A Derb y Becomes a Promise

This subplot tracks the derby from a wagered object to the emblem around which Little Joe and Washburn negotiate their final meeting.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

A Bet in the Poker Game

A Hat as Collateral Little Joe’s wager In a poker game, Little Joe offers Washburn’s derby as collateral for a thousand dollars. He also promises the winner a ringside seat when he tries to take it. A challenge travels ahead The wager turns an object associated with Washburn’s public identity into a future obligation. By the time the story reaches Comanche, the hat has already made the two men’s confrontation personal.

The Story Reaches Comanche

Rumor Becomes a Contract A public expectation The poker story reaches Washburn through Charlie Gibbs, who explains that Little Joe has built a reputation through an earlier gunfight. The crowd can now anticipate a confrontation before Washburn accepts it. The Company’s interest Simms has renegotiated Washburn’s contract around the expected showdown. The hat’s comic wager has helped become a commercial and dramatic promise.

A Hat Between Rivals

Claim Made Plain A direct request Little Joe explains that he must have the derby because of his bet. He insists that Washburn either hand it over or make a play. A choice without a duel Washburn takes off the hat, smooths it, and tosses it to Little Joe. The gesture separates the object from the violence that both men expect to follow.

The Ride Across the Bridge

A False Departure Crossing the threshold Washburn rides onto Devil’s Highway, a bridge leading out of the Western set and into another time. At its highest point he stops, bareheaded and undecided. The hat is absent He reaches for a brim that is no longer there. The missing object accompanies the turning point, making his decision to return feel like a choice rather than an automatic completion of the duel.

A Hat in the Dust

The Wager’s Final Image Little Joe falls After the gunfight, Little Joe collapses in the street. Washburn retrieves the derby from the dust and puts it back on. A story continues past the bet The hat returns to its owner but cannot protect him from the kid’s later shot. The wager is resolved, while the violence surrounding it continues beyond the promised duel.

Before Washburn returns to The Set

When Charlie Gibbs recounts the poker game

During Little Joe’s visit to the Brimstone saloon

Immediately after Washburn leaves the saloon

After the duel in Brimstone