worked four days. He gets paid for the time he was on the job."
Frank looked at the miner. âDid you agree to those terms before you took the job?"
âI knew how it was,â the miner said sourly. âBut that don't make it right."
âI agree with you. It doesn't make it right. But you agreed to the terms. You got no quarrel. Get on out of here and cool off."
âAnd if I don't?â the miner challenged him.
âI'll put you out. Then I'll take you to jail. The doctor can see you in your cell."
The miner laughed. âYou and how many others are gonna do that, Marshal?"
âJust me,â Frank said softly.
âYou really think you can do that, huh?"
âOh, I know I can."
âWith or without that pistol?"
âEither way. But if you want to mix it up with me, you'll be liable for any damage to this office."
The miner laughed at that. âHow would you collect the money?"
âA day in jail for every dollar of damage. You really want to spend months behind bars? Then there will be your medical expenses. And they will be manyâI assure you of that."
âYou got a name, Marshal?"
âFrank Morgan."
The miner paled under his dark stubble of whiskers. He slowly nodded his head. âI reckon I'll leave quietly."
âGood,â Frank told him. âYou know the way out."
The miner didn't tarry. He nodded in silent agreement, left the office, and walked out of the building without saying another word.
âYou certainly calmed that situation down in a hurry, Marshal,â one of the bookkeepers said. âAre you really Frank Morgan?"
âYes.â Frank no longer wondered how so many people knew about him. He'd seen several of those penny dreadfuls and dime novels that had been written about him. Most of them were nothing but a pack of lies.
And he had never gotten a nickel for all the words in print about him.
âHave you really killed five hundred white men and a thousand Indians?â another office worker asked, his eyes big around.
Frank smiled. âNo. Nowhere even close to either number."
âI do so hate to interfere in this moment of juvenile adoration,â said the young man who had first hailed Frank. âBut it's time for everybody to get back to work."
Frank had just about had enough of the kid, and came very close to telling him where to stick his lousy attitude. The only thing that saved the moment was the miner who had just left. He came storming back inside, yelling and cussing.
âNo man orders me around like I was some damn stray dog!â he hollered. âGunfighter or no, by God, let's see what you can do with your fists!"
He ran over and took a wild swing at Frank. Frank ducked the blow and stuck out one boot. The miner's forward momentum could not be halted in time, and he tripped over Frank's boot and went butt over elbows to the floor, landing with a tremendous thud. He yelled and cussed and got to his feet.
âYou afraid to fight me kick, bite, and gouge, gunfighter?â he threw down the challenge.
âNo,â Frank said calmly. âBut my warning still holds. Whatever this fight breaks, you pay for."
âI boxed in college,â the haughty kid said. âAnd I was quite good. Allow me to settle this dispute. I can do it rather quickly, I assure you."
Frank and the miner looked at the young man, then at each other, and born suddenly burst out laughing, all animosity between them vanishing immediately.
âAre you laughing at me, you lumbering oaf?â the young man asked the miner.
Frank verbally stepped in. âBoy, this isn't a boxing match with rules. Out here there are no rules in a fight. It's kick, gouge, bite, and stomp. I don't think you understand."
âI can take care of myself, Marshal. And I don't appreciate your interference."
âFine,â Frank said. âThen by all means, jump right in, boy."
It wasn't a long jump, and the young man didn't have but a few
Frank looked at the miner. âDid you agree to those terms before you took the job?"
âI knew how it was,â the miner said sourly. âBut that don't make it right."
âI agree with you. It doesn't make it right. But you agreed to the terms. You got no quarrel. Get on out of here and cool off."
âAnd if I don't?â the miner challenged him.
âI'll put you out. Then I'll take you to jail. The doctor can see you in your cell."
The miner laughed. âYou and how many others are gonna do that, Marshal?"
âJust me,â Frank said softly.
âYou really think you can do that, huh?"
âOh, I know I can."
âWith or without that pistol?"
âEither way. But if you want to mix it up with me, you'll be liable for any damage to this office."
The miner laughed at that. âHow would you collect the money?"
âA day in jail for every dollar of damage. You really want to spend months behind bars? Then there will be your medical expenses. And they will be manyâI assure you of that."
âYou got a name, Marshal?"
âFrank Morgan."
The miner paled under his dark stubble of whiskers. He slowly nodded his head. âI reckon I'll leave quietly."
âGood,â Frank told him. âYou know the way out."
The miner didn't tarry. He nodded in silent agreement, left the office, and walked out of the building without saying another word.
âYou certainly calmed that situation down in a hurry, Marshal,â one of the bookkeepers said. âAre you really Frank Morgan?"
âYes.â Frank no longer wondered how so many people knew about him. He'd seen several of those penny dreadfuls and dime novels that had been written about him. Most of them were nothing but a pack of lies.
And he had never gotten a nickel for all the words in print about him.
âHave you really killed five hundred white men and a thousand Indians?â another office worker asked, his eyes big around.
Frank smiled. âNo. Nowhere even close to either number."
âI do so hate to interfere in this moment of juvenile adoration,â said the young man who had first hailed Frank. âBut it's time for everybody to get back to work."
Frank had just about had enough of the kid, and came very close to telling him where to stick his lousy attitude. The only thing that saved the moment was the miner who had just left. He came storming back inside, yelling and cussing.
âNo man orders me around like I was some damn stray dog!â he hollered. âGunfighter or no, by God, let's see what you can do with your fists!"
He ran over and took a wild swing at Frank. Frank ducked the blow and stuck out one boot. The miner's forward momentum could not be halted in time, and he tripped over Frank's boot and went butt over elbows to the floor, landing with a tremendous thud. He yelled and cussed and got to his feet.
âYou afraid to fight me kick, bite, and gouge, gunfighter?â he threw down the challenge.
âNo,â Frank said calmly. âBut my warning still holds. Whatever this fight breaks, you pay for."
âI boxed in college,â the haughty kid said. âAnd I was quite good. Allow me to settle this dispute. I can do it rather quickly, I assure you."
Frank and the miner looked at the young man, then at each other, and born suddenly burst out laughing, all animosity between them vanishing immediately.
âAre you laughing at me, you lumbering oaf?â the young man asked the miner.
Frank verbally stepped in. âBoy, this isn't a boxing match with rules. Out here there are no rules in a fight. It's kick, gouge, bite, and stomp. I don't think you understand."
âI can take care of myself, Marshal. And I don't appreciate your interference."
âFine,â Frank said. âThen by all means, jump right in, boy."
It wasn't a long jump, and the young man didn't have but a few
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