it's not a good habit if it makes you pick fights.
we like second lieutenants here.
you see -- here everybody fights, except the army.
so anyone who doesn't like the army --
that's his limit.
well -- cool him off.
just when you have to pay for it.
what changed your mind?
maybe it would be better if you found another girl.
no.
they follow me to see that strangers don't annoy me.
no one else would be so foolish.
you like to take chances, don't you?
then i'd advise you to try the dice table.
every man has a right to go to his own funeral.
the most in town.
we usually do.
it's been a nice conversation. i hate to have it end.
mick -- this is -- cousin john.
i never saw him before in my life.
a misunderstanding.
he wanted to be my cousin. only i haven't any aunts or uncles. but you never know -- and the least i can do is bury him.
that's ten to one.
you should always bet on a champion. then you can only lose once.
you're down. a thousand to a hundred.
a little won't be enough.
give it to him, prince -- in chips.
how do you feel?
you just cost me a thousand. you lost your pipe in the fight. i brought it to you.
only the winners.
what?
you talk too much.
i think you'd better sit this one out.
i did.
yes.
that's right. this is prince. don't ever gamble with him.
it makes me feel at home.
sit there.
why did you pick that fight?
really?
perhaps that isn't the way i felt about you.
it was my father's. my name is charlene, but --
what makes you think you're going to work for me?
how's that?
all right, i sent for you. i was doing a nice quiet business. that was because everybody was afraid of mick. now every time a man has enough drinks in him to feel rugged he'll try to do what you did.
but they will.
where do you want to start?
and what will you do for it?
i learned one thing from my father. as long as men think they can beat the tables, all you have to do is get a table. sometimes they run out of cash and i find myself with new responsibilities.
a couple of stores for one thing.
a sawmill, and a logging camp. the logging camp's a long way from town.
i own the stage line from here to west rim city, but that's a dud.
outlaws. the money was in gold shipments. now the mines won't ship it.
you mean ride shot-gun?
don't force your luck. you won a fight last night. you could lose one tonight.
what do you think you'll get out of running the stage line?
that should buy you a small beer.
it's pretty dangerous. even wells fargo locked up their station and quit trying.
who doesn't? all they have to do is put a mask on and they all look like black bart.
i can't bet against you twice, can i?
you know i forgot to ask you one thing.
how do i know i can trust you?
can i?
prince, you know i wouldn't part with you.
not quite empty. i gave you what is probably the one honest feeling you ever had in your life.
what's the matter, prince?
you've said that.
you want me to have him looked up in the social register?
and went against your table. did he play like a gambler?
yes -- and he took mick.
i'll tell you one thing, prince, i don't like this part.
i always have somebody to lie to me.
tell me what you're doing with my buggy.
i wouldn't wear anything sold this side of chicago. i'm going to call on a gentleman.
his name is mark bristow -- and any hour, it would be strictly business.
he's a lawyer himself, but it won't help him.
what good is a lawyer if he never gets in a court?
across the street.
do you think they've gone far enough?
then maybe you better wait and come with me.
these are i.o.u.s for gambling. they add up to six thousand dollars. do you want to count them?
your credit's over, mark.
not on my tables.
nobody does. i'll have prince drop in and go over your books. maybe we can work something out.
that's the way it is, mark. i pay off on the line and i expect to get paid. give it some thought.
i had an idea you'd read a book. what was the character?
mark is mixed up. he's either crooked without being smart, or honest without being lucky. and that's no good.
even?
it's hard to imagine you being seven.
is that why you robbed your bank?
did you do it?
why?
this is my favorite place in the world.  i always come here to think about it.
the rook here and the stream. the stream is always running away and the rock is always watching it go. it's two ways to be -- and i always wonder which is the best.
do you suppose any woman could envy me?
but not a good woman?
maybe.
with certain exceptions.
like mary caslon.
how did you happen to know her?
that's curious, considering --
ben caslon was a very upright citizen.
she's certainly not hard to look at -- and now she has the money and is -- -- also very respectable.
because you're no good. and good women like men who are bad for them.
fooling with her will get you nowhere too -- except in trouble.
the army. why is it you're always getting mixed up with the army?
four to one.
she's engaged to captain iles.
he's the army boss here.
no chance.
hello.  i've been wondering where you were.
you didn't imagine that i'd let you live in that hotel, did you? i want you available -- in case of trouble.
in a very nice room upstairs.
why don't you take them yourself?
you're really hard -- aren't you?
you have to play everything alone?
is that the way you want it?
they'll be there.
what's he doing with you?
i doubt it.
and what was that?
go downstairs, pete. watch the stairway.
who else have you told?
what keeps it from getting to a court?
you brought your lawyer. ask him if this doesn't sound like blackmail.
i don't see how going to the law will get it for you.
i'm afraid not.
and how would that be?
you mean the gear box?
all right.  i'll give him the iou's.  when the gear box is delivered.
i think that's all.
you can stay.
then you should be more careful.
carnation. i almost had to have you killed. i'd have hated it.
i'd have missed you.  too much.
did you ever tell a woman you loved her?
how did you get away?
you never said it to me.
i seem to always end up like this with you. i take you for granted. you like it that way. it goes with loaded dice and crimped cards and fixed wheels.
it isn't my life.
you told me once you might be a missionary on your way to china. and that's as much as i've ever found out about you. you're working for me, but for all i know you could be working for somebody else.
why not?
you heard the man.
exactly where he's headed now -- to jail.
i thought you were in jail.
you're a very glib man. you seem to talk your way out of everything.
what's that?
didn't you bring me something?
but you will?
make it as credible as you can.
who?
alone?
so this nice lady held you up and took the gold, is that it?
not quite. you've got some time. you've got two hours to get it here.
i said what i meant -- two hours.
everything ready?
i gave him some time. he's in the hotel. he's not doing anything. i gave him some time. i don't care what he does with it.
again?
bristow's here.
let him in.
you want the i.o.u's?
what?
let's have it.
this?
sure, you see about it.
take this along.
no.
can we?
you better get out before he takes you.
i've been here as long as i remember.
you cause me an awful lot of trouble.
maybe i just wanted to send you a gun.
isn't it a little late to make any difference?
why?
for what?
i could have killed you from the window -- but i didn't. and i didn't kill the two men -- or goodard.
maybe mick -- maybe prince -- who knows.
you'd almost as soon be killed as arrest me, wouldn't you?
which are you -- wells fargo or army?
i guess it's my turn to wish you'd gone to china.
if you still have that gold, and i think you do, we might make it yet. you see i believe that every man has his price.
but every woman knows it.
it's no good.
stay here.
tell me something.
this gets us all. this doesn't count.
tell me something -- on the square.
did you ever -- love me?
tell it.
it's all right. i love you.  well -- say it.
see you.  in china.