as well. Both of you will be paid accordingly, though,” he looked at Cody and chuckled, “as much money as you make with your Wild West Exhibition, I’m afraid any army pay you draw would be an insult.”
“I will serve for the honor of service, General, not for the money,” Cody said. “And one can never be insulted by honor.”
“Indeed, one cannot,” General Miles said. “Falcon, if you will raise your right hand, I will administer the oath of your service.”
Raising his right hand, Falcon took the oath, repeating it word-for-word after General Miles.
“I, Falcon MacCallister, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
“Gentlemen, as of now you are both on the payroll of the United States Army. And I hereby grant you authority to act upon your own and to use, when necessary, the power of your rank to thoroughly investigate the matter pertaining to Indian unrest and possible uprising.”
Both Falcon and Cody saluted General Miles and, as they left, Lieutenant Vaughan saluted them. “Sirs, I have made reservations for the two of you at the Palmer Hotel,” he said. He smiled. “And I put it on the army’s tab.”
“You are a good man, Lieutenant,” Falcon said.
When they reached the Palmer Hotel they were surprised to see Prentiss Ingraham waiting for them in the lobby.
“Ingraham!” Cody said. “What a surprise! And what a coincidence seeing you here in the same hotel!”
“Isn’t it, though?” Ingraham said.
“Why do I have a feeling it is not a coincidence?” Falcon asked.
“Perhaps because you are an astute man,” Ingraham replied.
“So, it isn’t a coincidence?” Cody asked.
“Not exactly.”
“Not exactly?” Falcon challenged.
“All right, it isn’t at all a coincidence,” Ingraham admitted.
“Then my question is, how did you know we would be staying here at the Palmer Hotel?” Cody asked.
“That part was easy. The Palmer is the best hotel in Chicago, and knowing you as I do, I knew that you would stay in no less a place.”
Cody laughed. “You guessed right, but it wasn’t I who made the choice. The hotel was chosen by the army.”
“When you say that the army chose the hotel, would you be talking about Lieutenant Vaughan?” Ingraham asked.
“Yes, how did you know?”
“I have a confession to make,” Ingraham said. “I went to the Headquarters of the Department of the Missouri, and there met the young officer who bears the responsibility of looking out for you. I suggested that you would be satisfied with no less an accommodation than the Palmer, and he agreed. So you have me to thank for these superb lodgings.”
“I do thank you,” Cody said.
“The one unanswered question now is, why are you here?” Falcon asked.
“I am here to research my next book.”
“You’re going to write a novel about Chicago?” Cody asked.
“No,” Falcon said. “He isn’t writing about Chicago. He is writing about you.”
“You’re too smart for me, Falcon,” Ingraham said. “Except it isn’t going to be a novel. I will be writing a nonfiction tome.”
“Evidently, he is too smart for me as well,” Cody said. “Because I don’t have any idea what you are talking about.”
“My dear boy,” Ingraham said. “Whatever mission General Miles has assigned you will be the subject of my book. I am going with you.”
“No, you aren’t,” Cody said.
“Oh, I’m afraid you can’t prevent it,” Ingraham said.
“We’ll see about that. I’m going to General Miles tomorrow.”
Ingraham chuckled. “I’m afraid that won’t do you any good.”
“What do you mean it won’t do me any good? If General Miles says you can’t go with us, you can’t go with us.”
“Not even General Miles can prevent me from going with you,” Ingraham said.
“What makes you say such a thing?”
“Cody, I believe Mr. Ingraham is holding an ace up his sleeve,” Falcon said.
“An ace up his sleeve?”
