Boone's Lick Read Online Free PDF

to dispose of Little Billy, and I’m in the mood to do the favor.
    â€œIf the pay is decent, that is,” he added.
    He finished his little cigar and flipped the butt across the room. Then he pulled three more slim cigars out of his shirt pocket and offered one to Uncle Seth and one to me. He was a very polite man.
    â€œThis boy don’t smoke, either,” Uncle Seth said. “Mary Margaret is determined to raise him Christian.”
    â€œI doubt it will take,” Mr. Hickok said, smiling at me. He lit his new cigar and tilted his chair back again.
    â€œI believe Sheriff Stone is prepared to offer youfifty dollars for your services, Bill,” Uncle Seth said. “He only offered me five dollars, a sum I looked askance at.”
    Wild Bill Hickok laughed heartily at that piece of information. He seemed so relaxed and so friendly that I couldn’t figure out why Uncle Seth had seemed nervous about going to see him. Behind us, the men in the front of the saloon didn’t seem relaxed at all. Several of them were still glaring at us, a fact both Mr. Hickok and Uncle Seth continued to ignore.
    â€œI wouldn’t expect you to enjoy being offered forty-five dollars less than me, if I’ve got my subtraction right,” Mr. Hickok said.
    â€œYou’re accurate, both as to the sum and the opinion,” Uncle Seth said.
    Mr. Hickok blew a smoke ring or two and looked thoughtful.
    â€œIf they paid us fifty dollars apiece that would be a hundred dollars,” he said. “I doubt the town has it. Do you suppose there’s a rich citizen they could ask for a loan?”
    â€œWell, Rosie McGee,” Uncle Seth said.
    I perked my ears up at that. Rosie McGee lived over the saloon. Once or twice I caught a glimpse of her, fanning herself in front of her window on sultry days. G.T. must have had a few glimpses, too, because Rosie was the woman he wanted to marry.
    â€œI recall that Rosie harbors a grudge against Jake Miller,” Uncle Seth said. “If she’s still harboring her grudge she might be willing to make the community a loan.
    â€œThat’s the best outlook,” Uncle Seth went on. “If the town hired you, and Rosie hired me, we wouldn’t have to put up with some ignorant posse men who would probably just be in the way.”
    Mr. Hickok blew another smoke ring.
    â€œI don’t know Miss McGee very well,” he said. “It’s possible that she harbors a grudge against me, too.”
    â€œShe could even harbor a grudge against the town of Boone’s Lick, in which case she might not care to contribute a cent,” Uncle Seth speculated.
    â€œSeth, it’s time I tried to scare up a card game,” Mr. Hickok said. “I can’t just idle the night away discussing grudges—there’s such a passel of them. But I’ll contribute my services to this Stumptown expedition for fifty dollars—you’ll have to scare up your own wages. I’m available anytime but Friday.”
    â€œWhy not Friday?” Uncle Seth asked, as he got up from the table.
    â€œI don’t work Fridays—it’s a firm rule,” Mr. Hickok said. “Nice to meet you, Sherman.”
    â€œYou see, he’s superstitious,” Uncle Seth said, as we were leaving the saloon. “All these fine gunfighters have their superstitions.”
    There was a flight of stairs outside the saloon, going up to the room where Rosie McGee lived. Just as we were passing the steps I looked up and saw a little red glow at the top of the stairs—somebody was sitting on the landing, smoking a cigar. A cloud had crossed the moon—all I saw was a little glowing tip.
    Uncle Seth saw it too. He took a step or two, and stopped.
    â€œShay, you go on home,” he said. “I believe that’s Rosie with the cheroot. I think I’ll sound her out about the state of her grudges.
    â€œLook out for Granpa,” he added. “He might