THE TRAIL TO TOMBSTONE 1

gleeson was a small mineing community. scattered across the south end of the dragoon mountains there were countless claims being worked by pick and shovel miners. but as small as it was gleeson had a jail, a boarding house and a small cafe. that cafe sat right on the trail to tombstone 20 miles away. the clap board construction was starting to warp you could see day lite between the boards. comming into gleeson from the east rode a man leading a pack horse. his saddle horse was a notch better than most horses of that day and time. and because he was a pack horse no one payed that one any attention. the man rode to the little cafe and dismounted and tied up to a mesquite tree growing at the corner of the building.the rider was just past thirty years old. he wore no side arm. his clothes were just a shade better than the local miners could afford. his brown hair stuck out under the sweat band of his black felt hat. he looked all around as he started into the cafe. it was a long room with a horno stove built at the back a fat, sweating man with a cigar in his mouth was cooking. the rider shuddered. he was hungry. he decided to tough out the filth. when the fat man came to him the rider asked for a bowl of chili. the fat man grunted then turned back to his home made stove. there he filled a bowl from a pot sitting on the back of the stove. the fat man grabbed a bowl of soda crackers as he returned to the rider. he put the chili and the soda crackers on the table before thee rider. the chili was hot, hot from the stove and hot from the chili peppers that floated i it. the rider started in eating it and stuffing the soda crackers in his mouth at the same time. finally between spoon fulls he asked for a glass of water. when through the rider stood up, his face flushed and sweat pouring off his forehead. " how much?" he called to the cook. "50 cents" the fat man said. " worth every penny, thanks" the rider said as he dropped coins on the table. out side he stood on the front porch and surveyed the surrounding area. there was no plannning for the village. houses lay in a haphazzard scramble among the mine claims a miner stepped up to him " arnt you dale little? i think i saw you over in willcox a while back. what you doing here?" "i heard tombstone was a gambling town. thought i would give her a try. i stopped here to eat. ime going on to tomstone.. might be better if i get in there aafter dark any way." dale explained. the miner nodded agreement and went on about his business. dale went to his horses and mounted up and turnned down the long ridge that led to tombstone.

THE WILL 22

THE NEXT MORNING AFTER DOING CHORES TOBEY TRYED TO GET AWAY AND GO CHECK SOME THINGS IN TOWN, BUT THE CUSTOMERS FOR HIS HAY BARN KEPT SHOWING UP. FINALLY WHEN HE GOT A BREAK HE TOOK HIS TRUCK OUT SIDE THE GATES. HE SHUT AND LOCKED THE GATES THEN TURNED THE TOWARD TOWN. he went by the real estate office but nobody was there. then he drove to alexis house. a gardner was mowing the lawn when he pulled up but alexis car was gone. aggrivated he got out of the truck and went to the door. peering through the windows he could see a perfect house in side. he tryed the door and the door knob turned in his hand. inside everything was pristene. he walked through the house slowley. it didnt even looked lived in. as he came to the dinning room he was stopped dead in his tracks. on the table lay a 357 smith and wesson pistol, next to it was a air line brochure with a flight to buenos aires circled and in the middle of everything a white, womans shoe with the heel gone. the heel he carried in his pocket fit. next to the shoe was a note addressed to him: i tried but it wouldnt all come together. catch me if you can. tobey was stunned. he stood there stareing at the pile on the table. he folded the note and put it in his pocket. he turnned as if in a fog and walked out the door pulling it closed behind him. at the street curb the sleezy real estate man was setting a sighn on the corner advertiseing the house for sale. in tucson a shapley woman in a snug skirt was boarding a plane travel bag in hand a fresh start lay ahead. on her feet were a new pair of white high heel shoes. she never looked back.