THE MURDER
There is a fair in Nutwood. Rupert Bear is there with his parents.
At the carrousel he asks, “May I in there?”
That’s allowed. Rupert climbs on a normal horse at first sight. But after the first round the horse flies with Rupert on it out of the carrousel. The animal becomes alive. Together they fly through the time barrier. So the twosome end in the quiet town Townville. First Rupert looks a bit amazed around him and then he dismounts. Quietly he walks across the street and he sees in the shop window of the drugstore the sign with the text:“MESSAGE BOY WANTED”. The little bear hitched his horse and walked then inside. He takes off his hat and looks at the owner of the shop.
“Young man, what can I do for you?”, Mr. Miller, the owner of the shop, asks.
“I come for the job of message boy”, Rupert says calm.
Miller looks at him and asks smiling, “You are hired. I am Mr. Miller and that is Jenson. What is your name?”
“Rupert Bear”, the bear answers polite.
Rupert does his best and everyone except Jenson is satisfied about him. At a certain moment Rupert discovers that Miller gets stolen by Jenson.
One evening when the shop is closed Rupert says to his boss, “Mr. Miller, Jenson steels out of cash box when nobody is looking.”
Miller looks up and says, “I already had that suspicion for a while. I will fire him at once. You go to the hotel Rupert. I will lock up. See you tomorrow.”
That happens and Jenson keeps himself notable quiet but vows for revenge. Rupert Bear doesn’t know yet what will happen to him.
On a certain day Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry ride totally non-suspecting into the town Townville. It is very quiet and the outlaws decide to stay here for a few days. At the drugstore an old friend sees them. It is Rupert Bear.
He says to Miller, “May I go for a moment? I see two old friends.”
“Yes sure. But not too long Rupert”, says Miller.
Rupert is away at once. As soon as the outlaws have dismounted Rupert runs to them.
“Joshua, Thaddeus”, he calls when he is almost near them.
Heyes and Curry look at each other very amazed when they hear their “aliases”.
“Look Heyes, who is that little bear? Isn’t that our friend Rupert Bear?”, asks the Kid.
“Yes sure. Come here Rupert”, Heyes says excited.
The little bear runs into his arms. A very enthusiastic greeting is his share. To celebrate the reunion they go to the saloon.
Because Rupert is too little to stand at the bar they are going to sit at a table. The bartender gives the threesome something to drink.
“What are you doing here?”, Rupert asks after a while.
“To see if there something to do here. Maybe we can get some work somewhere. What is your reason?”, asks Heyes.
“I work as the message boy for Mr. Miller of the drugstore”, is the answer of Rupert.
He is glad to see the outlaws again and the other way around too. They talk about the updates until Rupert goes away again to the drugstore.
“You stay here for a while, won’t you?”, Rupert asks before he leaves the saloon.
“Of course we do that Rupert”, the outlaws promise.
When Rupert is out of sight Heyes says worried, “Maybe Lefty Jack is also around. He knows who we are.”
“We don’t even know if he is here. Heyes, I think that you are worrying for nothing”, reacts the Kid.
Heyes shrugs his shoulders and stares ahead of him. They decide to take a room in the hotel. They don’t know yet that their little friend will need them very hard very soon.
Because Rupert has done his work so well that day Miller let him go a bit earlier.
“Rupert, you may go. I see you tomorrow at 9 o’clock”, Miller says to his little employer about whom he is very satisfied.
Outside Rupert sees the horses of Heyes and Curry standing by the hotel.
He walks to it and asks the man at the desk, “Do you happen to have seen Joshua Smith and/or Thaddeus Jones? I look for them you see?”
“I know about it. Mr Smith said to me that you can find them in the saloon”, answers the man.
The bear leaves the hotel and walks in the direction of the saloon. Once inside Rupert sees his friends sitting at the poker table. To not to distract them Rupert goes to sit at this regular table. He gets something to drink from the bartender. Patiently Rupert waits for Rupert op Heyes and Curry.
At the poker table Jenson asks, “Do you know that little bear?”
Heyes looks up from his cards for a second and asks on his turn, “Yes. He is a friend of ours. that a crime?”
“I was only asking. Take it easy Mr Smith”, Jenson said insulted.
But Heyes has the suspicion that Jenson is up to something with Rupert Bear. He doesn’t let it show anyway. Curry sees it though. He knows his mate good enough.
After their game of poker the outlaws go to the table where Rupert waits for them.
“Hello Rupert”, Heyes says with laughing eyes.
The bear feels that something is going on. The bartender brings them their drinks which they have ordered. From where they sit the outlaws keep an eye on Jenson.
“Is there something? You are so absent”, Rupert says after a while.
“Someone is up to something with you and that won’t be fun for you”, Heyes says slowly.
“I have done nothing bad to him, haven’t I?”, Rupert asks amazed.
“No, but soon he will do something bad. Until then you stay with us”, says Curry.
When their glasses are empty Heyes asks, “I am hungry. Shall we go and eat something in a restaurant?”
“That is a good idea Joshua”, is the reaction of the Kid.
Rupert also agrees. They leave the saloon and go to a restaurant in Townville.
When they are eating Rupert suddenly says, “I heard that Jenson is crazy about gold.”
“That is very interesting what you say there”, Heyes says smiling.
Curry recognizes the look in his eyes and says, “Joshua, do you have a plan? You have that look in your eyes again. And when you have that you are up to something.”
“We make a made with a cross where a so called treasure with gold with a value of 50.000 dollars is buried. Rupert must keep that map with him. As soon as Jenson contacts you, you tell him about your treasure with gold. Let’s see how he reacts”, Heyes reacts calm.
“Joshua, what are you genius”, the Kid says smiling.
“I know”, Heyes says modest as he is.
“Will Jenson fall for it?”, Rupert asks for the security.
“For the full 100 percent”, Heyes answers quietly.
The made is made quickly and Rupert holds him tight to him. The outlaws send the bear in time to bed but on the way from the saloon to the hotel Rupert gets kidnapped by Jenson.
“You know Kid, I think that a lot will be waiting for us here”, Heyes says sober when they come out of the saloon.
It is quite late when they are in the hotel.
The man at the reception desk says to them, “Have you seen Rupert Bear? The key of his room still hangs there.”
“We have sent him here in time”, says the Kid.
Then Heyes asks very slowly and a bit absent, “Jenson must be behind this. Has he been here?”
“For a second. Why Mr Smith?”, the man at the reception desk asks.
“He was looking at us all evening. I didn’t trust him from the beginning”, says Heyes.
They decide to look for their little friend. It appears that no one has seen Rupert leaving. Jenson is also gone. None of both can suspect that Jenson has kidnapped Rupert. Though that is the case.
Jenson holds Rupert Bear hostage without having a good reason for that.
“You mustn’t think that your friends will find you. They will never find you”, Jenson says to Rupert who sits on the bed tied up.
“They will”, Rupert says calm.
He knows that Heyes and Curry will never let him down. Hereby the bear is calm.
“Did you think that? Those cowboys can spend their time better than with your presence. Hahahahaha! After a few days they have forgotten you totally and then we are going to do something nice together”, Jenson says laughing.
He goes away. Rupert gets loose and escapes from the house. Outside it is already very dark. Rupert runs as fast as he can and rums into Heyes that way. The bear falls on the ground and an amazed Heyes looks at him.
“How did you come here? Mr Jones and I were looking for you everywhere”, Heyes says when Rupert stands there.
At that moment Curry is coming and they go to their hotel room.
Rupert tells what has happened, “When I went to the hotel Jenson kidnapped me to his house. He tied me up and said that in a few days time I would do something nice with him as soon as you have forgotten me.”
“We would never forget you. But now there is that problem of his plan. You don’t know what he is going to do?”, asks the Kid.
Meanwhile Heyes paces around in the room.
Rupert shakes of no and says, “I have given him the map which Joshua has made.”
“Well done. Now Jenson must make the next move. That will happen soon enough. Rupert, it time for bed for you. Sleep well”, says Heyes.
Rupert goes to his room which is next to that of the outlaws.
Laying in bed the bear falls fast asleep. He doesn’t knows what will happen to him the next day.
Like each morning after his breakfast Rupert goes to the drugstore to work. When he is at the drugstore it turns out that the door is already open. Carefully Rupert goes inside and sees then the mortal remains of Mr Miller laying. He gets a big shock, runs out of the shop and goes looking for Heyes and Curry. Because Rupert leaves the shop so quickly others assume that he is the culprit.
In the hotel the little bear finds the outlaws.
“Mr Miller is has been shot dead with his pistol. I found him in the drugstore. The door was already open. Now they probably think that I have done it”, Rupert rattles on and on.
“Easy Rupert. We know that you are innocent and we are on your side”, is the answer of Heyes.
“You were with us after breakfast so we can testify for you”, Curry says calm.
“What must I do now? Everybody will say that I have done it”, the bear says a bit upset.
“You stay with us. We won’t let you down”, Heyes says cool.
They leave the hotel and walk to the drugstore. The heart of Rupert beats in his throat and he stays close by the outlaws.
Sheriff Palmer is the case already examining and who stands closest by? Jenson!
He sees Rupert coming and says to the sheriff, “Sheriff, that bear over there is the culprit. Rupert Bear has killed Mr Miller. Last night he was with me and he said that he was going to kill him because he had to work so hard. Arrest him!”
“Rupert is innocent until proven that he is guilty. He was with us the whole time”, answers the Kid.
“Miller has been murdered two hours ago. So he had all chance to do it”, claims Jenson.
“Miller has been shot dead. I have never seen Rupert with a revolver or a pistol. So perhaps you are the guilty one”, Heyes says calm while he holds Rupert by the hand.
Jenson was discomfort by this remark.
“Mr Smith, I will have to question Rupert anyway. And you too Jenson”, answers the sheriff.
“I haven’t killed the shop keeper. That bear there did it. Maybe Mr Smith and Mr Jones are also partly guilty”, is the reaction of Jenson who is starting to lose his patience.
The sheriff has also seen through Jenson but pretends that he doesn’t know anything. He takes Rupert to his office. The outlaws are going along too.
“Sit down son”, says the sheriff.
Rupert does that he tells his story.
“I believe you but your own safety you stay in jail. Jenson can be very dangerous”, answers the sheriff.
After questioning Rupert gets put behind bars anyway. He does attempts to stay strong and that goes well. Heyes and Curry are very worried about their little friend.
In the saloon Jenson says to them, “I don’t know if you know it already but the sheriff has arrested Rupert Bear for murdering Miller. Your little friend now gets what he deserves.”
Heyes looks at him and says, “The longer you claim that Rupert is the killer, the more I start to believe that he is innocent.”
“Do you want to claim that I have killed him?”, Jenson asks a bit irritated.
“What Joshua wants to say is that you are one of the suspects. Right Joshua?”, asks the Kid.
Heyes nods. Their suspicion becomes stronger with the hour about whom has killed the owner of the drugstore. They just don’t know the reason why yet. They decide to keep an eye on Jenson.
In the cell Rupert has time enough to think. The longer he thinks, the longer he suspects that Jenson is the culprit.
Suddenly the sheriff says to him, “Rupert, you have two visitors.”
He looks up from this message. The visitors are Heyes and Curry.
“Joshua, Thaddeus, when will they let me go? I haven’t killed Mr Miller”, Rupert says to the outlaws.
“We know that. We suspect that Jenson has done it. The problem is that is difficult to prove. You won’t be here much longer”, says Heyes.
“Jenson is so convinced that you have done it that it must be almost 100 % sure that he has killed Miller. We must trap him
”, says the Kid.
Heyes looks at Rupert and starts then to smile mysteriously.
“Mr Smith, do you have a plan?”, asks Curry.
“Yes sure Mr Jones. We do need the help of the sheriff and Rupert Bear”, is the answer of Heyes.
Sheriff Palmer says, “Rupert Bear is innocent but in jail he is safe for Jenson. First he worked for Miller but Rupert discovered that Jenson stole from Miller.”
“So Jenson takes revenge on him that way? We shall give him a taste of his own medicine. Don’t you think so Mr Jones?”, Heyes asks his partner.
This one nods. Quickly Heyes explains the plan.
“I hope that it will succeed Mr Smith”, says the sheriff.
“My plans always succeed”, is the comment of Heyes.
They leave the office and go to the saloon.
At the bar they see Jenson standing. They walk towards him and to got stand near him.
Suddenly Heyes says, “Mr Jones, I do believe that Rupert Bear has killed.”
“Mr Smith, you are wrong. A little bear like him isn’t able to kill a man”, says Curry.
“Mr Jones, u have heard what the sheriff said. That bear is guilty”, Heyes reacts a bit fierce.
Unnoticed he looks at Jenson who has heard everything.
Jenson comes to them and says, “So that bear is guilty anyway? I thought that you said that he was innocent.”
“He looks innocent but isn’t it”, answers Heyes.
“Mr Smith, I do believe that you are right”, the Kid says then.
Heyes looks at him and says then, “I am always right. If not then rules 1 rules. And rule 1 is: I am always right!”
Heyes and Curry do so nice and friendly to Jenson that this one becomes very nervous of it.
In the evening in their hotel room says Curry, “Heyes, today or tomorrow your plan goes wrong.”
“It won’t go wrong. Don’t worry Kid. Jenson is already so nervous that soon he will confess everything”, his partner reacts calm.
Heyes turns out to be right because Jenson gets quite haunted by his conscious.
The next morning Jenson asks Heyes, “I must make a confession to you. Can it stay between us?”
“Yes of course”, the outlaws sat at the same time.
“That one evening when Rupert Bear was at my place, remember? Well, then he told me that he has a secret treasure with gold. The whole value is about 50.0000 dollars. I have the map in my property”, tells Jenson.
“Fifty thousand dollars worth in gold is not bad. Are you sure that it is true?”, asks Curry.
“Of course. I have the map ere. Don’t you believe me?”, asks Jenson.
“Sure we believe you. It just amazes us that you come with it now”, says Heyes.
“Sorry. Shall we go and search?”, Jenson suggests.
He shows the map and Heyes studies the map carefully.
“I am sorry Jenson, but Rupert Bear has given you a fake map”, he says after a while.
Jenson tears the map out of his hands and calls angry, “That rotten bear! I shall get him.”
With quick steps he goes in the direction of the office of the sheriff. The outlaws follow him, trying to calm him down.
Jenson storms through to the cells and says to Rupert, “How dare you to give me a fake map after I have killed your boss? You are just a rotten bear!”
“Nice that you confess the murder on Miller Jenson. Hereby I arrest you on the spot. You may enter the cell and Rupert out”, the sheriff says calm.
Now Jenson notices that he has been lead into a trap and becomes even more angrier with Rupert. The bear gets released.
Outside Rupert says, “Thank you for your help.”
“You’re welcome son. Come, we are going to celebrate your freedom in the saloon. You have earned it”, says the Kid.
The threesome stay a whole time in the saloon. Suddenly the sheriff comes to Rupert and he give him an envelope.
“This is your pay for working at the drugstore Rupert”, he says.
The bear accepts it. The outlaws notice that Rupert doesn’t feel like staying much longer in Townville.
“Why don’t you get your horse and see where you end?”, is the proposal of Heyes.
Rupert finds that a good idea.
After a while he gets his horse and with difficulty he says goodbye to the outlaws. They watch him go. The horse brings Rupert back again to Nutwood. There the riding animal comes to stand again in the carrousel. It is like nothing has happened but Rupert knows much better.