Amon Briggs Removed From Bench
MAY FACE PRISON TERM
Word has reached the Nugget that Amon Briggs, formerly a district judge located in Pueblo, has been removed from the bench by order of Governor Davis Hanson Waite.
According to Sheriff McKenzie, Briggs, who is now a guest of the Pueblo County Jail, was involved in a nefarious scheme with Sheriff Ferrell of Bent County. Briggs would inform Ferrell when money was being transferred, and Ferrell and his partner in crime, usually one of this deputies, would rob the victim so identified.
The latest attempt at robbery failed when Ferrell and his deputy were both killed by the heroic action of Mr. Nugent, who was riding shotgun guard.
Though Sheriff McKenzie has not yet disclosed the incriminating evidence discovered as a result of the failed robbery attempt, it is sufficient to result in the incarceration of Briggs until such time as a judge can be made available to try the case.
“Ha!” Smoke thumped his fingers on the paper. “That doesn’t surprise me about Briggs. I never have trusted him. But what about the train, have you heard anything? Do you know if they are going to try again?”
“I’m sure they will when the some of the snow melts.”
“I hate it that Matt and the others are trapped up there. But I figure they haven’t run out of food yet.”
Phil laughed. “They’re probably having a good old time. I mean, what else can you do under a situation like that?”
“I guess you’re right,” Smoke agreed. “Listen, Phil, I’m probably going to be in town for the rest of the day, so if you get any further word about the train, you’ll let me know, won’t you?”
“Yes, of course I will. Where will I find you?”
“I don’t know, at Longmont’s I suppose. Sally came into town with us, and she’ll want to have lunch, probably at Kathy’s Kitchen. But if you don’t find me, I’ll be checking in with you from time to time.
“That’s a good place for lunch, I often eat there myself.”
Smoke stepped into Longmont’s a few minutes later. Duff sat at a table, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. Smoke joined him.
“The rescue train was turned back,” Duff said, thumping the paper with his fingers.
“Yes, Phil told me that.”
“There is an interesting story here. The deputy sheriff from Pueblo County is escorting two prisoners. One of the prisoners has had all the charges against him dropped but he doesn’t know that, and there will be no way for him to know until they are freed.”
“Who are the prisoners?” Smoke asked.
Duff referred back to the paper. “Michael Santelli and Luke Shardeen.”
“I hope Santelli isn’t the one who has been pardoned,” Smoke said.
“Na, ’tis Luke Shardeen. Do you know Mr. Santelli?”
“I’ve never had the displeasure of a personal encounter with him, but I certainly know who he is. And he is a bad one. I don’t like to think of him being on the same train, trapped in a snowslide, with a bunch of innocent people.”
“Aye, the longer one has to hold him in custody, the greater the mischief he can create.”
Louis Longmont brought Smoke a cup of coffee without being summoned. “Did you hear about the murder we had here in town last night?” Longmont asked.
“Murder is it?” Duff said looking up from his paper. “I’ve nae heard a thing about it.”
“It happened over at the livery stable,” Smoke informed him. “I was talking to Monte and a few others about it. Corey Calhoun got killed.”
“Och, ’tis sorry I am to hear of it. Did you know him?”
“Yes, he worked for me from time to time. He was a good man, and a friend of Pearlie and Cal. They’ll be upset to hear about it.”
“I haven’t talked to Monte since I heard about it,” Longmont said. “Does he have any ideas as to who might have done it?”
“Only indirect ideas,” Smoke said. “It seems that Corey won quite a bit of money in a card game over at the Brown Dirt. Sheriff Carson thinks someone may have seen him win, then followed him from the saloon. He killed him in the livery stable.”
“That means nobody saw it.” Duff leaned back and crossed his arms.
“Yes, I’m afraid that is exactly what it means. And if nobody saw it happen, I think the chances of finding out who actually did it are rather slim,” Smoke sipped the hot coffee.
“I’ll keep an eye open,” Longmont promised. “Oftentimes, when someone comes into an unexpected sum of money, they’ll come in here and be big spenders all of a sudden.”
A couple of Smoke’s friends came in then and invited Smoke and Duff to join them in a friendly game of poker. They were still playing three hours later when Sally came into the saloon.
“Sally, ma belle, bienvenue à ma place,” Longmont greeted effusively.
Sally smiled. “Thank you, Louis.” She turned to the poker players. “Smoke, Duff, are you two getting a little hungry?”
“Hungry?” Smoke glanced over at the wall. “Oh, oh. It’s one-thirty. Uh, we were supposed to meet you at Kathy’s at noon, weren’t we?”
“That was my understanding,” Sally said, though her response was ameliorated by her smile.
“Sally, you should leave this man who so mistreats you,” Longmont said. “If you had chosen me over him, never would you be disappointed by such forgetfulness.”
“Louis, I would be impressed, but I know you say that to every married woman in town.”
“Only to the pretty ones,” Longmont assured.
“And only to the married ones,” Sally replied.
Smoke laughed. “Louis, she has you pegged. You only carry on so with women you know are safe. You wouldn’t dare say such things to a single woman for fear she would take you up on your offer.”
“Ah, how well my friends know me,” Longmont replied. “Enjoy your lunch at Kathy’s. And tell her that I long for her.”
“You never give up, do you, Louis?” Sally said with a laugh.
On board the Red Cliff Special—December 24
Bailey was looking through the window of the car, and called Matt over.
“Yes?”
“I’m sure they’ve tried to reach us, but gave up when they couldn’t get through. They probably aren’t that worried, figuring we have enough food to last. But if they knew our situation, I think they would make more of an effort.” Bailey pointed toward the telegraph wire. “If I could reach that wire, I could send a message back to Buena Vista telling them of our serious condition.”
“You could send a message? You mean you know telegraphy?”
“Yes, before I was a conductor, I was a telegrapher for Western Union.”
“But, how would you send a message? We aren’t connected.”
“I am pretty sure the wire going forward is down. But it looks like the wire going back toward Buena Vista is still up. I can see it over the top of the snowbank behind us, and if it didn’t go down here, I’m sure it is up for the rest of the way. All I have to do is connect to it.”
“Connect what to it?”
“I have a telegraph key,” Bailey said with a smile. “But I don’t know how to get up there.”
Luke had overheard the conversation and he went over to join in. “Did I hear you right? You can send a telegram?”
“If I could connect to that wire I could. But in order to do that, I would have to climb that pole, and it is covered with snow and ice. Climbing it would be impossible.”
Luke looked at the pole for a moment, then he shook his head. “It will be difficult,” he agreed. “But it isn’t impossible.”
“Wait a minute,” Matt said. “Are you saying you think you can climb it?”
“Why not?” Luke replied. “I’ve climbed ice-slickened mainmasts before, and that’s with the ship rolling in the sea. Yes, I think I can get up there.”
“Oh, Luke, no,” Jenny put in. She’d followed Luke. “That’s much too dangerous.”
�
�Ha! I laugh at danger,” Luke said, thrusting his hand out in an exaggerated fashion.
“I’m serious,” Jenny argued.
“Don’t worry, Jenny. I’ve done this kind of thing before.”
Matt and Bailey went outside with Luke to see how he would attack the pole. Worried about Luke, Jenny trailed behind. They studied the pole for a moment or two, rising as it did from the midst of a huge drift of snow.
“How are you going to even get to the pole?” Bailey asked.
“I don’t know. That does seem to be a problem.” Luke looked at the pole, then looked back at the train and smiled. “I’ll climb up onto the top of the car, then leap over to the pole.”
“Luke, no, you can’t be serious!” Jenny cried.
“I don’t have to leap onto the pole, just into the snowbank close enough to it to be able to grab hold,” Luke explained.
Matt smiled. “You know, I think that might work. I wouldn’t want to be the one to do it, but I think it might work.”
Luke climbed to the top of the car, then stepped to the edge to examine the pole for a moment. Satisfied with what he saw, he moved to the opposite side. With a running start, he leaped across the opening and disappeared into the snowbank at the foot of the pole.
“Luke!” Jenny called in fear.
After a moment of anxious silence, Luke appeared out of the snowbank, his arms and legs wrapped around the pole. They watched as he climbed to the top, threw a leg over the crossbeam, and pulled himself into a secure sitting position. He looked down and threw his arms open with a big smile.
“Oh, Luke, hold on!” Jenny called.
“I’m all right. Why, this pole isn’t even moving. Mr. Bailey, what do I do now?”
“Cut the wire,” Bailey instructed. “And toss it over here so I can get to it.”
“Will I get shocked?”
“No,” Bailey explained. “Telegraph works by direct current. There’s no danger.”
“If I cut the wire, won’t it mean you can’t send a signal?”
“It’ll be fine, as long as there isn’t another break in the wire between here and Buena Vista.”
Luke cut the wire as Bailey instructed, then tossed it down. Matt caught it and handed it to Bailey, who attached the cut end to his instrument.
Luke came back down the pole about halfway, then leaped into the snowbank. Again, he disappeared, but reappeared a moment later, covered in snow.
“I’m going to have to quit doing that,” Luke teased as Jenny helped brush the snow away.
Bailey got the wire attached, then sent a BV signal.
“Is it working?” Matt asked.
“I don’t know. I haven’t gotten a reply.” Bailey sent a BV signal again.
There was no reply.
He tried it a third time, then, with a sigh, looked up at Luke. “I’m sorry, Mr. Shardeen. It looks like I sent you up the post for nothing. We may as well get out of the cold. It was—”
Clackclackclackclackclack.
“We’re through!” Bailey shouted excitedly. “We’re through!” He listened to the clicks for a moment, then chuckled. “Bernie is apologizing because he was away from the key. He wants to know who is calling him.”
Bailey began sending a message, his fingers moving rapidly as the clicks went out over the line.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Sugarloaf Ranch
Once breakfast was on the table, Sally joined Smoke and Duff. “I just hate to think of Matt being on that train. I was so looking forward to having him join us for Christmas.”
“Matt’s younger and resilient,” Smoke said. “I imagine he can get through just about anything. But I would have enjoyed having him here for Christmas. Christmas should be with family, and we’re the closest thing to family he has.”
“We aren’t just the closest thing to it,” Sally said. “We are it. We are family.”
“You’re right. We are family.”
Their breakfast was interrupted by a knock on the door. Sally started to get up, but Smoke held out his hand. “I’ll get it.”
He hurried to the front door and opened it to see Eddie standing on the porch.
“Eddie? Don’t tell me the train is in?”
“No, sir, it ain’t in. And it’s worse ’n we thought.”
“Worse how?”
“We got a telegram from the train. It’s been sent out all over. Mr. Wilson thought you might want to read it.”
SITUATION DIRE STOP PROXMIRE DEAD STOP
GUNMEN IN DINER STOP NO FOOD STOP
COME SOONEST STOP BAILEY CONDUCTOR
Smoke’s expression was grim as he read it, then he looked up at the messenger. “Why don’t you come on into the house, Eddie, have some breakfast?” Smoke invited.
“Thank you, sir!” Eddie said as a wide smile spread across his face.
Smoke led Eddie back into the dining room.
“Eddie,” Sally said. “It’s so nice to have your company. I’ll get another plate. Smoke, you . . .” Sally stopped when she saw the expression on Smoke’s face. “Smoke, what is it? What’s wrong?”
Smoke showed the telegram to Sally, who read it quickly. “Oh, no.”
Duff reached for the message and she gave it to him. He looked up after reading it. “What can we do?”
“I’m going up there,” Smoke decided. “I’m going to load a sled with as much food as I can get on it and I’m going up there.”
“Smoke, if a train can’t get through, how are you going to get there?”
“I will get there because I must get there,” Smoke said emphatically.
“I’ll be going with you,” Duff said.
“No need for you to go,” Smoke protested. “This isn’t going to be easy.”
“Smoke, what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t go with you? And what kind of friend would you be, if you didn’t allow me to go?”
Smoke smiled, then nodded. “All right. Let’s get ready. We need to get as much under our belt as we can while we’ve still got light. I’ve no doubt but that it’ll be well dark before we get there.”
“Aye,” Duff said. “I’ll find some warm clothes.”
“Eddie?”
“Yes, sir?” Eddie replied, his mouth full of biscuit.
“I hate to interrupt your breakfast, so just grab yourself a couple bear claws. I want you to get back into town as quickly as you can and go by Ebersole’s Bakery, and get as much bread as he has available. Then go to Dunnigan’s store. Tell him to pack up as much jerky as he can get together. Tell him we’re going to have to feed a lot of people. We’ll be in to pick it up before we leave.”
“Yes, sir,” Eddie said, getting up quickly.
Sally handed him two bear claws and he left immediately.
Big Rock
Bob Ward was having lunch at Little Man Lambert’s café and reading a special edition of the Big Rock Chronicle. It had only two stories, and as it happened, both were of intense interest to him.
No Clues on Murder
Sheriff Monty Carson told the Chronicle he has no leads on the murder of Corey Calhoun. A well-known and well-liked young man, Calhoun worked as a cowboy during the season and was spoken highly of by all who knew him, employers and fellow workers alike.
Calhoun’s body was found Friday morning by an employee of the livery stable.
Train Passengers in Peril
The conductor of the Red Cliff Special has sent a telegram in which he says Deputy Sheriff Proxmire is dead and gunmen occupy the dining car, denying food to the starving passengers.
That someone could be so evil in this Christmas season defies all understanding. We can but pray for the safe delivery of those unfortunate passengers, and the ultimate capture and execution of the evil men responsible for this reprehensible act.
With eight crates of bread loaded onto their sled, Smoke and Duff went to Dunnigan’s for jerky.
“I don’t have near enough jerky to do you any good, Smoke,” Ernest Dunnigan said. “But
I tell what I do have. I have forty tins of sardines. And because they are in tins, it’ll be pretty easy for you to carry them.”
“All right,” Smoke said. “Sardines it will be. Get them out here, and Duff and I will load them.”
“Yes, sir,” Dunnigan replied.
While Smoke and Duff were loading the sled, Ward left the restaurant and hurried to the livery where he was boarding six horses and tack to be used for the getaway.
“How much longer you plannin’ on leavin’ them horses here?” Ike asked. “Reason I ask is, they’re takin’ up a lot of room, and folks that’s comin’ into town are wantin’ to board their horses to keep ’em out of the cold while they’re here.”
“I don’t know how much longer,” Ward said. “Until I need them.”
“Here’s the thing. You see them two horses there? They belong to Smoke Jensen and Duff MacAllister, and they’re wantin’ to leave them here while they go up to rescue them folks on the train. I reckon you heard about that, didn’t you?”
“I heard about it,” Ward said. “You mean they ain’t goin’ to go up on horseback?”
Ike shook his head. “There ain’t no horse that can get up there now, and more ’n likely, no mountain goats either. The only way a body could get up there now is to climb the mountain. And that ain’t goin’ to be easy. Not with all this snow. But I reckon if anyone can do it, Smoke can.”
“Yeah, that’s what I heard someone say. They talk about Smoke Jensen like he is some kind of a hero or somethin’.”
“Well, sir, you might say that he is,” Ike said. “And that brings me back to them six horses you got boarded here. Would you mind if I sort of put some of ’em together? Like say, three stalls, with two horses in each stall. It would help me out, and you’d be savin’ money.”
A Rocky Mountain Christmas Page 21
