“But we have friends,” Timmy said with a broad smile. “And friends are about the best things you can have.”
“Timmy, you are wise beyond your years,” Luke said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Again, Smoke and Duff took the sleigh into town. This time, though, Sally went with them. Smoke let Sally off in front of the Big Rock Mercantile, Duff got out in front of Longmont’s, then Smoke drove on to the livery barn. Stopping just outside, he unhitched the team, then led them into the barn.
Liveryman Ike Shelby was just inside the barn talking to three other men—Sheriff Monte Carson, Dan Norton the prosecuting attorney, and Allen Blanton, editor and publisher of the
“Gentleman,” Smoke greeted. “Ike, I’d like to leave my team here for a while so they are somewhat out of the cold.”
“Sure thing, Smoke. Billy, take Mr. Jensen’s team,” Ike called to one of his employees.
“What’s going on?” Smoke asked.
“We had a murder here, last night,” Sheriff Carson said.
“A murder? What happened?”
“When Billy came to open up this morning, he found Corey Calhoun’s body lying over there.” Ike pointed to a spot in front of a stall.
“Shot?” Smoke asked.
“He had been stabbed,” Sheriff Carson answered.
“You knew him, didn’t you, Smoke?” Blanton asked.
“Yes, I knew him.”
“How well did you know him?” Norton asked.
“I knew him fairly well. He worked for me from time to time. He was a good man, and he, Pearlie, and Cal were friends. Stabbed, you say?”
“Through the heart,” Ike said.
“Do you have any ideas on what happened?”
“According to some of the boys over at the Brown Dirt, Calhoun had a pretty good night at poker and won well over a hundred dollars.”
“Let me guess. You didn’t find any money on him,” Smoke said.
“Not a cent,” Sheriff Carson replied. “My guess is that someone saw him leave the table a winner, followed him over here, and killed him.
“What about footprints in the snow?” Smoke asked.
Sheriff Carson shook his head. “No help. There are hundreds of footprints everywhere, none that will do us any good.”
“I hope you find him,” Smoke said.
“We will.”
Leaving his team with Ike, and his sleigh parked outside, Smoke walked down to the depot to see what he could find out.
“The rescue train tried to get through to them,” Phil said, “but it failed because the tracks are blocked by snow.”
“How do you know they failed?”
“These stories were wired to the
TRAIN FORCED TO TURN BACK
The train that was to relieve the trapped Red Cliff Special was forced to return to Buena Vista when a wall of snow presented an insurmountable impediment. Doodle Reynolds, the engineer, stated that, not even with the plow affixed to the front of his engine could the snow be removed.
Hodge Deckert has assured those who have loved ones on board the train that the passengers are in no danger or great distress as the diner carries extra food for just such a contingency. It is expected the snow will be sufficiently melted within a few days to allow another rescue attempt to be made.
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
