- Jason rides into McKinnley one day to see an old friend, but he becomes personally involved when Charlie Vance begins talking rough to her and ordering her around. Then after Vance is killed, Jason is accused of murder.
- In the voice of Jason McCord:
I knew this lady named Elsie Baron. About a year ago, she nursed me after I hurt my hand. The day I rode into town, I found a man by the name of Charlie Vance giving her trouble. I didn't witness the whole thing, but apparently this man tore up her dress shop and let everyone know she was once a saloon girl. Her so-called friends turned their backs on her when they found out. What I did see was Vance ordering her around. He ordered her to pack her things. He was taking her with him.
I thought differently. I informed the young man that I wanted to talk to Elsie Baron alone. He left. I assured her I would stay around until Vance left town.I owed her a favor, after all. It wasn't long before she asked me for that favor. She wanted Vance chased out of town...alone. I told her I'd help the Sheriff. The sheriff had gone into the saloon to try and stop Vance from shooting up the place. Vance was rough and tough and was able to make the Sheriff leave. His men were mad and gave him what-for as they came into his office. I was there waiting and I informed them that Vance was a hired gun.
I was willing to help the Sheriff chase Vance out of town. I even agreed to swear in as deputy. But as I stated my name, the judge stopped. He refused to swear me in. I was a coward not fit to wear a uniform. As we were arguing about this, more shooting errupted from the saloon. A man was killed and Vance had run out. I told the Sheriff I'd go out the back and look for Vance. I fired a warning shot in the air, ordering him to give himself up. Then I heard another shot. When I got to Vance, he was laying dead on the ground.
The town immediately accused me of shooting him in the back. The judge even insisted the sheriff arrest me for MURDER. The whole town was mad, for some reason. Elsie warned that Vance's brothers would be here to avenge their brother's death. I insisted the sheriff lock me up for now. I didn't want to be the cause of a big fight.
Sure enough, the brothers showed up the next day. When they started causing trouble, the men named me as the man who killed their brother. They ordered the Sheriff to release me, so I could be promptly hung.
Now, here's what I learned: It was Sheriff Polland who shot Charlie Vance in the back. As the crowd got angrier, he annouced to me that he would go outside and fess up to what he did. He let me out of jail, then went to confess. I came out soon after and let the Vance boys know just who i was and who was a coward. After I took care of business, I got on my horse and rode away.
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