“I got off the ferry,” Maxwell said, “and there it was, gleamin’ like gold—

“We’re proud of that,” the judge smiled.
 
“Your streets are a fine place,” Maxwell added. “Trolleys and no horse manure to stink up the air. Everyone rides bicycles. Businessmen with their derbies. Women dressed tight with parasols and fancy hats; they add glamour to Broadway. All fine models, good citizens, Godly, I’m sure. I hear there are two automobiles in Galveston. I saw one: a Riker Electric Brougham, rollin’ without a horse. E-lectric. The future, I bet. Banks, Museums, an op’ra house. Edwin Booth, Sara Bernhardt, Buffalo Bill—they’ve been here, an’ they’re comin’ back. Plenty of newspapers, two dailies. ’Lectricity everywhere. Movie theaters. Ships comin’ in, goin’ out. Beaches. Railroads. Sail boats. Bathhouses. Gas lights. Telephones. You have the number one cotton port in the nation. Anyone—me, you—can take a steamship right straight to Europe.”

“Fourteen lines,” the judge said. “Three more to Cuba, two to Japan. We’re the envy of New York. Chicago can have its pigs and filthy stocks. Sears and Roebuck’s coming here.”
 
“And why not? Each tide brings in a million bucks!”

“And the other sign?” the judge asked.

Judge Hammer gave the gun back to Maxwell. Maxwell stuffed the revolver into his waist, beneath his shirt, and went back to where Newt was waiting.

“Why a gold bullet?” the judge asked.

“That’s personal, Your Honor. A gift from a friend.”

“Why only one bullet?”

“I can’t get into too much trouble with a single shot,” Maxwell answered. “I can only shoot one man. With six bullets I can kill six.”

“Unfortunately, there’s logic in that,” the judge said. “Do you plan on staying in Galveston for some time?”

“I like it here.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“So long as the work holds out.”

“Are you going to keep getting into knife fights?”

“Only with Boy Scout pocket knives,” Maxwell smiled. The spectators chuckled, and the judge smiled. “I don’t look for trouble, Your Honor. Never do.”

“Yea, but I’ll bet you finish it, don’t you, Mr. Hayes?

“Jus’ to stay alive, Your Honor. This is a grand place with good people. I like it here. I saw two signs when I entered the island. Those signs told me everything I needed to know about Galveston.”