"I ran into Pinky Bronklin and that candy-striped marshal."
"Madrid? He made a reputation as an express guard on the OR & N. Killed
two bandits who tried to rob his car."
"I've heard the story," Tesno said. "I also heard they were half-frozen
hoboes looking for a place to get warm."
Ben nodded grimly, then he spread his palms above the littered
tabletop. "I'm not asking for miracles, Jack. I'll settle for
midnight closing, no Sunday sales, no sales to drunks. Get rid of the
knockout-drop artists and the drunk rollers. And the gambling. It
causes as much trouble as the booze. There's a territorial statute that
forbids casino gambling, but the county sheriff is the nearest law
officer--sixty miles away at Ellensburg. The best he could do was agree
to deputize any troublebuster I hire."
"Damned if I'll ride down there just to get a badge."
"Suit yourself. I'll put you on the payroll as of tomorrow."
"I figure to start tonight," Tesno said.
"What you going to do tonight?"