THE TRAIL TO TOMBSTONE 4

the next day dale was sitting on the porch at the boarding house when wilkins rode by leading a leggy, narrow bay covered in a blanket " if you still want to race horses ill be at the palace in a hour and we can work out the details."wilkins was smug and self aqssured. " ill be there" dale said. dale was standing at the end of the bar at the palace saloon when wilkins came strolling in. he went to the bar next to dale and ordered a beer. dale only nodded at him. "ok mr. race horse man heres the dealwe run the coarse out at the edge of town a full mile." he didnt get to finish. " no, i told you quarter mile. we can run right through the middle of town."dale told him between sips of beer. " what you gonna run? your not serious about the litttle pack horse are you?"wilkins was incredulos. " yep and ill ride him. whos going to ride yours?" dale replyed. " i got a man comming, a jocky. ill agree to all that, you wont even see that hot blooded horses dust!"wilkins was even more sure. " heres my 500 for the purse"he laid a bundle on the bar. "man you must be hard hearing or just forgetful, i told you i run for no less than 2000. your 1500 short. no deal. i think your mouth is bigger than your bank account."dale dropped a bundle on the bar where every one could see it. wilkens looked like a piker to everyone there. wilkins stared at the bundle then backed away from the bar " i, i dont have that much cash." " then i guess this whole time has been wasted." dale picked up his bundle of green backs and put them in the pocket of his jacket. he scooted back from the bar getting ready to leave. " wait! will you take my note for the 1500?" wilkins asked " and whats gonna back the note? ime not stupid judd. lets just forget the whole deal. you dont have enough to play in this game."dale came down hard on wilkins. " ill put up a quit claim on my ranch in gleeson cattle and all!"wilkins was wanting a horse race bad. dale looked over at the bar tender" you got pen and paper?" the bar tender walked away then returned with a ink well , a pen and a clean sheet of paper. he put them in front of wilkins. he snatched the pen from the bar tenders hand and started scribbling. when he was done he slide the paper over to dale who read it. when finished dale place his bundle of cash on top of the paper and slid it over to the bar tender. " you got a safe?" he asked. the bar tender nodded and picked up the money and the paper and went to a safe behind the bar and locked them inside. " tomorrow noon at the south end of town we ask billy to start us. that ok with you?"dale took control. " you pick some one you know who you trust to be at the finish line." wilkins nodded. his self confidence was shinning all over. good enough. quartermile through town "

THE TRAIL TO TOMBSTONE 3

the town was dead. the story dale had heard about it being a gambling town just didnt hold water. he didnt see anyone there to gamble.after secureing a room at the boarding house he ambled back down the street. the palace still had lights shining.. a good drink just might top off the evenning. inside the palace there was only two men at the bar. in the back of the room a card game was going on with two others. he went to the end of the bar aand ordered bourbon. he was quietly standing there, his hat pulled low over his eyes sipping the glass of spirits when one of the two men at the bar came to him. "arnt you dale little?i watched that match horse race in tombstone that little stud is something else to see. did you bring him with you here?" " dale slowley looked up and over at the man"thank you, yeah i brought him with me. we were looking for some fresh opposition, but it looks like this town is a bit dead to gambling on horse races." " its because its mid week, weekends cowboys hit town and stir things up a bit. you would match a race here?"the man asked. " if i could get a good side bet up , yes i would. in any case ill hang around a day or two. let my horses rest up then ill go on to tucson. maybe some matches to be had there."he finished his drink then bade the man good night and headed back to the boarding house to bed. the next morning he was at the ok. he was brushing his horses while they ate their measure of grain. he was standing on the right side of his saddle horse when through the gate on the street walked two men.they marched through the yard right up to the stall dale was in. one was the man he had talked to the night before. but before that man could speak the other blurted out" are you dale little?" " yes i am, what can i do for you?" dale kept brushing his horse. "billy here says you match horse races. is that right?" the man pointed to his friend. "ive been knowen to do such a thing. but with people who i know their names." dale was combing the horses mane. " ime mr. judd wilkins, does that mean anything to you?" the man said it like he expected every one to address him as mr. " howdy pleased to make your aquintence. what you got you wanna run?"dale laid his hand on the horses back as he looked over at wilkins. out at my ranch i got a blooded thourobred. you match that horse for a mile?" wilkins challenged. " i run quarter mile races. and no, ill run my pack horse there in the next stall. how much you wanna run for?"dale moved over to the stall wall between the horses and pointed to the little stud horse. wilkins snorted when he looked at the little horse. bareley 14 hands and 900 pounds. " your serious? your pack horse against my blooded horse? you must have a pocket full of cash to loose. ill run for 500. ?" dale was rubbing the little stud between the ears, he didnt look up" i wont even saddle him for less than 2000. but i doubt theres that much money in this town." the implyed insult hit wilkins where it hurt he took a involuntary step back. "ill be back tomorrow with my horse. dont leave!do you have 2000 to gamble?" " yep ill wait on you and your blooded horse. ." dale looked to billy who was standing there with his mouth agape"does he have 2000?" wilkins started blubbering then before billy could answer said" get your cash ready ill be back!" he stormed out the door. billy stood there watching him leave"i dont know if he has that kind of cash but i know he has that ranch south of gleeson. he sure fancy s himself a high roller.. you sure tapped his ego tho." " well we will see what he comes up with. he seemed mad enough to bet the ranch."dale chuckled.