Bannerman the Enforcer 13 by Kirk Hamilton

Author:Kirk Hamilton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: piccadilly publishing, cowboy adventures, kirk hamilton, yancey bannerman, johnny cato, bannerman the enforcer western series, colt 45 winchester rifle
Publisher: Piccadilly Publishing

Seven – Concho Comeback

The governor tightened his bathrobe about him as he crossed his office, followed by Senator Rainey, still in travel-stained clothes. As the governor sat down at his desk, he gestured for Rainey to bring over the brandy decanter and some glasses. He poured and they drank and Dukes refilled the glasses. They settled back in the chairs, nursing the drinks.

“Sorry to trouble you this late at night, Governor, but when I saw your light on I figured you might appreciate a prompt report about my investigations into this railroad right-of-way.”

Dukes waved the apology aside. “The surgeon from Philadelphia has just arrived, so the whole household is up anyway, Jace.”

“Oh, yes. The man who’s come to help Yancey Bannerman ... How is he by the way? Any progress?”

Dukes’ face straightened and he sighed, shaking his head slowly. “No, he’s just the same. Doesn’t recall a thing.”

Rainey pursed his lips, looking suitably compassionate. “Do you think he has anything to remember, Governor? I mean, do you think his investigation into these fake maps had progressed to that stage …?”

Dukes looked at Rainey levelly. “Jace, frankly I don’t care what information Yancey may have about the fake maps’ deal locked away inside him. I’ll be happy if he can recollect his name and recognize all of us ... That’s more important to me than anything else.”

“Why, of course,” Rainey quickly agreed and then he busied himself with his battered valise. “As you know, Governor, I’ve been touring around the south edge of the Staked Plains and I’ll be damned if I can see why they call them ‘plains’ when there are so many ranges about.” He took out some papers, sorted through them and placed several sheets on the desk, pushing them towards Dukes. “Those are the figures ... At present the railroad runs through Bent’s Junction and then almost immediately begins to climb through the hills, taking in several more towns, Concho being the biggest, until the railhead is reached at Timbertop ... Now, by taking the new right-of-way, around those hills, staying on the flats all the way, we not only shorten the distance to Timbertop, but we could very well bypass it completely, cut a single tunnel through the range at this low part—Rorke could do it standing on his head, I suspect—and it would open up a whole new area, servicing all these towns in here, large cattle towns like Amarillo, Matador, Childress, Goodnight and so on ... A really worthwhile area to link with the railroad.”

Dukes studied the rough maps and the notes, spoke without looking up. “And what about the railroad through the hills, and the towns it services at present? Concho and so on?”

“Leave it as a spur-track, a weekly or fortnightly service. My feelings are that we should grant this new right-of-way application, Governor.”

Dukes considered. “Well, leave it with me, Jace. I’ll study it thoroughly. You’ve done a good job, it seems, gone right into it.” He looked at the senator sharply. “There was no hint as to what you were doing? If word gets out prematurely .

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