Stepping into in the door of the courtroom I faced the black-eyed bore of a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson. I knew that Queens carried a fancy gun of .38 caliber but it’s different viewing it when the action end is pointing at you. Queens was sitting behind the Judge’s bench. My attention then went to the prosecutor’s desk where Stanley Offut was on top of it on his hands and knees; Judge Klaser was standing on top of him with a rope around his neck.
This was not a good situation. Offut was already wobbling, and the Judge was a rather well-rounded man; I didn’t know how much longer before Offut collapsed.
“Queens, it doesn’t have to be this way,” I pleaded.
A laugh came from him; a laugh I had heard many times before. It was the laughter from Hades itself, the mocking laugh of the Pale Rider. “My party, my way, and I welcome you friend, Miles.”
“First of all, I ain’t your friend! Second, you won’t get out of this building alive!” I exclaimed moving so that Offut and the Judge were not blocking my view of Queens.
He was waving his gun around, when he said, “I get two of you this way,” he paused, then continued, “Offut just got in the way, plus I heard he was backing you.” His face turned angry, “I’m not giving up this badge. This is going to be my town. As soon as I get rid of you and the Judge, I’ll take care of that Sheriff.”
My mind was whirling, and I was silently praying that the Lord would show me a way. I tried not to show my nervousness, but it was hard not to. I wanted to try for my gun and it seemed that Queens was taunting me into trying.
In a shaky voice Offut cried out, “Miles, do something! I can’t hold out much longer.”
Not a sound had come from the Judge. The rope was tight around his neck and was up around the rafter and tied to the door of the Judge’s chamber. If I didn’t do something quick he might strangle before Offut collapsed and he was hung. I moved another step to my right and turned my body slightly.
Queens was smiling and humming some tune I didn’t recognize. “Tell me the name of that song and we’ll sing it at your burial,” I remarked.
His face went stone sober, no expression whatsoever. He stood then sneered. “All right, Mr. High-and-Mighty, I’ll give you a chance!”
He holstered his gun, and I didn’t hesitate. I drew my gun and shot. I knew that he had pulled his and that I was falling.
My eyes opened and I was laying on the other desk in the courtroom. Doc Jones was bandaging up my head. I tried to move my hand and felt that it was gripped tight; I looked to see who was holding it and found Molly standing there a grim look on her face that now turned to a smile.
I tried to shake my head but Doc grabbed me by the chin, “Stay still!” he ordered. I planned on doing just that for even that little movement make my head hurt.
“The Judge?” I asked feebly.
A voice answered from not too far away. “I’m fine, so is Stanley.”
“Whew, that was close,” came the words from Charlie Gold. “As soon as I heard the shots, I came running and broke through the window,” he paused. “I saw Queens lying on the floor, blood pouring from him. The shot must have scared Stanley for he collapsed, and I saw the Judge hanging. When I saw the rope tied to the door, I opened it and it gave enough slack for the Judge to fall on Stanley. Miles, it was close.”
“Help me sit him up,” commanded Doc Jones. “Faint? Dizzy?” he prodded. “Well, say something!”
“Doc, give me a chance,” I said then looked toward where Queens had been standing. Parker was already there with some men to remove Queens’ body. “What happened to him?”
Paul Parker, the undertaker, came by me and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Your bullet caught him right in the jugular notch above the breastbone. He didn’t last long.”
“Hmpf, long enough to almost kill you,” muttered Doc. “His bullet plowed a nice groove alongside your head. A fraction of an inch and your brains would have been splattered. All I can say is that you won’t be wearing a hat for a spell.”
“Doc,” I replied, “a fraction of an inch the other way and he would have missed altogether.”
“Hmpf…”