meeting back to order.
Once order was restored, Custer continued his testimony, naming names and pointing out specific incidents of corruption.
The hearings had been going on for two days now, and so far Custer had been unable to arrange a meeting with Secretary of War Taft. He was beginning to think about chucking the whole thing and just going back to Colorado. What difference did it really make whether he had a government commission or not? If the governor didn’t like it, he could appoint someone else in his place.
Buying a newspaper, Falcon settled in a comfortable leather chair in the lobby of the hotel and began reading an account of Custer’s appearance. Unlike the article Custer had shown Falcon in New York, this newspaper, which was a supporter of President Grant and his administration, was particularly harsh in its appraisal of Custer’s latest appearance before congress.
INUENDO AND VILIFICATION.
Custer, a well-known self-aggrandizer, has gone to great lengths to disparage his fellow officers by means of innuendo, hearsay, and, some believe, perjury. According to Colonel James Forsyth, an aide to General Sherman, “Not a single officer of the army approves Custer’s testimony, which is largely made up of frontier gossip and stories.”
“Mr. MacCallister?”
Looking up from the paper, Falcon saw a woman who appeared to be in her late twenties or early thirties. She was blond, wearing a dress of dark blue silk and a white hat trimmed with an ostrich feather that was dyed the same shade of blue as her dress. She was, Falcon observed, an exceptionally pretty woman.
“I’m Falcon MacCallister,” Falcon said, standing quickly.
“Mr. MacCallister, my name is Lorena Wood,” the young woman said. “I’m from Secretary Taft’s office. His carriage is outside, and if you would care to accompany me, I’ll take you to him.”
“Thank you, I’d be glad to,” Falcon said.
When they reached the open carriage, the driver started to climb down to help Lorena into the conveyance, but Falcon held up his hand to stop the driver while offering his own assistance to Miss Wood.
Lorena proved to be a delightful companion, pointing out various landmarks and sites as the carriage rolled through the streets of Washington. She also had a good sense of humor, and a rich, throaty laugh.
“Oh, my,” the driver said as he drew the team to a stop.
“What is it, Mr. Bailey?” Lorena asked.
“There are two wagons drawn across the road, miss,” the driver said “And I have the uncomfortable feeling that they were put there purposely in order to prevent our passage.”
“Can you back out?” Lorena asked.
“I intend to try,” Bailey said, hauling back on the reins.
The horses began to back up, and the carriage started rolling slowly in reverse. Before they had gone very far, three men suddenly appeared from behind the blockading wagons, and they ran up the street toward the carriage, brandishing knives. One of them cut the reins to the team, and the horses stopped.
“Stay where you are, driver,” one of the men said gruffly. “Missy, you and your boyfriend throw down all the money you have. And you better pray that you have enough to satisfy me.”
“What if we choose not to throw down our money?” Falcon asked.
“Mr. MacCallister, please,” Lorena said. “I don’t know what it’s like where you are from, but these are evil and desperate men.”
“You better listen to the lady, mister,” the spokesman said.
“You haven’t answered my question,” Falcon said. “Suppose I choose not to give you any money. What do you do then?”
“Then we kill you,” the robber said as an evil smile spread across his face.
“You mean you will try,” Falcon replied.
“Are you crazy, mister? I have a knife in my hand,” the robber said.
“And I have a gun in mine,” Falcon said, raising his hand and showing the pistol.
“Ha! A dandy like you with a pistol?” the robber said. He laughed. “I doubt you could hit a bull in the ass with a bass fiddle.”
Falcon fired three quick shots, taking the earlobes off all three men. The men yelled out in pain, then slapped their hands to their mangled and bloody earlobes.
“I could have done worse,” Falcon said. “But I wanted to keep you healthy enough to move those wagons out of the way.”
“What makes you think we’re going to move those damn wagons for you?” one of the men asked.
“Because if you don’t move those ‘damn’ wagons”—Falcon emphasized the word “damn” to throw it back in the would-be robber’s face—“I will use the next shot the to take the rest of your ear off,” Falcon said. “And if that doesn’t convince you, I will kill you.”
