Paladin is relaxing in the lobby of the Carlton and considers
approaching an attractive woman. However, Hey Boy interrupts with a
special delivery letter. It's from E.J. Randolph, the bank manager at
the Bank of Colton in Colton, WY, and says that Paladin hasn't finished a
job. Randolph offers Paladin a bonus to finish it. With the letter is a
newspaper ad offering a reward for money stolen from the Bank of
Colton, and Paladin's own card. Hey Boy glances at the woman and asks if
he should get two opera tickets for Paladin, and a disappointed Paladin
tells him to get him one train ticket to Wyoming.
When he gets
to Colton, Paladin goes immediately to the bank. The cashier draws a
gun and eyes him suspiciously until Paladin asks to see Randolph.
Randolph comes out and introduces himself, and nods to the cashier. As
the cashier leaves, the bank manager chats with Paladin until the
gunfighter finally gets impatient and tells him to get to the point.
Paladin points out that they've never met because Randolph was out of
town when he came there three months ago to hunt down the killer of John
Griffin's son. Griffin owns the Broken Spur Ranch and killer Steve
Morrow killed Griffin's gun during the bank robbery. Morrow escaped with
$30,000 and it has never been recovered, and Paladin was forced to
shoot Morrow in self-defense.
Much to Paladin's surprise,
Randolph accuses him of finding and keeping the $30,000. The gunfighter
is angry at the thought that Randolph "hired" him simply to lure him
back to Colton to have him arrested. Right on cue, the cashier returns
with Marshal Tom Jaffey, and Randolph tells Jaffey to arrest Paladin.
Jaffey greets Paladin, remembering his help with Morrow, and points out
that Randolph has no evidence to back up his accusation. While Randolph
sputters, Paladin suggests that he might go looking for the missing
money. As Paladin leaves, Jaffey advises him to forget about the money.
However, Paladin asks if Morrow's widow Lucy still lives at the Morrow
farm. Jaffey assures him that he already searched there for the money
but Paladin says that he'll take a look for himself.
When
Paladin arrives at the Morrow form, he stops to admire several rose
bushes growing outside by the porch. He also notices a tax auction sign
posted on the door of the farmhouse. Lucy comes to the door and
recognizes Paladin, and invites him in. Her baby cries in the next room
and Lucy goes to tend it. When she comes back, Paladin asks about the
roses and if they're difficult to grow. Lucy explains that Morrow
brought them back from his trips east, and admits that she didn't know
what he actually did during those "trips." She wonders if it would have
made a difference if it had, and Paladin concedes that it probably
wouldn't. When he asks why she's still living there, Lucy explains that
she has no money to move and only the little bit to live on that Paladin
gave her.
When she realizes that he's uncomfortable around
her, Lucy asks Paladin if she embarrasses him. He says that she doesn't
and insists that he tried to bring her husband back alive. When he says
that he's sorry, Lucy doesn't believe him and Paladin clarifies that
he's sorry she's widowed, not that Morrow is dead. Paladin then asks
about the $30,000, pointing out that Morrow stopped there before he rode
on to the mesa where Paladin met him. The gunfighter is sure that a man
who brings roses home for his wife wouldn't leave her destitute, but
Lucy insists that the only thing Morro had when he rode out was
saddlebags filled with food, because she packed them. Paladin apologizes
for inconveniencing her and starts to leave, but notices that one of
the rose bushes is withering. He asks Lucy for a rose and she lets him
take one, and Paladin advises her to water the rose bush before riding
off.
That night, Paladin rides to the Broken Spur to meet his
one-time employer, Griffin. Word has gotten around that Paladin is in
town and Griffin welcomes him. He introduces his men, including Clete,
and they talk about the money. Randolph has told everyone about his
theory that Paladin took the money, but has accused everyone in town of
taking it at one time or another. After Morrow died at the mesa, the
townspeople all rode out there and searched for the hidden loot. Paladin
asks Clete what happened and the ranch hand says that he and Griffin's
son saw Morrow robbing the bank. When they followed the robber to his
farm, Morrow shot the son and rode to his farmhouse, and from there on
to the mesa. As Paladin leaves, he asks about the auction and Griffin
boasts that he plans to pick it up for a steal. Paladin reminds him that
he's putting Lucy out of her home and that the rancher has no grudge
with her, but Griffin is satisfied to get his final revenge by taking
over Morrow's land. He hopes that wherever Morrow is, he can see what
Griffin is doing.
Back at his hotel room, Paladin is settling
in for the night when Jaffey comes to see him. He's confident Paladin
hasn't found the money, and finds the whole situation amusing. Paladin
points out that Morrow loved his wife, but Jaffey says that the last
thing Morrow said was "Rose." The marshal figures a he was talking about
a mistress. Paladin asks about the tax auction and Jaffey explains that
the townspeople plan to let Griffin win it as recompense for his son's
death. He agrees with Paladin that Lucy shouldn't suffer for her
husband's crimes, but points out that it's all legal and there's nothing
he can do to stop it.
Working on a hunch, Paladin rides back
to the Morrow farm. Clete is there, gun ready, and tells Paladin that
he's there to watch over Griffin's property. As another Griffin ranch
hand comes up behind Paladin, Clete tells the gunfighter to move on.
When Lucy hears the noise and comes out, Clete startles and fires.
Paladin shoves the woman back inside and then shoots through the window,
hitting the other ranch hand. Clete rides off and Paladin checks on the
dead man. When Lucy wonders if killing is all that Paladin knows, he
says that he hopes it isn't.
The next day, Paladin goes to the
general store and makes a big production out of buying a shovel. As the
proprietor spreads the word, Jaffey comes over to talk to Paladin.
Paladin asks when the tax auction will begin and says that he'll see him
there.
That afternoon, everyone gathers for the tax auction
and Jaffey acts as the auctioneer. Paladin is among the crowd and Lucy
is watching the entire thing. Griffin and his men ride up and demand to
know why Jaffey isn't arresting Paladin for the shooting. The marshal
points out that it was self-defense and that they have Lucy as a witness
to confirm it. When Griffin asks why Paladin is there, Jaffey notes
that the gunfighter has just as much right to bid as anyone else. He
then starts the bidding at $276, the amount due on the taxes. Everything
after that goes to Lucy. Griffin bids the minimum and looks around, but
Paladin then bids $500. When Griffin asks how they know that he has the
money, Paladin pats his shovel and assures the townspeople that he'll
have it.
The bidding goes up and some of the other townspeople
join in, much to Griffin's dismay. Paladin keeps bidding as well,
keeping the price up, and they soon reach $5,000. Paladin and Griffin
are the last two bidders, and Paladin lets Griffin take it for $5,000.
However, as the last bidder, Paladin exercises his right to see
Griffin's $5,000 immediately Jaffey agrees with Paladin but Griffin says
that his money is in the bank. Paladin then suggests that Randolph go
into the farmhouse with them and make out a promissory note, and Jaffey
agrees.
Once Randolph has made out the promissory note, Griffin
reluctantly signs it. Paladin then tells Randolph to draw another
promissory note to the tune of $3,000: the reward Randolph offered for
the return of the stolen money. Griffin figures the money is on the farm
and claims that it belongs to him, but Paladin tells him that Lucy gave
the money to Jaffey that morning. He explains that Morrow's dying word,
"Rose," was a clue to where he hid the loot: beneath the withered rose
bush. Furious, Griffin goes for his gun but Jaffey advises against him.
Paladin tells Griffin that he agrees with his earlier sentiment and
hopes that Morrow can see what has happened to his farm.
After
Griffin, Jaffey, and Randolph leave, Paladin gives Lucy both promissory
notes. She suggests that Paladin take some of it for himself. However,
he simply asks for a single rose in payment and Lucy tells him that he's
a remarkable man.
Written by Gadfly on Jan 28, 2018