The Tall Dark Stranger

Nobody seemed to notice him ride into town earlier in the day, it was almost like he just appeared out of nowhere. The stranger boarded his horse at the stable and hired little Jimmy to watch over his dog Ringo until he came back the next day. He told Jimmy if he found a big plate of scraps for Ringo, He'd double his money in the morning. Jimmy ran over to the Cantina in search of food, the stranger walked slowly with a slight limp towards the hotel as he dusted himself off and lit up a smoke.

"I'll be needin' a room" he spoke with a gravel like voice." "Yes sir" said Mr. O'Malley, the old timer who owned the towns only hotel since the end of the Civil War. "I've got 2 rooms left, one down the end of the hall and one upstairs." "That'll be fine" said the stranger as he pointed upstairs. "Mr. ah, whats the name?" "Holiday" replied the drifter, "Joe Holiday is the name." "Well Mr. Holiday welcome to Eureka, you'll find that nights and mornings can be pretty chilly this time of year in Montana, so if you need an extra blanket help yourself in the closet at the end of the hall." "I'll be fine, say you know Bill Garrison do ya?" "Mr. Garrison is a fine man" the old man fired back. "I'm fixin' to head out to his ranch in the morning" Holiday said. "Say I've gotta package I'd like you to bring Bill if it aint too much trouble to ask?" "No Sir" Holiday remarked. "I'd be glad to deliver it as long as you make sure I'm up by daybreak." The old man shook his hand and Holiday tipped his hat as he turned and walked out the door. "What about your room" the old man shouted. "It'll be there when I get back from the Saloon won't it?" "Don't be makin' no racket all mashed up" Mr. O'Malley warned. "This is a respectable establishment!" Holiday chuckled as he headed for the Hawk Eye Saloon.