Roy Crawford pulled his gun and held it to the banker's chest, "Open the safe now," he glared at the older man who stood trembling before him. \Slowly Frank Andersen turned and faced the safe; he swallowed and looked over his shoulder before turning back to the safe to begin unlocking the large metal box in the small back room of the Spearville Bank.

Andersen's hands shook as he turned the knob and finally pulled the heavy door open. The banker quickly stepped aside to allow Crawford and his men into the safe.

As the robbers where busy rifling through the contents of the safe, Andersen's hand carefully lowered and clutched the ivory grip of the pistol under the counter behind him. He thought he was clever and fast enough when he pulled the gun out and held it to Harry Dyer's head, "Drop the money now and leave my bank!" Andersen ordered.

The other five men in Crawford's party stood and exchanged glances. Neither one of them seemed to be phased that the banker was holding a gun to one of their own. They went back to work gathering the worthy contents of the safe.

Harry Dyer slowly turned to the banker and laughed. Andersen became incensed and pulled back the hammer on the pistol; "I meant what I said!" he now held the gun with both hands and waved it in Roy Crawford's face.

Crawford straightened his back and scowled at the banker before quickly swatting the gun out of the man's hands. Crawford pushed his six-gun up into Andersen's sternum, "I warned you," he hissed at the banker through his clenched teeth.

Andersen leaned back from the smell of whiskey that wafted out of Crawford's mouth. The banker grabbed the edge of the counter as he watched Crawford's men clean out the safe. "Just leave will you?" Andersen pleaded.

"I said shut up!" Crawford yelled shoving the gun harder into the man's chest, which caused Andersen to jump. The sudden move on the banker's behalf made Crawford think the banker was about to hit him and causing Crawford to pull the trigger of his gun.

A rivulet of blood trickled out of the banker's mouth as his eyes widened. Andersen slowly looked down at his chest and clutched it with his hands. Hot blood oozed through his fingers. Andersen wavered on his feet and grabbed at Crawford, holding him by the lapels of his vest with his blood-covered hands. Andersen's eyes rolled back into his head as he slowly dropped to the floor.

"Come on. Someone likely heard the gun shot," Crawford pushed Andersen's body away from him with his foot. He quickly stepped over the dead man toward the door and carefully opened it. Crawford's eyes saw a few people pointing in the direction of the bank as the source of the gunshot. "Damn," he muttered and slammed the door shut and turned to his men, "We need to go out the back and hurry. They heard the shot," Crawford ordered. He again stepped over Andersen's body and moved quickly to the back room.

"Go out the window and spit up," Crawford ordered.

Dyer looked back at his friend, "What if one of us gets caught?"

Crawford thought quickly, "We'll meet up at the stage stop between here and Dodge," he smiled.

"Oh, yeah. You just want to see Evelyn," Talbot laughed and Dyer swatted him across the arm, "Get moving you jerk," he shoved Larry Talbot toward the window. Talbot was still laughing.

Behind the bank, Ben Preston, Carl Butler and Victor White waited with the others' horses. They nervously watched as Talbot, Dyer and Crawford climbed out the window and dashed to the horses. Quickly the men scrambled up onto their mounts and with a flurry, they spurred the horses forward and out into the street.

Sheriff Parker and one of his deputies raced toward the bank as the mounted riders moved quickly toward them in an attempt to escape with the money.

Parker fired several shots but was cautious about where he was shooting with all the onlookers who had poured out of the various establishments to watch what was happening. Parker took aim at one of the men as he rode by and fired a single shot, hitting Crawford in the back of his right thigh. Crawford yelped and grabbed at his leg, but maintained his balance on his horse.

Carl Butler was the only one of the robbers who had fallen from his horse, dead.

The riders hastily turn up a side street where they begin to split up into smaller groups. Crawford stopped his horse and called for Talbot. Larry turned his horse around, and raced back to his friend, "What's up Roy?"

"I've been hit. Go on without me. I'm heading over to Evelyn's to get patched up. I'll meet you boys at the stage stop sometime in the next day or so," Crawford said through his clenched teeth.

Talbot nodded and turned his horse and charged after the other group. Crawford looked back over his shoulder and could see a crowd of towns people. The injured man spurred his horse and continued to ride out of town where he had hoped to get help for his leg and hide from the law for a few days until he was able to meet up with his friends at the stage stop.

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Doc shook his head at the mail clerk, "Yes, yes. Of course I'll make sure Jonas gets his parcels," the doctor turned to leave, "We do share the same building after all," he grumbled as he left the mail room at the train station.

Doc thumbed through his mail and noted the bills, letters and sales offers, "Always the same things," he huffed as he walked along the boardwalk and stopped as he reached Front Street.

It was another busy day in Dodge and with winter coming on, farmers and folks living further out, were beginning to stack up on supplies, which meant that the general store would likely be a hive of activity.

Doc mused to himself and hoped that Jonas was able to handle all the business after being away from it due to Ellen and his own injuries over the summer and fall months. Doc ticked his head and thought that the store owner was hoping that winter would arrive sooner than later just to give him some time to rest.

Doc stepped down and carefully crossed the busy street before heading down toward his office and the store. From the distance Doc was right. Throngs of people were coming and going at the mercantile.

As Doc got closer, he could see that Jonas was right back in his element and haggling with farmers just as if nothing had happened. Doc wove through the crowd, "Jonas?"

Wilbur Jonas looked over to the doctor, "Not right now, Doc," he sputtered.

"I know," Doc said somewhat incensed, "Just come up and see me when things slow down. I have something for you," Doc stated.

"Fine, Doc. I will," Jonas acknowledged with a wave of his hand.

Doc smiled and brushed his hand across his moustache as he decided to retreat to the sanctuary of his office above the store.