The Secret Saddle_Anna Troy's Emancipation

by Dani Larsen

  It was a slow night in the Saloon when the nicely dressed gentleman with the big hat came in. Anton served him dinner and a whiskey. It was early so the women had not come in yet. After he finished eating the man lit a cigarette, and when Anton came over to pick up his plate the man introduced himself.

  "Do you have a few minutes to sit down and talk to me, sir? My name is Charlie Siringo, and I am with the Pinkerton Detective Agency. I thought maybe you might know the man I am looking for."

  "Yes, I have a few minutes to spare. I'm Anton, the owner of this establishment."

  "How do you do, Anton? Can I buy you a drink?"

  "Okay, thank you." Anton went to the bar, poured himself a whiskey, and brought it back to the table.

  "How can I help you, sir?"

  "I'm looking for a man who might have been seen in these parts. He's known as Bud Dampierre. He is probably in his early twenties, and very average looking with brown hair and brown eyes."

  "May I ask why you are looking for him?"

  "He is a suspect in the murder of the governor of Idaho in 1905. A bomb was put on the gate to his residence which killed him. One man has been convicted of his murder, but that man confessed and said he had an accomplice by the name of Bud Dampierre. Do you know him?"

  "There is a woman who comes in here nightly and will probably be arriving shortly. When I bought this place the previous owner told me that she had given birth to a son, shortly after she came to town, and that a couple came through town and adopted him when he was about four years old. I believe her last name is Dampierre."

  The detective sat up in his chair, as this was the first clue he had found about the man he was looking for.

  "There aren't that many people named Dampierre. What was his name?"

  "I really don't know. I didn't own the place at the time. I only know her last name is Dampierre."

  "What is her first name?"

  "D'Alene, but she is known as Dolly in here. I will introduce you to her when she arrives, if you wish."

  "That would be most appreciated, Anton."

  "I have to get back to work now, Mr. Siringo, as you can see some new people have arrived."

  "Certainly, you have been most helpful. Thank you very much."

  Anton went to the other table to take their order. About half an hour later the four women entered the establishment. They all headed toward the bar, and Anton gave them all a cup of tea. They always started out with the tea, which Anton served them for free. They only drank when someone bought them a drink.

  When he handed D'Alene her cup of tea he said, "Dolly, there is a gentleman here that would like to speak with you for a few minutes."

  "Oh? Who is it?"

  "Come with me, and I will introduce you."

  He picked up her cup of tea and carried it over to Siringo's table. The detective stood up as she came toward the table.

  "Howdy, ma'am."

  "Dolly, this is Charlie Siringo. Mr. Siringo, may I introduce D'Alene, better known as Dolly."

  "Won't you have a seat, ma'am. Would you like something besides tea?" He asked her politely.

  "Yes, whiskey would be nice."

  "Anton, would you bring her a whiskey, please?"

  "Right away, Mr. Siringo." Anton brought D'Alene a whiskey as she sat down across from the man. She gave him a nice, sexy smile as her drink was delivered.

  He smiled back as she sipped her whiskey. He wondered how many drinks it would take to make her loosen up and spill all about her son.

  "How long have you lived in La Grande, Dolly?"

  "I guess it's over twenty years now."

  "What brought you here, ma'am?"

  "Well, to be truthful, sir, my man at the time beat me and left me alongside the road, and I just started walking and caught a couple of rides and just happened to end up here."

  "Do you like it here?"

  "I guess it's as good as any place." Dolly started getting uncomfortable. She didn't understand why he was asking all these questions. Most men just wanted to go to her room right away. He made her nervous, so she picked up her whiskey and downed it with one gulp.

  "Would you like another drink, ma'am?"

  "Well, yes, I guess I would."

  He motioned to Anton that they wanted another round of drinks, even though he was only sipping his. They sat there quietly, until Anton put the drinks in front of them. Dolly picked up her glass and took a big drink.

  "What is your last name, Dolly?"

  "Why do you want to know? No one ever asks me my last name."

  "I heard that you were French, and that you had a pretty last name."

  "Well, I guess it is sort of pretty. My father was French Canadian. My last name is Dampierre."

  "That is a mighty pretty name. Where did D'Alene come from?"

  "I was born in Coeur D'Alene, so my pa named me after the town."

  "Your ma didn't name you?"

  "No, my ma dropped me off at my pa's, not long after I was born, and she left. Never saw her again."

  "I'm sorry. That doesn't sound like a good start in life."

  "No, it wasn't. Why are you so interested, sir?"

  "Do you want another drink before we talk some more?"

  "I suppose I could drink another, if you have one too."

  Siringo was still sipping on the first one, but he ordered another round and continued to sip on the first one, After she had taken a drink of the third whiskey, Siringo decided it was time to get down to business.

  "Dolly, I heard you came here pregnant, and that you have a son whose nickname is Bud. Is that true?"

  Her mouth fell open, and she sat there trying to think of what to say next. She was suddenly terrified. She knew Jude would beat her, or worse, if she told the man anything about him. But he obviously already knew about him. She didn't want to lie, but she couldn't tell the truth.

  "Who are you, sir, and why do you want to know?"

  "I am with the Pinkerton Detective Agency, and I am investigating the murder of the governor of Idaho in 1905. Where is your son, Dolly, and what is his name?"

  She suddenly felt sick to her stomach, and she knew she had drank too much and why he ordered her drink after drink. Her breathing was shallow as she sat there speechless for several minutes.

  "My son is called Bud Dampierre, and I haven't seen him since he was four years old. A young couple came in here one night and saw him. They wanted to adopt him and said they would give him a good home. They seemed nice, so I thought they could give him a better home, and I let him go with them."

  "What was their name?"

  "I don't know. I didn't want to know. I was afraid I would go after them and try to bring him back, and I didn't think that was a good idea."

  "Could their names have been William and Louise Bennett?"

  "I suppose it could have been. Why?"

  "A couple named William and Louise Bennett were killed in a fire in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in about 1903. Only their bodies were found, and the sheriff there suspected arson. When did you last see your son, Dolly?"

  She began crying and was so choked up she couldn't speak. He just sat there quietly and waited until she could talk again. Finally, she knew what she needed to say.

  "I haven't seen my little Buddy since he was four years old. He must have died in that fire. How cruel you are sir, to break the news to me like that. I loved my son very much and am heartbroken that I had to give him away."

  "Miss Dampierre, I hope you are telling me the truth, as it is against the law to lie to an officer of the law. What was his legal name? Or did you name him Buddy?"

  "I thought you worked for the Pinkerton Agency. That is not the government, sir."

  "So, you are lying to me then?"

  "No, sir, of course not!"

  The tears were flowing down her face, and she began to sob loudly, as she tried to think of how to answer him.

  "I just called him Buddy."

  Tilly came over to the table.

 
"What is wrong, Dolly? Is this man bothering you?"

  "This is a federal investigation, ma'am, so I suggest you stay out of it. I don't think you would want the law to investigate what kind of a business you are running here, Madam."

  "You can investigate me all you want, sir, but do not make my boarder cry. Are you done talking to Dolly?"

  "Are you sure you are telling me the truth, D'Alene?"

  She just nodded with eyes brimming over as she continued to sob.

  "I guess we are finished for now. But, if you hear from him, you better get word to me as soon as possible, if you know what is good for you. Here is my card. I will be in town for a week or two. After that, you can telegraph me."

  He got up from the table, went over to the bar and paid his tab, then walked out the door without another word.

  Dolly reached across the table, picked up one of the man's full glasses and downed it, and Tilly picked up the other one and took it to her table. Dolly excused herself and went back to her room at the boarding house to try to pull herself together. She didn't see Siringo watching her from the side of the saloon, where he stood smoking a pipe. He decided to stay in town and keep an eye on her for a week or two.

  Siringo stayed in La Grande for two weeks, asking locals if they knew Bud Dampierre. He came into Anton's saloon every night, while he was in town and watched carefully everyone that talked to Dolly, especially anyone who went to the boarding house with her. Jude did not come into town during that time. Dolly had planned how she would deter him from talking to her if he came in. She had written a note that she carried in the pocket of her skirt. Her plan was to give it to him without anyone seeing what she was doing if he did show up. The note was simple.

  "Pinkerton man at front table with the big hat."

  Luckily, she never had to use it. Jude showed up a week after Siringo left town. Dolly was worried that he was still hanging around, so when he walked up to her at the bar she laughed, as if he was a patron, and carefully slipped him the new note she had written after she thought the detective had left town.

  "Pinkerton man was here last week. Don't talk to me here."

  He put it in his shirt pocket, without reading it, realizing immediately that something was wrong, and then he picked up his beer and went to another table to join his friends. Before he walked away, he doffed his hat to her and said loudly.

  "Have a good evening, ma'am. Hope to see you soon." He whispered for her to meet him at her room in half an hour.

  Jude left the bar fifteen minutes later and took a walk around the town, just to make sure there wasn't anyone hanging around that he didn't know. He went to the stable and carried on a casual conversation with the stable hand, asking if he had seen a gentleman with a big hat around lately.

  "There was a feller in town for a couple of weeks, but he left last week. He said he was with the Pinkerton Agency, and he was asking a lot of questions. Do you know him?"

  "No, I don't think so, but I heard he was here and thought I may have met the man he was looking for up by the Wallowas. What was the name of the fella he was looking for?"

  "Let me see, what was it? It was a French name. . . Bud Pierre, or something like that."

  "Oh, well it must have been a different guy, cuz I don't know that name. Never mind, I guess I'll mosey on back to the saloon."

  Jude walked around once more and when he didn't see anyone suspicious he went over to the boarding house, rolled a cigarette, and waited for his mother by the back door. She showed up ten minutes later and took him inside and up to her room.

  "Did you talk to him, and what the hell did you say?"

  "I didn't tell him anything, Jude. I swear. He was looking for Bud Dampierre, not Jude Dampierre. His name was Charlie Siringo."

  "It was Siringo? Damn! I was going by Bud up until I came here. That was what everyone always called me anyway. I knew they would be looking for Bud, so I totally changed my name when I came here. That is why I don't want anyone knowing you're my mother."

  "Don't worry, Jude. I didn't let on. Did you kill that Governor? He said that you were suspected in the death of your foster parents, too? Jude, did you hurt them folks?"

  "It is better you don't know anything about either of those things. Just forget you ever heard anything about it. What did he ask, and what did he know?"

  "He knew I had come here and had a baby, and he knew my last name was Dampierre. He also knew I had let you go with those people. I said that was the last time I seen you. When he told me that you were suspected in their death, I started crying and told him he was a cruel man to tell me of my son's death like that. He said they only found their bodies and not yours and that is why they wanted to talk to you. He stayed in town for two weeks, came in every night, sat at that table, and watched me. I was real worried, but I didn't let on none. I think he is gone now."

  "Those Pinkerton guys don't give up. I think he is the one that chased "The Wild Bunch" down to South America. He also hung around with a couple of tough lawmen. Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson's names have been mentioned alongside his. You just keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut. Do you understand?"

  "Yes, Jude. Don't worry, I won't say nothin! I swear."

  "You better not, if you know what's good for you. I'm going back to the saloon. Don't come back for at least another half an hour. I'll be leaving about then. Don't even talk to me whenever I come to town again. If I want to talk to you, I'll pass you a note. Goodbye!"

  He picked up his hat, opened the door, and left quietly. When she went back to "Anton's" he was gone.

  Chapter Ten

  "A Growing Family"

  1911 ~ 1914

  One of the reasons Anna was happier in Cove was because she didn't have to see Jude Burden all of the time. Her nightmares were still invading her sleep, but not as often now. She kept busy with little John, and her little cabin, and spent a lot of time making baby clothes for the new expected family member. They had dinner at her in-laws on Sunday afternoons, and Anna always brought a dish to add to the meal, either a potato dish or an apple or rhubarb pie. Jude was always there for that meal, but seeing him once a week was better than seeing him every day. It seemed like her nightmares always came after seeing him. She always got a creepy feeling when he was around, and it bothered her that he always wanted to play with John. She found herself hovering if he even talked to her baby. She just didn't trust the man. Her intuition told her there was something wrong, and she just couldn't get over it. George thought Jude was a fine fellow, so Anna didn't say anything more about him to George, but there was something about him that she didn't like, and she just couldn't put her finger on it. Strange things happened on the Hempe ranch at least once a week, and George was always blamed for it, but he just thought his dad expected more out of him than he did the other ranch hands.

  Anna and George took John and went to visit the Troy Ranch toward the end of May, and Jude took over George's responsibilities while they were gone. They had a lovely week visiting her family, and Anna was feeling melancholy about leaving them again. The morning they were planning on going back to Cove, George went to see why Anna wasn't downstairs yet, and he heard her moaning.

  "Anna, what is the matter?"

  "Oh, George, I think I am going to have the baby early. I am having terrible pains, and I just flooded the bed with water. Will you get my mama for me, please? Oooowwww ... and I think you better send someone for the doctor or midwife."

  "Anna, darling, just lay still. I'll have your mama here in a minute, and I'll send Steve for the doctor."

  They intended to be home in time for the baby's expected arrival at the end of June, but it was June 4th when she went into labor. The new baby was in such a hurry to arrive that there wasn't enough time to go get a doctor or midwife, nor to take Anna to the hospital. Her mother and sister, Margaret, delivered her daughter just before noon. Stephen arrived with the doctor about an hour later.

  "Look at her, George, she is beautiful." Anna s
miled at her husband when he entered the room. "What do you think of Helen Cecelia for a name? I always liked Uncle Mike's wife's name, and Cecelia is my middle name."

  "That is a lovely name, Anna, and she is a lovely little girl. I guess we will have to wait a week or so until we can take her home."

  George sent a short letter to his father the next day:

  Dear Ma, Pa, Mary, Sylvester, and Agnes,

  I'm sorry that we won't be able to come home until at least next week, as our beautiful daughter arrived unexpectedly yesterday. We named her Helen Cecelia after Anna's aunt and Anna's middle name. I know you will fall in love with her just as I have.

  I hope you can do without me for a few more days, as the doctor said they shouldn't travel for at least a week. We are planning on leaving here on Monday next, and looking forward to seeing you all that same day. By the way, little John loves his little sister.

  Our love to all,

  George Hempe

  The weather in June was heating up so there wasn't a worry about keeping the little family warm on the drive home. John was crazy about his baby sister. At nineteen months old, he was more work for Anna than the baby was. Her family helped take care of him while she was at their ranch, but once they got home she spent much of her time chasing John everywhere. George had to put a latch high up on the cabin's doors, as John started opening the door and wandering off while his mother was busy feeding the baby. Caroline offered to take John for a few days so she would have a break, but Anna knew she would worry about Jude getting a hold of him, and she couldn't have that. It took her a couple of months to establish a routine.

  Anna made a sort of sling out of old muslin, in which she could hold Helen, and her hands were then free to get a hold of John when he was getting into things or wandering off. She found she could easily nurse the baby in the sling and complete a number of other tasks at the same time. That made it much easier when they went to Sunday mass and to supper at her in-laws.