most of his lips. This look, along with the
black suit clothes gave him an air of confidence and authority
that not many men questioned.
Not only was Wyatt a deputy town marshal, he was a Ford County
deputy to Sheriff Charlie Bassett too.
His brothers Morgan and Virgil were sitting at the table with
him. They were looking the three sheriff's deputies over as they
walked to the table.
"Wyatt, Morgan, Virgil, I want you to meet the two new deputies
Charlie just hired. This is Tom Cooper from up in The Dakotas and
Cal Randal from over in Wichita."
"Tom, Cal meet Wyatt Earp and his brothers Morgan and Virgil."
Tom and Cal shook hands with the three men and exchanged hello's
and pleasantries.
"Don't reckon I ever seen an injun lawman except on the
reservation," Wyatt said.
"Well, I do get a lot of hard looks and a few names called in my
direction because of my breeding, but I have to live with what I
was dealt I reckon," Tom said with a smile.
"We all do Tom and I'm sure that yours is some rougher to handle
than most," Wyatt said.
"There was a man in here late yesterday telling about a bunch of
freight wagons being ambushed over between Pratt and Wichita.
Said there was an Injun and a kid that took out all five of the
ambushers, would that be the two of you?"
"Yes Sir, we were hired to escort the wagons loaded with lumber
and building materials from Wichita to Pratt. Seems there had
been a lot of wagons gettin' ambushed that carried lumber over
that way."
"The two of you took on the five of them?"
"Well we knew they'd be coming, so we were ready. Cal was in the
last wagon with a double barreled shotgun, I was out a ways from
the trail with my Henry. When it all started, we just put a stop
to it."
"I was over in Wichita a while back and heard a tale of an Injun
gunfighter taking out three men that had the drop on some police
officers in Kansas City, would that be you Tom?"
"Well, I did get kinda involved in that too, but I was just
spending the night in the stable that night when it all happened.
"I stepped in to help the lawmen and it got all talked up into a
bigger story than it really was."
"You seem to be at the meeting place when trouble comes down the
trail," Wyatt said and smiled.
"I reckon I do Sir, but most of it ain't my doing I just get
caught up in it some how."
"I want to make a suggestion to you Tom, and no offense
intended. You ought to consider taking them braids down while
you're here. A man with long hair and buckskins ain't as
noticeable as a man with Injun braids and buckskins."
"I respect your opinion Sir and I'll take your advice."
"Tom, it's nice to meet you and Cal, I'm sure we'll all see each
other soon."
They all nodded agreement and the three young men walked out of
the Long Branch.
"I'd hate to be totin' the load that half breed is saddled
with," Virgil said.
"Yep, but from the look in his eye and the way he stands in them
moccasins, I got a feeling he's able to handle what's been thrown
at him," Wyatt replied.
Bat took them through the main business district then crossed
the tracks to the south side. There were a few buildings that had
been thrown up, but most were still tents and lean-to's. There
were big tent saloons, liquor stores and gamblin' halls.
There were dance halls where the girls danced and paraded around
in little costumes and dresses. There were whorehouses with quite
a few horses tied in front, even in the early afternoon.
The three deputies walked in the front door of each establishment
and stood until the folks all got a good look at the badges on
the new deputies.
There were more than a few remarks but nothing more than someone
looking for a laugh from his friends.
"Let's all go over to the Dodge House and get something to eat,
the action don't usually don't start until late, if there's gonna
be any," Bat told them.
Tom stopped on the way back over to the main part of town and
placed his hat on a post while he loosened his braids. He ran his
fingers through his long hair and pulled it back and held it as
he put his hat on, letting his hair fall down his back.
"That don't look so much like an Injun now Tom," Cal said and
grinned.
The three went into the dining room of the Dodge House and saw
Sheriff Bassett as he waved to them from a large round table.
They joined him and a waiter took their order. "What're you
having Charlie?" Bat asked.
"Well I ordered a steak, thought I'd celebrate the hiring of two
new deputies."
"Sounds good to me, Cal you and Tom ought to try one, they have
the best steak in these parts."
"Sounds good to me," Tom said and Cal nodded his approval.
"Since me and Cal got us a good payday for escortin' the wagons
into Pratt the other day and Charlie saw fit to hire us, the
steaks are on me," Tom said.
"Tom I was just funning about celebrating with a steak, you
don't have to buy," Sheriff Bassett told him.
"We got paid way more than it was worth and we haven't spent a
nickel of it, this is a celebration of our own as well," Tom
said.
"Tom what did you and Cal think of the Earp brothers, I know Bat
took you to meet them," Charlie asked.
"Well they seemed to be a likeable bunch," Tom answered.
"You can sure tell they're a tight knit set of brothers too,"
Cal offered.
"You better believe they are, you take one on and you got them
all on yer ass," Bat said and laughed.
"If you don't make but three friends in this town, be sure all
three of them are named Earp," Charlie said and they all laughed.
"Tom tell me about this man or men you're lookin' for, maybe
we've seen them or at least can keep an eye out for them,"
Charlie said.
"I'm not sure about who it is, I just got a good hunch and some
bits of evidence that leads me to think it's a man called Sam
Wilson and an Injun he's picked up to back him. They killed a
girl that was traveling with me while she slept in my bedroll. I
reckon they meant to kill me."
"I've heard the name Sam Wilson, I think I may have run into him
up in Abilene back a ways. He was said to be a good gun hand. Why
would he be after you so bad to want to kill you?"
"I was up in Newton, Nebraska and ran up on some young kids he
had whipped and stripped of all their clothes. They had ran away
with blankets wrapped around them. That's when I met them. They
told me their story and I went to see the sheriff.
"That's when I met Sheriff Keyes. The sheriff and the mayor were
in the saloon and I went in to talk to him.
"Just so happened that Sam Wilson was there and started bad
mouthin' me. The sheriff stood up and Sam drew down on him."
"I shot him, then his friend by the name of Bo drew down on me
and I shot him too. Sam lost his right hand and Bo lost his right
arm at the elbow.
"When my friend was killed I got, in touch with the sheriff
again by telegraph and he said Sam and Bo were released when the
judge got there. There's more to the story, but that's the meat
of it."
"I remember hearing that story, funny how stories like that
make it across from town to town. I never put you in it until now
though. From what we were told here, you shot both men before
they could clear leather, is that right?" Charlie asked.
"Well I reckon it was close to that," Tom said.
"Tell me Tom, is this a grudge you got? Are you lookin to
shoot'em down on sight or you gonna arrest them?"
"I'll arrest them if they can be arrested, if they can't then
I'll just do what comes next."
"Do you know the Injun's name and are you even sure he was
involved?"
"Don't have a name for him, but I reckon I got enough reason to
put him there when the girl was stabbed."
"When I get back to my office I'll issue a warrant for the
arrest of Sam Wilson, his friend Bo and the Injun friend too if
you'll give me your word you'll do everything you can to bring
them in."
"You got my word Charlie, I wanna see'em go down but I'll do my
best to make it legal."
"Good, now let's eat these fine lookin steaks you bought us."
When the four lawmen had eaten, Tom wanted to know where they
could get a bath.
"Down at the barbershop. You can get a hot bath in clean water
for fifty cents," Bat told him.
Tom and Cal went to the livery stable and got a change of
clothes then went to the barbershop. There were four tubs out
back on a board platform with a black man carrying water to the
tubs. Cal and Tom bathed in hot water and laughed and talked like
two kids as they splashed each other.
Dressed and back out on the street once more, the two young
lawmen found a laundry and left their dirty clothes.
"Cal, we may as well put in another round down across the tracks
just to let the folks know we're here to stay, then we can make a
walk back up to the sheriff's office to find out what he has in
mind."
"Tom, I hope you're sure you want me at your back, I've never
even had a gun in my hand until a week or so ago, and here I am
already killed two men and wearing a badge," Cal said.
"You'll be alright Cal, just keep a clear head and keep your
eyes open all the time. I be watchin' for you too."
"I reckon I'll know in the next day or so if this peace keeping
stuff is meant for me or not," Cal said.
"I'm glad you came here with me Cal and I'm proud to have you at
my back. If we get into trouble and have to use our guns, you
don't worry about being fast, just hit what you shoot at."
"Thanks Tom, I'll try not to let you down."
They crossed the tracks, walking slowly down the middle of the
dusty street, looking at each tent and each clap board building.
Tom looked around behind the line of canvas tents to get an idea
of what was back there. Nothing but trash, broken bottles, busted
crates and old shoes and boots. The stench was strong from the
garbage that was piled up behind some of the places. The dogs and
cats were sniffing through the mess looking for scraps of food or
rats if they ran out.
There wasn't many patrons out this time of day and Bat had told
them that there wasn't a trail herd expected until day after
tomorrow. Things were kinda slow and sleepy in Dodge City, not
like the stories that had been told across the plains about the
wide open town on the western frontier.
Tom knew from his experience up in Newton, Nebraska that trouble
was always roaming around looking for someone to side up with. He
walked with his eyes ever moving, locking in a second on anything
that moved or looked out of place.
They walked completely out the south end of town and stood for a
while just looking back toward the tracks and the tall buildings
on the far end of town.
"Cal, I got a feeling that something is stirring here, it won't
be quiet the whole time we're here."
"Tom I saw you back there on the trail the other day when they
hit us with that ambush.
"You were like a clock ticking, the way you picked those men off.
I was afraid until I saw those two ride by me with their guns
drawn. I knew I had to do my part and I just followed your lead."
"You were what made it all work out that day Cal, you'll be
alright. You keep'em off my back and I'll keep you standing."
"Tom, I'm not worried about you holding up your end, I just
don't want to let you down."
"Let's go partner, we'll be alright."
They were almost back to the railroad tracks when they heard
gunfire from behind them, Tom whirled with his Colt already in
his hand. He saw two cowhands riding in hard. Sliding their
horses to a stop in front of the makeshift saloon, they ran
inside laughing.
"That'll get your blood to pumping in a hurry wont it?" Cal said
with a nervous laugh.
Tom holstered his Colt and shook his head, "I reckon it's gonna
take some getting' used to the way Dodge is split into. One end
is wide open and the other end is leaning more to being law
abiding."
No sooner than the two had turned back to continue their walk
across the tracks than the same two cowboys came running out of
the tent saloon and jumped on their horses.
Tom heard the horses coming right behind them and whirled to the
side just as they raced by, nearly running Cal down from behind.
The two riders raced right across the tracks and slid up to the
hitchin' rail in front of the Long Branch. They jumped to the
ground and ran through the front doors of the saloon, still
wearing their guns on their hips.
Tom and Cal walked up the street toward the saloon, knowing that
Wyatt or his brothers were probably in there.
They entered the Long Branch and walked to the end of the long
bar that ran along one side all the way to the back.
The two cow hands were at the bar drinking whiskey when Tom
walked up to them.
"Fellers we got a gun ordinance in Dodge City north of the
tracks, you'll have to either go back across the tracks or check
your guns at the sheriff's office across the street," Tom said in
a low but steady voice.
Cal stood to the back and side of Tom, expecting anytime to see
trouble.
The two cow hands turned to look at Tom, then looked at each
other and laughed. They turned to the bartender and asked for
another drink.
The bartender looked at Tom as if to get permission to pour the
drink.
Tom shook his head `no' and the two turned just in time to see
him.
"You awful damned young to be a lawman, and you awful damned dumb
to be asking me for my gun Injun," One of the men said.
"You fellers are more than welcome to drink your fill here, and
have as much fun as you can stuff into a day. You're just gonna
have to follow the same rules that the rest of the town does."
"If you don't get the hell away from me and stop with this shit
about taking my gun, I'm gonna have to turn your ass over this
bar and spank them buckskins for you, now get the hell outta my
face Injun."
This brought a few chuckles from the few card players and whiskey
drinkers.
"If you don't go now and check your guns at the sheriff's office,
I'm gonna have to arrest you for the violation of Dodge City's
gun ordinance," Tom said with a cold voice and even colder look
at the two cow hands.
Tom knew that they were itching, he wasn't sure if they were
gonna draw their guns or try and bluff their way through this in
front of the crowd that was watchin' now.
Tom saw the hands of the man nearest him start to open and clench
into a fist as he stood there with his hands on the bar. He knew
trouble was coming, it was stirring the air again.
The man turned and swung at Tom in a wide haymaker with his left
fist. Tom ducked down and stepped in close and hit him hard right
under his rib cage with his right fist. The man crumpled to the
floor gasping for air that his lungs just didn't seem to be able
to pump into him.
The other man didn't even see what had happened after his friend
had turned toward the deputy. He saw his friend lying on the
floor, mouth opening and closing, his eyes wide in shock, in pain
as he tried to get his lungs to work again.
He started toward Tom and looked to see the deputy was holding
his Colt in his left hand, he didn't even know when the deputy
had drawn it from his holster.
The man raised his hands as Cal walked up and slipped his gun
from his holster, then reached down to get the gun from the man
on the floor.
"Help your friend to his feet, and let's all go over to the
sheriff's office and talk this out," Tom said in a low easy
voice, his gun now back in its holster.
The men walked out the door, the fight now gone from them. Their
idea of a fun day in Dodge City now turned sour.
As soon as the two deputies and the two cowhands had gone through
the doors of the saloon, the noise of everyone in the saloon
talking at once erupted.
"I reckon the new deputy can talk a man out of wanting a drink
can't he?" one asked and got a laugh.
"I reckon that deputy can handle a Colt too, did anyone here even
see him draw his gun? Hell I was watching the whole thing and all
of a sudden he was holding that Colt," another said.
A man from the back asked loudly, "I didn't even see what
happened to the first man after he turned, how did he go down?"
"The deputy stepped inside that haymaker and shoved his fist
right up under the man's ribs, knocked the wind clean out of his
lungs."
"Well, I was hoping for a better show than that when the cow
hands ran in here. I knew it was just a matter of minutes until
the lawmen would be here."
Over at the sheriff's office Tom told Sheriff Bassett what had
happened. He also said that he didn't think the cow hands really
meant any harm, they were just new to Dodge and didn't know all
the rules.
"They can sleep it off in the cell, we'll let'em go in the
morning," Charlie Bassett said.
"Tom you and Cal handled that real good, we need to enforce the
law, but at the same time we need to remember that the businesses
in Dodge make their money from the people that come here."
"I'm just glad they weren't itching in their gun hand," Tom said.
Tom and Cal walked back out in the street to catch some air.
"Tom, I didn't even see that man start to swing, yet you knew as
soon as he turned. I didn't see your gun come up on the other man
either, I never knew you were that fast with that Colt."
"I was watching their hands and their eyes the whole time, I knew
as soon as I saw him workin' his fingers on his left hand he was
gonna swing on me. I'm just glad he didn't draw," Tom said as
they leaned against a post in front of the sheriff's office.