One Dollar's Worth (Henry)
A judge received a threatening letter from a man he had sentenced to prison, who called himself Rattlesnake. The man vowed to take revenge on the judge and the district attorney, Littlefield, who had prosecuted him. Littlefield and the judge's daughter, Nancy, were engaged to be married.
Meanwhile, a young Mexican man named Rafael Ortiz was arrested for passing a counterfeit dollar. His girlfriend, Joya Treviñas, pleaded with Littlefield to release Rafael, claiming she had made the counterfeit money herself to buy medicine when she was sick. Littlefield refused, saying the case would have to go to trial.
If the life of the girl you love is ever in danger, remember Rafael Ortiz.
One day, Littlefield and Nancy went plover-shooting together. While they were out, a man named Mexico Sam, who was seeking revenge on Littlefield, began shooting at them from a distance.
When you sent me up for four years you made a talk. Among other hard things, you called me a rattlesnake. Maybe I am one—anyhow, you hear me rattling now.
Littlefield and Nancy took cover behind their horses, but they were unable to return fire effectively with their birdshot-loaded guns.
Remembering Joya's words about Rafael, Littlefield had an idea. He instructed Nancy to keep firing at Mexico Sam while he used his pocketknife to cut the counterfeit dollar into slugs. He then loaded his shotgun with the makeshift ammunition and fired at Mexico Sam, killing him.
I shot him with Exhibit A of your counterfeiting case. Lucky thing for me—and somebody else—that it was as bad money as it was! It sliced up into slugs very nicely.
The next day in court, Littlefield dropped the charges against Rafael Ortiz, stating that the counterfeit dollar was no longer available as evidence. He then asked his deputy to find Joya's home, as Nancy wanted to know where she lived.