\u201cLanghorne, we have to reduce the number of stiffs from gunfights, Boot Hill is getting full,” said Sheriff Wilbur Harp of Gravestone, Arizona to sheriff Langhorne Dillon of Dead Man’s Butte.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome tighter rules are needed for sure, Wilbur,\u201d agreed Langhorne Dillon, emitting a brown streak of chewing tobacco toward a spittoon in the corner of the Bird Cage saloon.<\/p>\n
\u201cI propose to limit gunfights to between 12 noon and 1 pm, while people are eating,” said Wilbur Harp, sending his own brown streak to the spittoon over a cocktail waitress dressed in red who was leaning over to refill their whisky glasses.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt your service, boys,\u201d she smiled and wiggled away to the bar.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Wilbur, and they can show up at any time between noon and 1 pm and must wait for fifteen minutes. If the other party doesn\u2019t show up, the gunfight is cancelled, violations punished with jail time,\u201d added Langhorne Dillon.<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree, Langhorne, but for Gravestone I prefer a ten minute wait,\u201d interjected Wilbur Harp.<\/p>\n
\u201cOk, Wilbur, and the procedure should be monitored by our deputies,\u201d added Langhorne Dillon, stuffing his nose with some snuff.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo limit things further, they will only have one bullet in the barrel, can spin the barrel and shoot up to three times,\u201d said Wilbur Harp, spinning the barrel of his Colt .45 single-action revolver, causing a nervous ducking reaction of people at the tables in the saloon.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s ok, Wilbur, but in Dead Man\u2019s Butte I prefer that they don\u2019t spin the barrel, but keep shooting up to three times \u2013 to be monitored by my deputy Leonard,\u201d said Langhorne Dillon.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine by me, Langhorne,\u201d said Wilbur Harp, sending another brown streak through the air in the direction of the spittoon, just missing the bartender walking by. “Let\u2019s compare statistics at the end of the year to see which procedure is the most effective for reducing the number of stiffs, yours or mine,” he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight, Wilbur, assuming our current rate of one gunfight per day continues for a year, I’ll ask my deputy Leonard to work out the figures,” said Langhorne Dillon. \u201cWith the Clinton gang in operation rustling cattle from Mexico, I don\u2019t figure the current rate will drop much,\u201d added sheriff Dillon.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I know what you mean, Langhorne. Settled then, let\u2019s see if Leonard\u2019s calculations will be accurate,\u201d sheriff Wilbur Harp, emitted another brown streak and downed a shot glass of whisky.<\/p>\n
Given this information, can you work out how many coffins\u00a0 the undertakers of Gravestone and Dead Man\u2019s Butte are likely to need, respectively, during the coming year?<\/em><\/p>\nShare this:<\/h3>