The Killer

Cisco Houston

Dobe Bill, he went a-riding

Through the canyon, in the glow

Of a quiet Sunday morning

From the town of Angelo

Ridin' easy on that pinto

That he dearly loved to straddle,

With a six-gun and sombrero

That was wider than his saddle

And he's hummin' as he's goin'

Of a simple little song

That's a-boomin' through the cactus

As he's gallopin' along:



"Oh, I've rid from San Antony

Through the mesquite and the sand

I'm a rarin', flarin' bucko,

Not afraid to play my hand.

Well, I'm a hootin', shootin' demon

And to have my little fun

On my pinto called Apache

And Adolphus that's my gun."



Well straight to Santa Fe he drifted,

And he mills around the town

Sorta gittin' of his bearin's

As he pours his liquor down

But he's watchin', always watchin',

Every hombre in the place,

Like he's mebbe sorta lookin'

For some certain hombre's face.



Then one night he saunters careless

To the place of Monte Sam

And he does a bit of playin'

Like he doesn't give a damn.

Then all at once it's hushed and quiet,

Like a calm before the blow,

And the crowd is tense and nervous,

And the playin stopped and slow.



At the bar a man is standin',

Sneerin' as his glances lay,

Like a challenge did he fling 'em,

Darin' 'em to make the play.

Two-Gun Blake, the Texas killer,

Hated, feared wherever known

Stood and drank his glass of mescal

With assurance all his own.



Then the eyes of Blake, the killer,

Met the glance of Dobe Bill

And they held each one the other

With the steel of looks that kill,

Then the tones of Blake came slowly,

With a sneer in every word

"Well, you've found me!"

But the other gave no sign he saw or heard.



Walkin' calmly toward the speaker,

He advanced with steady pace

Then he g