Dix found Paston drinking whiskey from a mug sitting on his bed in a rooming house on Bridie Street, Deadwood. He was passing himself off as a drummer. The Texan wasn’t pleased to see his gun-hand.
“What in hell’re you doin’ here?” he asked.
Dix, normally wary with Paston, but now bone-tired from the ride and his nerves shot, answered sharply. “We pulled outa the gulch.”
Paston set his mug down with a meticulous care that showed his rage. He stood up slowly. “You pulled out?”
“We’re all washed up there. Half the diggers’ve done the same. Too many Indians.”
“Christ!” Paston said. “I thought you had sand.”
“I didn’t see you there,” Dix told him.
He thought the Texan was going to strike him, but he didn’t.
“Did you bring any gold?”
“Yeah. Duggan and Paul have it. Look, boss, we can operate this end just as good.”
Paston sat down again. “We’ll have to.”
Dix moved his feet uneasily. “But that ain’t all.”
His tone made Paston jerk up his head and stare at him. “Tell it.”
“McAllister.”
“You ain’t goin’ to tell me he reached the gulch.”
“I’m tellin’ you. Jumped into our business with both feet.”
Paston waved him to silence and thought furiously. Finally, he gave Dix a drink and said: “Go fetch Duggan an’ Paul. I want that gold where I can see it and we have to talk.”
Dix drank gratefully, wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and fetched the other two. The four of them talked for two hours, drinking and planning.
When they broke up, Paston was in a better humor. He laughed and said: “All we want now is for the Indians to work for us.”
“Why not?” Dix said. “We could talk it around town and in Malcolm that we know miners have been stopped and robbed by the Sioux on the road.”
Paston snapped is fingers, pleased. “Say, that’s an idea. You do that. And Duggan, I want guns and the best. That McAllister puts his nose into our business again, he’ll get it blown clean off. Six Winchesters should settle his hash.”
The men clattered out and Paston lay down on the bed, smiling. He was going to make his pile this time. Life was sweet. McAllister was going to meet his come-uppance and maybe if things turned out real good he’d go back and pick up little Miss Mann after all. With her, he could turn himself into a respectable wealthy man.