“He didn’t wreck the train,” Boomer said.
“What? You, too?”
“I’ve never met the man,” Boomer said. “But he was in chains, in the train, being taken to Yuma to hang, right?”
“Right.”
“I was talkin’ to some of the railroad workers today—you know, the ones who have been cleaning up the mess out there?” Boomer said.
“And?”
“Well, sir, they found that some of the spikes had been pulled out.”
“Maybe they had just worked themselves out over a period of time,” Kyle suggested.
“No, sir,” Boomer said. “They know the spikes were pulled out because they had been tossed to one side. Besides which, they found a pickax there, as well as the place where several horses had waited. And from the amount of horse droppin’s, the horses were probably there for over an hour, which means they had to be waitin’ for the train. The railroad workers think the train robbers pulled up the spikes, then kicked the track out, just so as to cause the wreck.”
“It’s hard to believe that anyone could be that cruel,” Sally said.
“Yes, ma’am, it is,” Boomer agreed. “But one thing it does do is it pretty much proves that this here Jensen fella couldn’t of done it. Not what with him bein’ in chains in the car ’n’ all.”
“Maybe he didn’t, or maybe he had arranged for someone to wreck the train so he could escape,” Kyle suggested.
“Ben, seems to me that would be a pretty foolhardy thing to do,” Doc said. “He was in the express car. Mr. Kingsley was also in the express car, and he got killed.”
“I don’t care how much this Jensen person has charmed all of you. He is still a murderer. At the very least he murdered Deputy Gillis, because he has already been convicted of that murder back in Purgatory. And the evidence is pretty convincing that he killed Deputy Hayes as well. But maybe it was someone else who wrecked the train.”
“Did the train robbers actually get anything?” Sally asked.
“I hope to say they did,” Kyle replied. “The train was carrying a bank transfer of twenty thousand dollars.”
“Instead of going after this man Jensen, what about whoever actually caused the train wreck?” Doc asked. “I’ve got a vested interest in getting them, seeing as how I was on that train and could’ve been killed myself.”
“Doc, my job isn’t either-or, my job is both,” Kyle said. “So I’ll be going after the train robbers and Matt Jensen. And until I see some physical evidence to the contrary, I’m still not convinced they aren’t one and the same. Oh, by the way, Doc, is Deputy Hayes’ body still here?”
“Yes, I believe it is. Except for those who lived here, I think all the bodies are still in Seth McKenzie’s warehouse.”
“Good. I want the bullet that killed Hayes. And, I want to take Hayes’ body back to Purgatory. Oh, and give me a description of Jensen.”
“I don’t know that it is Jensen,” Doc said. “Like I said, he told me his name was Cavanaugh.”
“All right, then give me a description of Cavanaugh.”
“Mid-to-late twenties, I guess. He was a lot younger in the face than in the eyes. Those eyes have seen a lot,” Doc added. “He’s about six feet tall, broad shoulders, narrow waist, light blue eyes, and hair that’s about halfway between blond and brown.”
“Sally, you’re a good artist, you’ve drawn pictures of half the people in this town. Would you draw a picture of Jensen for me? Doc, you can watch her draw it, then tell her when she’s close.”
“You don’t need to describe him to me,” Sally said.
“What do you mean? You mean you aren’t going to draw his picture?”
“No, I mean he doesn’t have to describe him to me. He was in here that first night. I bought supper for him. I know what he looks like.”
“Good. You draw the picture, and I’ll take it over to Blanton to get a woodcut made.”
“Marshal?” someone said, coming up to the table where Kyle, Doc, Boomer, and Sally were sitting.
“Yes, Barney, what can I do for you?” Kyle asked, recognizing the whiskey drummer.
“I heard tell you was looking for whoever robbed the train.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Well, I was on the train and I think I seen them.”
“You think you saw them, or you
“I think—that is, I’m sure I did see them.”
“If you did see them, Barney, would you tell me why in the hell you are just now getting around to telling me about it?”
“I had to think on it some to be certain in my own mind that that is what I did see,” Barney explained.
“All right,” Kyle replied. “Tell me about it.”
“Yes, sir. Well, like I said, I was on the train, but I wasn’t hurt none. Anyhow, I got out of the car, and was just
