Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Review of poker hands images::How Do U Play Texas Holdem - Ask Jeeves







Review of poker hands images::How Do U Play Texas Holdem - Ask Jeeves









"I               say,               young               chap,               you               look               as               though               you               just               stepped               out               of               the               billiards               hall               on               53rd               Street               in               New               York               City.

Apparently,               your               train               voyage               wasn't               enough               to               infuse               your               marrow               with               the               essential               spirit               and               energy               of               Western               adventure.

I'm               sure               your               journey               was               quite               exhausting.

Welcome               to               Denver               City.

My               name               is               Randolph               Melliflew,               and               I'm               a               Denver               City               attorney.

Looking               for               a               place               to               escape               the               soot               of               the               railway               and               catch               a               good               night's               sleep?

We               can               step               over               to               Auntie               Sal's               Saloon               and               have               a               drink.

I'm               sure               they               will               have               a               room               for               you               on               the               second               floor."               I               smiled               and               looked               the               man               over               with               a               quick,               cynical               glance.

He               stood               tall,               about               six               feet,               and               wore               the               stiff               suit               and               cheap               bowler               hat               one               might               buy               in               the               imported               clothing               section               of               a               frontier               hardware               store.

His               teeth               needed               the               rough               cleaning               meted               out               by               the               barber               in               every               town               west               of               St.

Louis,               and               some               of               them               probably               needed               pulling.

The               health               of               his               skin               and               erect               posture               indicated               nothing               of               scurvy               or               contagion.

He               had               soft               hands,               but               his               left               thumb               had               the               telling               callous               of               an               experienced               gunslinger.
               "Sounds               great,"               I               replied.

"My               name               is               Gary               Maxwell.

I               could               go               for               a               chicken               dinner               and               a               shot               of               whiskey."
               I               walked               with               Melliflew               for               about               five               minutes               down               Main               Street,               a               short               roadway               populated               by               the               main               proprietor               shops               in               Denver               City.

Melliflew               described               his               occupation               to               me,               the               selling               and               registering               of               mineral               claims               in               the               State               of               Colorado.

Melliflew               said               he               worked               in               his               busy               office               upstairs               from               the               saloon               where               we               were               headed.

He               counted               many               local               bigwigs               among               his               closest               friends,               and               assured               me               that               wheelbarrows               of               money               could               be               made               by               smart               investors.
               His               description               of               life               and               opportunity               in               Denver               City               sounded               wonderful,               and               I               found               myself               in               good               spirits               when               we               reached               the               bar               doors               of               Auntie               Sal's               Saloon.

The               raucous               conversation               of               excited               prospectors               and               gambling               cowboys               greeted               our               entrance.

No               one               took               any               particular               notice               of               us               as               we               made               our               way               to               a               stout               wooden               table               in               a               back               corner.

Annoyingly,               Randolph               took               the               seat               facing               the               bar               entrance.

Everything               about               this               guy               suggested               he               was               a               professional               shootist.
               "Well,               Mr.

Maxwell,               what               brings               you               to               Denver               City?"               Randolph               grinned               broadly.
               "I'm               here               for               the               gambling,"               I               lied.

"I've               heard               about               the               no-limit               wagers               here.

I'm               good               with               cards,               and               thought               I'd               take               a               seat               at               a               good               poker               game."
               Randolph's               cheek               twitched               a               little,               just               noticeably.

"Oh,               Mr.

Maxwell,               are               you               certain               that's               a               good               idea?

Don't               you               think               you               should               explore               some               of               the               proven               enterprises               that               have               made               so               many               of               our               residents               happily               wealthy?

Or               are               you               strictly               a               gambler?"
               I               cracked               my               knuckles.

"I               can't               imagine               making               money               any               faster               than               I               generally               do               in               the               game               of               poker.

I'm               looking               forward               to               a               card               game               tonight."
               Randolph               smiled               back               at               me               and               nodded               cheerfully.

His               twitching,               pumping               left               hand               revealed               the               greed               and               opportunism               on               his               mind.

"Very               well,               Mr.

Maxwell.

Gambling               happens               to               violate               one               or               two               city               ordinances,               but               I               do               know               a               card               game               that               escapes               the               watchful               eye               of               the               constabulary.

I'll               take               you               there               tonight."
               A               comely               young               woman               dressed               in               a               chaste,               plain               dress               brought               two               beers               to               us               on               a               wooden               tray.

"Hello,               Barrister               Melliflew,"               she               greeted               Randolph.

"Who's               your               friend?

A               new               client?"
               Randolph               rose               from               his               seat               in               honor               of               the               young               raven-haired               barmaid.

"Annie               Tatley,               my               precious               little               sunflower,               thank               you               for               gracing               us               with               your               charming               presence.

Allow               me               to               introduce               you               to               my               new               acquaintance,               Gary               Maxwell.

Gary               has               arrived               from               the               East               in               search               of               the…               how               shall               we               say…               fiscal               liberties               that               abound               in               these               rollicking               mining               towns.

I'm               taking               him               to               Mr.

Hall's               poker               game               tonight."
               I               half-rose               and               gave               the               barmaid               a               friendly               look.

"How               do               you               do?"               I               asked               in               a               reserved               but               sincere               voice.
               Annie               smiled               prettily.

"A               pleasure               to               meet               you,               Mr.

Maxwell."
               Randolph               kissed               Annie               on               the               hand               and               returned               to               his               seat.

"I'm               afraid               we               will               require               some               privacy,               Annie.

Could               you               tell               the               cook               to               prepare               two               fried               chicken               dinners?

Let's               show               Mr.

Maxwell               how               hospitable               Denver               City               can               be."
               Annie               left               the               two               of               us.

Randolph               and               I               chatted               amiably               about               developments               on               the               East               Coast.

I               gathered               that               Randolph               had               lived               there               in               the               past               five               years,               but               I               could               not               place               him               among               the               known               gunslingers               who               had               made               their               way               West               so               recently.

Perhaps               he               worked               as               a               contract               killer.

Perhaps               he               hoped               to               get               out               of               the               whole               ugly               business.

I               was               certain               this               man               buying               me               my               first               meal               in               the               West               was               not               a               lawyer.
               After               a               long               dinner,               Randolph               excused               himself               and               walked               out               of               the               bar,               ostensibly               to               tend               to               a               client's               business.

He               promised               to               return               at               nine               o'clock               to               escort               me               to               the               card               game               at               the               mysterious               Mr.

Hall's               residence.

I               was               left               alone               at               the               saloon.

Annie               brought               me               a               shot               of               whiskey               without               asking.
               "How               did               you               know               I               wanted               a               shot               of               whiskey?"               I               asked               her               playfully.
               Her               cold               eyes               betrayed               no               hint               of               humor.

"I               know               what               kind               of               man               you               are,               Mr.

Maxwell,               if               that's               really               your               name.

You're               a               bounty               hunter,               and               you're               looking               for               someone.

I               imagine               you're               looking               for               the               killer               who               stalks               the               settlers               every               full               moon."
               I               didn't               ask               how               she               knew               I               was               a               bounty               hunter,               which               was               the               bull's-eye               truth.

Clearly,               she               had               experience               with               members               of               my               occupation               and               knew               one               when               she               saw               one.

However,               I               did               not               want               to               confirm               her               suspicions,               so               I               changed               the               subject.

"Never               mind               that.

Tell               me               about               Randolph."
               Annie               leaned               over               the               table               and               began               slowly               wiping               it               down               with               a               clean               cloth.

"I'm               sure               you've               gathered               he's               not               a               lawyer.

He's               a               scout               for               the               Soapy               Smith               bunko               gang.

After               your               little               conversation,               and               I               can               just               imagine,               he               plans               to               take               you               for               everything               you've               got               in               a               rigged               card               game.

Watch               your               back,               Gary.

If               you're               planning               to               run               a               double               confidence               game               on               Soapy               Smith's               crew,               don't.

Just               stay               in               your               room               and               get               on               the               train               back               to               the               East               Coast               in               the               morning.

You               can               lose               more               than               your               shirt               in               Denver               City."
               Unconsciously,               I               patted               the               double-action               revolver               I               was               carrying               in               my               inside               coat               pocket.

Annie               saw               what               I               was               doing               and               recoiled               in               reflexive               fear.

"Don't,               don't,               Annie.

Everything's               fine.

I               just               want               to               ask               you               one               more               question.

What               do               you               know               about               the               Full               Moon               Killer?"
               Annie               looked               relieved               as               she               answered.

"No               one               knows               who               he               might               be,               but               the               owner               of               the               hardware               store               has               made               himself               the               center               of               every               effort               to               find               him.

He's               put               a               one-thousand               dollar               reward               out,               with               the               mayor's               blessing.

If               anyone               has               any               information               about               the               killer,               it's               him.

His               name               is               Mr.

Drew,               and               he               lives               in               the               green               house               at               the               end               of               River               Avenue.

Hell's               blazes,               I               hope               you               collect               the               bounty,               Mr.

Maxwell."
               I               thanked               Annie               and               then               headed               upstairs               to               ask               about               accommodations.

At               the               top               of               the               stairs,               a               slim               older               man               in               a               cheap,               dusty               vest               stood               behind               a               wooden               counter.
               "Do               you               have               a               room               for               the               week?"               I               asked.
               "I'll               give               you               the               third               room               on               the               left.

That'll               be               one               dollar."               I               paid               the               man               and               he               handed               me               a               large               brass               key.

I               made               my               way               to               the               small               flat               at               the               end               of               the               hall               and               let               myself               in.

I               put               my               clothes               and               shaving               kit               in               the               dresser               across               from               the               small,               hard               bed,               and               my               revolver               on               the               nightstand,               next               to               the               complimentary               Bible.



               I               waited.
               About               twenty               minutes               later,               a               knock               came               at               the               door.

I               rose               and               answered.

A               matronly               woman               in               a               bathrobe               and               negligee               stood               in               the               doorway.

Suddenly,               my               vision               watered               and               blurred,               and               when               I               cleared               my               eyes               I               saw               a               handsome,               well-appointed               gentleman               standing               next               to               the               scantily-clad               woman.

I               looked               at               them               with               hard-boiled               skepticism,               despite               their               evident               charms.

"Good               evening,               folks,"               I               said               neutrally.

"What               brings               you               to               my               door               tonight?"
               The               lady               laughed               prettily,               like               a               much               younger               woman               might.

"Good               evening,               Mr.

Maxwell.

I'm               Auntie               Sal,               the               owner               of               this               establishment.

Randolph               Melliflew               sent               word               that               you               might               need               accommodations               for               the               evening.

Tonight               I'm               entertaining               Marshal               Buren               here,               from               Fort               Justice.

I               could               arrange               to               have               one               of               the               girls               from               the               saloon               pay               a               visit               before               your               card               game               tonight."
               A               burning               hatred               rolled               up               behind               my               eyes               as               I               thought               of               the               sweet,               honorable               Ms.

Tatley.

"Oh,               don't               worry,               Mr.

Maxwell,"               Auntie               Sal               began               again.

"That               pretty               young               barmaid               you               talked               with               at               dinner               has               proven               immune               to               my               professional               advice               for               quite               some               time.

That's               not               to               say               she               won't               eventually               come               to               work               for               me               in               full               capacity.

They               always               do."
               I               bit               my               tongue               and               then               began               talking.

"No,               thank               you,               Madame               Sal.

I               have               to               prepare               for               the               poker               game               tonight,               and               I               need               some               time               alone."
               Just               as               I               spoke,               I               felt               a               radiant               presence               in               the               room,               a               kind               of               spiritual               influx.

Somehow,               I               knew               the               brunt               of               its               force               was               aimed               at               Auntie               Sal,               not               me,               but               my               rational               side               dismissed               the               phenomenon               as               a               result               of               the               long               trip               and               whiskey.

The               slackness               of               Auntie               Sal's               face               suggested               something               had               just               happened               between               her               and               her               companion,               something               wordless               and               powerful.
               The               handsome               marshal               smiled               at               me               and               turned               to               Auntie               Sal.

"Dear,               could               you               leave               Mr.

Maxwell               and               I               alone               for               awhile?

I               think               you               have               some               business               to               attend               to               downstairs."
               Auntie               Sal,               expressionless               and               white-faced,               turned               away               from               the               door               without               a               word               and               walked               away               and               down               the               stairs               like               a               silent               ghost.

The               spectral               energy               of               the               moment               before               soon               evaporated,               and               I               was               alone               with               the               charismatic               Marshal               Buren.
               "Welcome               to               Denver               City,               Mr.

Maxwell.

Mr.

Gary               Victor               Maxwell,               I               presume.

Yes,               I               have               some               intelligence               about               your               identity               and               purpose               here               in               Colorado.

You               seek               the               Full               Moon               Killer,               for               the               bounty               established               by               the               patriarch               of               the               Mineral               West               Amalgamated               silver               empire,               George               Whitcock.

The               world               knows               the               Full               Moon               Killer               took               Mr.

Whitcock's               only               son               to               a               gruesome,               savage               death               three               months               ago.

The               world               does               not               know               that               Mr.

Whitcock               has               hired               the               most               under-rated               gunslinger               on               the               East               Coast               to               seek               grim               vigilante               justice!"
               This               man               knew               about               me               what               Annie               Tatley               had               only               managed               to               speculate               a               little               while               before.

I               resisted               the               urge               to               fidget               in               my               seat.

I               responded               coldly.

"I               imagine               I'm               not               the               only               one               who               has               something               to               hide."
               The               marshal               chuckled               deeply,               sinisterly.

"Fret               not,               Mr.

Maxwell.

The               federal               government               could               use               your               rare               talents               on               this               case.

I               must               admit,               the               shooting               of               revolvers               is               not               my               forte.

And               we               will               have               to               shoot               this               killer,               Mr.

Maxwell.

By               the               way,               I'm               authorized               to               add               a               federal               bounty               to               your               private               remuneration.

Nothing               will               ever               be               said               of               your               arrangement               with               Mr.

Whitcock."
               I               stewed               in               my               own               frustration.

Mr.

Whitcock               had               insisted               upon               a               private,               discreet               handling               of               the               matter,               and               now               I               was               up               to               my               eyeballs               in               corrupt               law               enforcement.

And               what               was               it               about               this               Buren               character?

Why               did               he               have               such               a               powerful               influence               over               the               madame               of               the               saloon?

Why               did               he               talk               like               a               German               professor?
               "Very               well,               Buren."               For               the               moment,               I               was               resigned               to               a               degree               of               determinism               in               my               future.
               "I'm               glad               you've               agreed               to               a               new               arrangement,               Mr.

Maxwell.

Look               inside               this               small,               ornate               box.

I               cannot               explain,               but               you               must               be               convinced               that               the               contents               are               absolutely               vital               to               our               success."
               And               the               marshal               suddenly               held               what               appeared               to               be               a               snuff               box,               but               ever               so               much               more               important               and               valuable.

As               if               under               a               spell,               I               took               the               box               from               his               hand               and               opened               it.

There,               enveloped               in               purple               velvet,               I               saw               six               bullets,               the               exact               shape               and               size               for               my               revolver,               each               with               a               glinting               silver               slug.
               "Take               these               bullets,               Mr.

Maxwell,               and               put               them               in               your               gun.

Tonight,               you               will               meet               the               Full               Moon               Killer               at               the               card               game.

He               is               no               other               than               Mr.

Drew,               the               traitorous               leader               of               the               posse               unknowingly               responsible               for               his               own               capture.

We               will               lure               him               to               the               cottonwood               bluffs               where               this               strange               city               was               founded,               and               end               his               life.
               "You               will               play               well               tonight,               Mr.

Maxwell.

Return               to               your               room               here               after               the               game,               and               I               will               meet               you.

We               will               follow               Mr.

Drew               from               his               home               to               the               bluffs               around               midnight."
               I               can't               explain               what               happened               next.

A               beautiful,               mystical               energy               filled               my               body,               my               psyche,               and               I               saw               the               moment               of               creation               itself,               far,               far               away.

Then               I               drifted               away…
               …               and               woke,               sore               as               a               Texas               bull-rider,               lying               on               the               floor               with               all               my               clothes               on.

A               rude               noise               had               awakened               me               from               an               eternal               epiphany.
               Knock!

Knock!

Knock!

"Gary,               good               fellow,               it's               Randolph.

I've               come               to               take               you               to               the               poker               game!"               What               a               hangover.

Groaning,               I               gathered               myself               together               and               rose               to               answer               the               door.

Randolph               Melliflew,               looking               much               the               same               as               the               last               time               I'd               seen               him,               stood               there               chortling.
               "Damn,               Melliflew.

Alright,               I               guess               I'm               ready."               I               wasn't               as               confident               about               my               card               game               as               I               had               hoped               to               be.
               We               left               the               saloon               and               walked               down               Main               Street               to               the               burgher               district.

We               arrived               at               two               rows               of               handsome               houses,               evidence               of               the               fledgling               prosperity               taking               root               among               the               mining               town's               proprietors.

A               street               sign               proclaimed               the               existence               of               River               Avenue.

I               saw               the               good-looking               green               colonial               home               of               Mr.

Drew               on               the               left.

Melliflew               pointed               to               a               home               with               a               more               risqué               Grecan               design               on               the               other               side               of               the               street.
               "We'll               go               there,               Maxwell,"               he               spoke               in               a               reverent               accent.

"Mr.

Hall               awaits               our               arrival."
               We               walked               to               the               front               of               Mr.

Hall's               house               and               rang               the               impressive               doorbell.

A               butler               answered,               and               I               would               have               sworn               he               came               from               the               same               stock               as               Melliflew.

He               wore               cheap,               sturdy               butler               clothes,               and               sported               the               same               poor               teeth.

He               welcomed               us               into               the               home,               calling               me               by               name.
               The               butler               escorted               us               past               a               row               of               fine               marble               statues               and               into               the               study.

A               poker               table               had               been               set               up               in               the               middle               of               the               room,               and               two               other               gentlemen,               presumably               guests               of               Mr.

Hall,               had               taken               seats               there               with               glasses               and               a               bottle               of               fine               whiskey.

I               took               my               seat,               and               Melliflew               took               a               chair               along               the               wall,               near               the               spittoon.
               The               short,               chubby               fellow               at               the               table               tipped               his               hat               at               me.

"Evenin',               guvnah.

Captain               Joseph               Isaacson,               Retired,               at               your               service."
               The               taller,               thinner               gentleman               at               the               table               looked               over               at               me.

"Greetings,               Mr.

Maxwell.

I'm               Henry               Drew,               the               town's               hardware               proprietor.

It's               a               pleasure               to               meet               you."
               Just               like               that.

A               force               which               had               taken               purchase               at               the               center               of               my               thoughts               earlier               that               evening,               while               talking               to               the               strange               Marshal               Buren,               told               me               in               wordless               images               that               this               was               the               killer,               the               stalker               of               wanderers               and               settlers,               and               that               I               would               kill               him               tonight.
               Melliflew               looked               at               me               predatorily.

"Mr.

Hall               will               be               joining               us               soon,               Maxwell.

Ante               starts               at               five               dollars."
               And               then               a               tall,               thin,               bearded               gentleman               in               rich               East               Coast               attire               entered               the               room.

Aha!

It               was               Soapy               Smith               himself.

Despite               his               disguise,               I               recognized               him               from               wanted               posters               I'd               seen               in               St.

Louis.

I               cursed               my               luck               and               hoped               I               hadn't               been               recognized.
               "Good               evening,               Mr.

Maxwell,"               Smith               began.

"I'm               Mr.

Hall,               the               host               of               tonight's               game.

You               have               excellent               references               from               my               friend               Randolph,               and               I               wish               to               welcome               you               heartily.

Should               we               begin?"
               The               game               began.

I               had               the               bankroll               I'd               been               given               by               Mr.

Whitcock               as               part               of               my               cover.

The               opening               moves               were               made               by               Soapy               Smith               and               his               infamous               bunko               confederates.

I               was               allowed               to               win               several               times,               amassing               a               tidy               little               pile               of               bills               and               coins               on               the               table               in               front               of               me.
               And               then…               I               don't               know               how               to               explain               it…               my               mind               became               overtaken               with               the               inexplicable               preternatural               abilities               every               poker               player               dreams               of               having.

Automatically,               thoughtlessly,               I               knew               every               confidence               trick               on               the               table,               every               marked               card,               every               unspoken               communication               between               Soapy               Smith's               men               in               the               room               as               they               attempted               to               ensnare               me               in               a               web               of               my               own               trust               and               greed.

I               saw,               with               that               strange               third               eye,               that               Mr.

Drew               had               no               knowledge               of               his               true               murderous               nature,               that               he               himself               was               as               much               a               mark               for               the               bunko               gang               as               I.

Hand               after               hand,               I               scooped               my               winnings               from               the               middle               of               the               table               to               the               place               right               in               front               of               me.

The               perplexity               and               frustration               of               my               swindler               opponents               began               to               show               in               the               sweat               on               their               brow.

It               looked               as               though               the               con               artists               were               running               out               of               money.
               As               I               counted               my               money               at               the               table,               I               felt               the               cold               steel               of               a               pistol               barrel               as               it               pressed               against               the               back               of               my               head.

"Not               so               fast,               Maxwell."               It               was               Melliflew,               who               had               been               reporting               my               hand               with               body               language               to               the               other               bunko               players               all               night.

"Soapy-er,               Mr.

Hall-I               think               this               has               gone               on               long               enough."
               Isaacson               palmed               a               small               gold-plated               derringer               and               leveled               it               at               my               chest.

Soapy               Smith               leaned               back               in               his               chair               and               pressed               his               upright               fingertips               together,               making               a               small               house               with               his               hands.

He               spoke.

"Well,               Mr.

Maxwell,               it               appears               you've               been               very               dishonest               tonight.

I'll               give               you               two               options.

Get               up               from               this               table               with               half-HALF!-the               money               in               front               of               you               and               return               to               St.

Louis               or               wherever               you're               from,               or               swear               an               oath               of               fealty               to               me,               the               Great               Soapy               Smith,               and               join               my               incredible               bunko               gang.

Refuse               both               offers,               and               you'll               simply…               disappear."
               I               was               caught               between               a               rock               and               a               hard               place.

The               money               in               front               of               me,               or               half               of               it,               represented               a               tremendous               single-night               winning,               but               nothing               compared               to               the               riches               waiting               for               me               if               and               when               I               brought               proof               of               the               Full               Moon               Killer's-Mr.

Drew's-death               back               to               the               Whitcock               estate.

On               the               other               hand,               I               knew               I               wouldn't               live               long               if               I               joined               Smith's               crew;               word               would               get               back               to               my               enemies               on               the               East               Coast,               and               eventually               a               torpedo               would               find               me               and               that               would               be               the               end               of               it.
               Mr.

Drew               interrupted               my               mulling               by               producing               two               ancient               Peacemakers               from               shoulder               holsters               under               his               smartly-tailored               coat.

"To               hell               with               that,               Mr.

Hall!

I               should               have               recognized               your               underhanded               stratagem               from               the               beginning.

Maxwell,               wrap               the               money               in               your               coat!

We're               walking               out               of               here               with               everything.

Scoundrels!"
               The               strange               power               that               had               guided               me               to               success               in               the               rotten               card               game               left               me,               and               I               felt               strangely               weak               and               feeble.

Clumsily,               I               gathered               the               money               into               the               folds               of               my               cloak               and               then               clutched               the               bundle               to               my               chest.

Menacing               the               bunko               gang               with               his               Peacemakers,               Mr.

Drew               covered               our               retreat               to               the               front               entrance.

The               butler               watched               meekly               as               we               strode               out               the               door.
               Mr.

Drew               shook               my               hand.

"Thank               you,               Mr.

Maxwell,               for               saving               me               from               ruin.

If               you               had               not               pushed               them,               I               never               would               have               known               the               exact               nature               of               my               losses               and               would               have               willingly               walked               away               from               Denver               City,               a               bamboozled               fool               and               a               pauper.

Leave               the               money               with               me,               and               I               assure               you,               I               will               meet               you               at               the               station               with               your               share               in               the               morning.

Good               night."
               I               didn't               have               the               strength               to               bargain               or               refuse.

Strangely,               I               sensed               Drew's               sincerity.

How               could               this               man               be               the               killer?

It               was               a               full               moon,               and               he               would               certainly               prowl               the               countryside               tonight               in               search               of               fresh               victims.

I               needed               Marshal               Buren's               help.

I               needed               to               return               to               the               saloon.
               I               staggered               through               the               streets               of               Denver               City               in               the               direction               of               Auntie               Sal's.

Drunken               prospector's               and               celebrating               cowboys               ran               through               the               streets,               howling               and               shooting               pistols               in               the               air.

The               strength               began               to               return               to               my               arms               and               legs,               and               I               stealthily               dodged               the               revelers               as               I               continued               on               my               way.

The               lights               of               the               saloon               quickly               came               into               sight.
               As               I               approached               the               saloon,               I               heard               a               commotion,               the               noise               of               a               struggle.

My               instincts               instantly               took               over,               and               in               a               split-second,               I               had               my               revolver               at               the               ready.

I               listened               again.

There               came               the               sound               of               gurgling               and               slurping               from               behind               the               saloon               building.

Nerves               on               edge,               I               circled               around               the               side               of               the               building               and               approached               the               source               of               my               alarm.
               Marshal               Buren               stood               in               the               shadows,               the               limp               body               of               Madame               Sal               lifeless               in               his               arms.

Buren               had               his               face               buried               in               the               prostitute's               neck,               his               head               pulsating               with               an               animal               intensity.
               "Buren,               avast!

Let               go               of               that               woman!"               I               trained               my               pistol               on               his               back,               ready               to               ventilate               him               if               he               made               a               funny               move.
               Then               Buren               turned               his               head               away               from               the               neck               and               gazed               at               me.

I               beheld               shining               white               eyes,               like               the               diamond               soul               of               a               wildcat,               and               elongated               teeth               in               the               form               of               fangs,               his               countenance               bathed               in               slick,               glistening               blood.

Buren               released               the               woman               and               turned               on               me               with               hands               which               had               curled               into               monstrous,               long-clawed               weapons.

A               new               voice,               a               voice               which               came               from               a               deeper,               sturdier               place               within               me               than               the               one               I'd               heard               since               first               meeting               Buren,               told               me               what               my               rational               side               had               already               accepted:               Buren               was               a               vampire!
               I               wasted               no               time.

I               fired               one               of               the               silver               slugs               at               him,               and               it               struck               him               in               the               arm.

He               laughed               contemptuously,               and               then,               in               a               flash,               he               disappeared.

A               moment               later,               I               heard               the               klaxon               from               the               constabulary.

Evidently,               law               enforcement               would               soon               arrive.

I               had               no               time               to               think.

I               turned               and               ran,               hiding               in               the               shadows               as               I               went.
               I               had               no               clues,               no               information               to               deal               with               this               strange               undead               creature               I               had               called               Marshal               Buren.

I               thought               of               the               only               link               I               had               with               the               monster-Mr.

Drew,               the               Full               Moon               Killer.

I               stalked               my               way               to               his               home,               debating               whether               to               knock               on               the               door               or               to               kick               it               in               and               demand               answers               with               my               six-gun.
               I               nearly               slammed               into               the               bushes               as               I               saw               Mr.

Drew               emerge               from               his               home.

He               looked               as               though               he               were               somnambulating,               and               I               followed               him               as               he               walked               down               River               Avenue               to               the               edge               of               town.

The               slow-moving,               puppet-like               Mr.

Drew               melted               into               the               forest               and               began               making               his               way               to               the               bluffs               above               the               Platte               River.

Creeping               up               behind               him               with               as               much               stealth               as               I               could               muster,               I               followed               him               all               the               way               to               the               historic               location               where               General               Larimer               had               founded               the               great               mining               town               which               had               become               Denver               City.
               I               reached               the               bluffs               shortly               after               Mr.

Drew.

I               stood               a               few               paces               away               as               Mr.

Drew               walked               up               to               the               edge               of               the               bluff               and               turned               to               face               me.

The               dazzling               grey               light               of               the               full               moon               illuminated               the               entire               scene.

Mr.

Drew               looked               like               a               moving               statue,               no               hint               of               humanity               in               his               pale,               stony               face.

I               held               my               pistol               in               the               air               and               fired               a               shot               right               by               his               head.

The               bullet               must               have               crackled               as               it               roared               past               his               ear.
               Mr.

Drew               lurched               back               to               his               humanness,               and               regarded               me               with               a               murderous               hatred.

"Maxwell,               you               should               not               have               followed               me               tonight.

I'm               afraid               I               will               have               to               finish               you               before               you               betray               my               secret,               of               which               I               am               only               now               becoming               aware               myself.

Prepare               for               a               match               of               pistols."
               The               voice               I'd               inherited               from               Buren               let               me               know               that               Mr.

Drew               would               not               be               drawing               his               Peacemakers               with               the               speed               of               an               ordinary               man,               but               with               the               superhuman               occult               speed               of               a               demon.

Thank               god               I'd               already               drawn               a               bead               on               him.

Slowly,               I               cocked               my               pistol.
               Then,               from               the               shadows               of               the               forest,               Mr.

Buren               appeared,               his               face               clean               again,               but               still               in               the               clothes               bloodied               from               the               murder               of               the               pandering               saloonkeeper.

"This               will               be               a               three-way               contest,               gentleman,"               Mr.

Buren               said               coldly.

"Start               when               you're               ready."
               Mr.

Drew               unleashed               his               Peacemakers               with               inhuman               quicksilver               speed,               but               I               was               already               diving               to               my               left,               firing               two               bullets               at               Mr.

Buren.

As               I               landed               on               my               shoulder,               I               saw               the               silver               bullets               impact               directly               to               his               chest.

Mr.

Drew's               first               shot               aimed               just               where               I'd               been               arcing               through               the               air,               but               he               missed.

His               second               shot,               from               his               second               gun,               hit               Mr.

Buren               directly               in               the               groin.

I               had               lost               all               the               air               in               my               lungs,               and               I               lay               helpless               for               a               second.

Mr.

Drew               looked               in               amazement               as               Mr.

Buren               leisurely               loaded               a               single               bullet               into               his               snub-nose               revolver.

I               fired               at               Drew,               and               the               bullet               caught               him               directly               in               the               chest.
               Before               I               could               turn               to               deal               with               the               seemingly               blessed               Mr.

Buren,               Mr.

Drew               began               to               transform               in               his               death               throes.

The               full               moon               had               reached               its               zenith,               and               Mr.

Drew               began               to               change               bodily               into               an               evil,               canine               monster.

The               muscles               of               his               body               rippled               intensely               and               began               to               bulge               while               hair               sprouted               all               over               his               face               and               body,               forcing               his               smart               clothes               to               bulge               outward.

Then               the               process               reversed,               and               he               was               his               human               self               again.

Dead.

Killed               by               the               silver               bullet               given               to               me               by               Mr.

Buren.
               BAM!

Mr.

Buren               shot               me               in               the               arm.

The               wound               didn't               seem               that               serious,               but               evidently               it               had               been               laced               with               a               drug,               for               I               quickly               fell               asleep…
               …I               woke               in               the               town's               blacksmith               shop,               strapped               to               the               large               anvil               where               all               manner               of               hard               goods               were               fashioned.

I               could               not               move.

In               the               shadows               of               the               corner,               Mr.

Buren               stood               naked,               his               body               cleaned               of               all               evidence               of               his               feast               behind               the               saloon.

He               held               the               magical               wooden               box               in               his               hands               and               stood               over               the               broken               heart               of               Mr.

Drew,               dripping               with               blood.

He               had               stoked               a               huge               fire               in               the               hearth               behind               me.

I               knew               he               wanted               me               to               see               him               in               this               moment,               for               a               creature               like               him               would               have               no               need               for               firelight               to               see               by.
               "Thank               you               for               dealing               with               the               werewolf               for               me,               Mr.

Maxwell.

But               I'm               afraid               I               needed               you               to               wound               him,               not               kill               him.

I               must               feed               on               one               of               their               kind               every               one               hundred               years               to               maintain               my               strength               and               immortality.

You               should               have               taken               him               to               the               edge               of               death,               and               no               further,               Mr.

Maxwell.

That               was               the               instruction               I               tried               to               plant               in               your               subconscious.

You               have               a               strong               will,               my               friend.

But               do               not               worry.

I               will               infect               you               with               the               living               blood               that               remains               in               his               eviscerated               heart,               and               you               will               become               his               brother               in               lycanthropy.

But               only               for               a               short               time,               Mr.

Maxwell.

Only               for               a               short               time."
               Mr.

Buren               crossed               the               shop               floor               to               approach               me,               slowly,               luxuriating               in               his               moment               of               triumph               and               exploitation.

He               held               a               small               silver               knife               in               his               hand,               and               began               to               carve               the               wall               of               Mr.

Drew's               heart.

The               blood               began               to               run               down               his               hand               and               drip               onto               the               floor.
               And               then,               for               the               first               time,               upside-down,               I               saw               a               look               of               genuine               surprise               on               his               face.

He               seemed               to               stagger,               and               then               I               saw-he               had               been               lassoed               from               behind!

I               craned               my               head               around               and               saw               the               gleeful               look               of               competitive               concentration               on               the               face               of               my               savior,               Annie               Tatley!

With               the               expert               skill               and               intelligent               strength               of               a               rodeo               cowhand,               she               dragged               the               vampire               toward               the               raging               fire               in               the               hearth               and               pushed               the               vampire               in.

A               cascading               golden               light               emitted               from               the               blaze               for               a               few               moments,               and               then               all               trace               of               Mr.

Buren               vanished               into               thin               air.
               "Mr.

Maxwell!

I               hope               you're               in               a               good               way!"               Annie               stood               over               me,               beaming               a               smile               of               joy               and               satisfaction.
               Annie               untied               me               and               then               we               sat               in               the               blacksmith               shop               for               two               hours               relating               what               had               happened               to               each               of               us               after               that               fateful               chicken               dinner.

Annie               had               received               word               that               the               real               Marshal               Buren               had               been               found               dead               in               the               woods               along               the               trail               from               Fort               Justice,               drained               of               every               ounce               of               blood.

Annie               had               worked               for               a               circus               in               Texas,               and               had               learned               the               secrets               of               the               undead               from               the               gypsies               who               ran               the               show.

After               investigating               around               the               saloon               to               learn               more               of               the               impostor,               she               found               the               diary               of               Mr.

Drew,               a               strange,               addictive               account               of               his               madness               and               disease.

She               put               two               and               two               together,               and               began               following               the               vampire               after               the               hue               and               cry               which               followed               Auntie               Sal's               murder.

We               presumed               no               one               would               believe               Mr.

Drew               had               ever               been               a               werewolf,               but               we               could               still               collect               the               bounty               from               Mr.

Whitcock.

I               thanked               my               lucky               stars,               asked               Annie               to               marry               me,               and               the               two               of               us               returned               to               the               East               Coast               to               live               a               life               of               wealth               and               influence.






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