Alias: The Hangman From Hell

by Franklin D. Lincoln

Dusk was fast approaching as The Laredo Kid exited the courthouse front door and stepped out onto the board sidewalk. Lights were already starting to glow in several of the establishments along the street. Some business owners were in the process of closing up their shops for the day. The Cow Palace saloon, down the street was already brightly lit. Glass encased cubes holding lighted lanterns had been hung outside on each side of the swinging bat wing doors. The sour strains of an out of tune honky tonk piano playing “Buffalo Gal” filtered out into the now cooling night air.

  The street was fairly empty, as most people had already drifted off to the circus for tonight’s performance. Some stragglers were finishing up whatever town chores they need to do and busily went about their business before heading off, themselves.

  Laredo had taken advantage of being left alone in the court room without a chaperone and had headed out. He had had enough of this town and The Hangman From Hell. If he could at all manage it, he was going to get his horse and gear and get out of Plainview as fast as he could before Clay Shaw discovered he was gone. He looked up and down the street, searching out each and every person in sight to make sure there were no lawmen about to spot him.

  There were none in sight. There was only one person on the street that he knew, Patsy Dolan. She was standing on the sidewalk in front of the closed millinery shop on the other side of the street about a hundred feet away. She was talking to a tall, thin man of middle age. His complexion was dark and swarthy. Tufts of black hair hung beneath a battered sombrero, and heavy black stubble covered his lean face. His clothes were dirty and worn. They looked like they hadn’t been washed in weeks. His black jeans had a horizontal slit in them at the left thigh. There was a dried dark stain around its edges.

  Laredo would not have taken much note, except he saw the girl half turn and upon seeing him, seemed to be pointing at him with her chin. The man next to her followed her gaze, then nodded to her, shifted his gunbelt, and stepped off the side walk. The man seemed to favor his left leg slightly. He started walking deliberately toward The Kid.

  Hackles on the back of his neck stood up and a chill ran down Laredo’s spine. Suddenly, he was realizing something that he had not considered. Perhaps this man was the one who shot at him the night before. If he was a betting man, The Kid was almost sure that beneath the tear in the man’s jeans was at least a burn mark, if not a wound from Laredo’s gun, the night before, at the livery.

  Seeing Patsy Dolan with this hardcase, probably meant that she had hired him to dispose of The Hangman; thus delaying the hanging and giving her more time to get Cliff Allen free.

  The Laredo Kid was never afraid of any other man in a standup gunfight, but now was not the time. All he wanted to do was get his horse and get out of town. He turned quickly away, putting the man behind him. He quickened his step as he headed out toward the livery stable down the street. Occasionally, he would turn his head just enough to catch a glimpse behind him. The man was still coming after him. His stride had also quickened.

  Laredo began to move faster, fighting the urge to out and out, run. To do so might attract attention and ruin any chance he had of getting his horse and getting out of town. He pushed onward. The livery was still more than a block away. A quick glance behind him told him the man was still coming; taking larger strides, quickening the step and closing the distance behind him. He had assumed the man was after him, but he had hoped that it was merely a coincidence that the man was going his way and he had hoped that he was only imagining the man’s purpose.

  Now with the man drawing nearer The Laredo Kid, knew he had been right. Patsy Dolan had sent this man to kill him. The foolish things women did for their men.

  Looking ahead of him, down the street, he could see the livery was just too far away. He would never make it before the man made his play. He would have to make his stand and take his chances. He stopped suddenly and whirled; pushing his coattails back and reached for his gun.

  The gunman behind, startled by the sudden unexpected movement, automatically went for his gun. He was fast. Lightning fast. The pistol was in his hand and the muzzle was spitting flame while The Laredo Kid was still trying to spread his coat tails away from his gun.

  The Kid, seeing the weapon come up, threw himself backward, landing on his back. His assailant’s first bullet had split the air above him where he had been standing a split second earlier. The second bullet kicked up dirt, scant inches from Laredo’s shoulder as he rolled away just in time and pushing himself to a half sitting position and bringing his own pistol up and firing from the ground.

  The other man took The Kid’s round in his midsection, just as he squeezed off another shot. His knees buckled and his pistol muzzle angle upward, sending the bullet high. Laredo fired a second time as the man fell to his knees and a hole appeared in the man’s shirt just over the center of the heart. Then the man doubled forward and pitched face downward in the dirt.

  Laredo hardly had time to catch his breath. His mind was racing now. He had to get up and get out of town. No more trying to get his horse from the livery. He would just grab the first horse on the street he could find and light a shuck as fast as he could. But, before he could push himself to his feet, the street began to come alive with activity. What people there had been on the street were now gathering with curiosity. And damn, there were two deputies running down the street toward him. One of them was Clay Shaw.

  Laredo still had his gun in his hand as he stood up and faced the two oncoming lawmen. Clay Shaw also had his gun in hand.

  What now? Laredo, thought. Do I shoot it out now? That damn stupid girl. Why did she have to do this?

  “Hey! What’s happening here?” Shaw demanded as he halted before The Kid.

  “What does it look like?” Laredo said with irritation. “This man tried to kill me.”

  “You were supposed to have waited for me in the courtroom. If you had, this couldn’t have happened. Why do think we’ve been watching you?”

  Laredo ignored the question. It wouldn’t be wise to answer it with what he was actually thinking.

  Shaw walked away toward the fallen man and rolled him over with the toe of his boot.

  “Do you know this man?” Shaw asked.

  Laredo stepped up beside him, looking down at the body. “No, I’ve never seen him before. I have no idea why he’d want to kill me.”

  “You don’t?” Shaw said with a hint of exasperation in his voice. “You’re a hangman, for crissakes. A lot of people might want you dead. What’re you? Stupid or something? From now on you’ll do as you’re told and don’t go wandering off by yourself. You got that?”

  Oh, how Laredo wanted to bust this jerk in the jaw, but he refrained. He would just have to play along for a little while longer and wait for another chance.

  “Do you think this is the same person who tried to kill you last night?” Shaw asked.

  “Probably. I did some damage to the attacker last night. I think you’ll find where I nicked him on the thigh.”

  Shaw examined the man and shook his head. “You’re probably right.” Then he straightened and said to no one in particular to the milling crowd, “Somebody, get someone to clean up this mess and get this body out of here.” He didn’t wait for volunteers. He just turned to the other deputy and whispered something to him. The deputy nodded his understanding and cast his gaze on The Hangman. Shaw turned and walked away down the street toward the telegraph office.

  Laredo watched Shaw go. The lawman was walking with a quick deliberate stride. He was obviously a man on a mission. Why hadn’t he stayed to watch The Hangman, himself instead of leaving it up to the other deputy? What had transpired between Shaw and the judge? Something was up and Laredo was pretty sure he knew what it was. Even if nobody knew who he really was, chances were he was no longer believed to be The Hangman From Hell.

  Laredo put his pistol away, removed his hat and brushed off his clothes with it. Then replacing the hat on his head and cocking it off to one side, he
strolled non chalantly past the deputy.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” The deputy demanded.

  Laredo turned and eyed the lawman grimly. “In case you haven’t notice, I’ve had a couple of bad days here. I’ve been shot at by outlaws, I’ve hung three boys and someone tried to kill me twice. Now, unless you’ve got any objections, I need to unwind a bit. So, just leave me alone.”

  “Can’t do that,” the deputy said. “I’m supposed to watch you.”

  “Just keep your distance,” The Hangman ordered. He turned and headed back up the street.

  Patsy Dolan was still standing outside the millinery when Laredo approached. There was anger in her eyes and as Laredo came near, she tossed her head high, stepped off the board walk and started to walk away.

  Laredo stepped in front of her, blocking her passage. “That was a stupid thing to do, Miss,” he said quietly. “The only thing you accomplished was getting that man killed. Oh, he probably deserved it and it’s no great loss to the world that he’s gone. In fact, the world is probably better off without him. You wasted your money, and that is a shame. I wouldn’t recommend trying to hire someone else, even if you’ve got enough money. It’ll just end the same way it did today. Now if you’ll just behave yourself and stay out of things, you just might get your man free, after all.”

  She started to say something, but Laredo cut her off by continuing, “Now, just listen to me. I am going to help you if I can. Not to keep you from killing me, but because I know, the same as you do, that Cliff Allen is not the Laredo Kid.”

  The girl’s face softened, “You do? You really do? How do you know that?”

  “It’s not important right now. Just trust me. I’ll try to do what I can. I can’t promise anything, but I’ll try. But, understand one thing; if he gets out of this mess, get him as far away from here as you can. Don’t ever let him touch a gun again. And, for God’s sakes, keep that boy out of any more trouble.” Without giving the girl a chance to respond, he spun on his heel and continued walking down the street. The girl’s eyes followed him quizzically. A few seconds later the deputy passed by following The Hangman, who appeared to be heading for The Cow Palace saloon.

  *****

  Chapter Fifteen