When Mr. Kelly heard how Mr. Wright and Mr. Short and Mr. Trask applauded, he said that the affair was settled; those gentlemen were his friends. Messrs. Walker and Webster and Peacock were of the opposition, and Mr. Kelly was too good an executive to listen to his enemies. He would name Ed Masterson marshal; in order that Mr. Masterson might witness his brother's elevation he would defer it as a ceremony until Mr. Masterson's return.
It was four days later when Mr. Masterson came in with those wandering mules and the particulars concerning the last moments of the bandit that stole them, and who had opposed a Winchester to Mr. Masterson in the discharge of his duty. Following his return Mr. Masterson strode into the Alhambra with the purpose of restoring himself and conquering a fatigue incident to his labours. It was then that Mr. Kelly laid open those changes contemplated in the official list of Dodge, which were to work advantage for his brother. To his amazement Mr. Masterson, on receipt of the information, became the picture of dismay.
"Why, Bat," exclaimed Mr. Kelly, alarmed by Mr. Masterson's evident disturbance, "ain't the idee all right?"
"Worst in the world," groaned Mr. Masterson. "Has Ed heard?"
"Shore," replied Mr. Kelly; "I nacherally told him the first flash out o' the box. Bob Wright says it's a beautiful scheme; so does Short."
"I know, Kell," said Mr. Masterson, wearily, "and no doubt Bob and Luke believe it's the thing to do. But they don't know Ed; he's no more fit to be marshal than I am to join the church."
"Oh come, Bat," cried Mr. Kelly, evincing a critical disbelief, "no gamer hand than Ed ever buckled on a gun!"
"That's it," returned Mr. Masterson, "Ed's too game. He's so game it obscures his judgment. Those outlaws from below will study him, and in the wind-up they'll outwit him. If you make Ed marshal he won't last the year. Some of those murderers will get him sure."
"I can't understand, Bat; you told me yourself that when you an' Ed was killin' buffalo down on the Canadian for Billy Dixon, Ed was the best shot that ever went on the range; an' the quickest."
"Quick and as dead to centres with either a Sharp's or a Colt's as you could put your finger. There's no discount on Ed's gun play, and so I tell you now. The trouble lies inside Ed; he's too easy, too ready for a talk. And he can't read his man. Indians and Mexicans? yes; I'd trust Ed to take a six-shooter and report favourably on twenty of 'em at a clatter. But a white man is too cunning; those Texas killers that come over the Jones and Plummer trail will throw him off his guard. There's the loose screw, he's guileless; if it's a case of white man, he doesn't know when to shoot. As I tell you, make Ed marshal, and he'll never see another summer."