Gunfight in the Red Eye Saloon by I. J. Parnham

Author:I. J. Parnham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Culbin Press
Published: 2024-08-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

For a couple of hours Cassidy and Wright tried to avoid dwelling on their unresolved problems as they soaked up the atmosphere, and liquor, in the three saloons along Carmon’s main drag. Even though Cassidy wouldn’t admit it, Severin’s boast was a valid one as the establishments were boisterous, but everyone was well-behaved and the conversations they overheard indicated that the townsfolk were content.

Before returning to the McGrew Hotel they visited one final saloon that was away from the main drag. Cassidy hoped that the customers in this run-down establishment would provide a different opinion about the town, but such thoughts left his mind as Burleigh Whitman was at the bar.

He was slumped over contemplating an almost empty whiskey glass with the studied intensity of a man with a lot on his mind, and he didn’t react even when Cassidy and Wright stood beside him at the bar.

“Drinking won’t make things any easier,” Cassidy said. “Talking to me might.”

Burleigh took a moment to register that he’d been spoken to and then he regarded Cassidy with bleary eyes. Another few moments passed before with a flinch Burleigh appeared to work out who had spoken to him.

With a snarl of anger he threw the contents of his whiskey glass at Cassidy’s face, although as there were just a few dregs at the bottom, Cassidy felt only a small splash on his cheek. Burleigh slammed the glass down on the counter before turning away from the bar.

Cassidy slapped a hand on his shoulder, but Burleigh shrugged it off. Then he scurried for the door. Burleigh ran with a stumbling gait making him swerve to the right and head toward a spot around five feet from the door.

Cassidy winced as he expected him, in his inebriated state, to run into the wall, but at the last moment he lurched to the side and with more luck than judgment he went barreling out through the doorway.

“The luck of the very drunk saved him there,” Wright said.

“It did, but his luck is about to run out,” Cassidy said as he set off after him.

When they reached the door, Burleigh was scurrying away with his head down toward the edge of town. It was darker there, but there was nowhere to run to in that direction. Burleigh appeared to realize this problem as he stomped to a halt.

He turned around and shook a fist at Cassidy and Wright, and then turned his head to the left before setting off to the right. He headed for a dark alleyway between two unlit buildings.

This time he wasn’t as lucky as before and he crunched into the corner of a building where he hung on before slumping down on to his knees. Cassidy and Wright both shook their heads and then set off.

As they walked toward him, Burleigh made no attempt to get back up and instead he flopped over to lie on his back. When they reached him they stood on either side of him and leaned down

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