The Floating Outfit 40 by J.T. Edson

Author:J.T. Edson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: the old west, colt 45, action heroes, piccadilly publishing, american frontier history, the wild west, jt edson, dusty fog, the floating outfit series
Publisher: Piccadilly

Chapter Ten – Doesn’t He Ever Shoot Anybody

“Hot damn, Dusty!” Waco burst out, oblivious of the distinguished company who were listening, as the small Texan concluded a description of his side of the day’s events. “What in hell’s going on? From what you say, whoever made wolf bait 26 of poor old Hoffmeyer must be the one’s put the marshal under.”

Events had moved rapidly since Dusty had surprised the two men in his room. The desk clerk had been ready and willing to accept that Dusty Fog’s mistaken identity, or at least wrong information about him, had caused the shooting at the Portside Hotel; but the ship-owner had been less obliging. However, in view of the next development, he had seen the difficulty facing him if he should attempt to press the issue further.

Being experienced in his duties despite his pomposity, the clerk had not wasted time when he had heard the disturbance upstairs. Before coming up to investigate, he had sent the bell boy to summon the town marshal. Returning alone, the youngster brought the news that Digbry had been murdered and said all the deputies claimed they were too busy to come to the hotel.

Sharing Dusty’s unexpressed sentiments with regard to the municipal peace officers’ incompetence and venality, the ship-owner had not considered their absence would be of any great loss. He had also been surprised by the small Texan’s suggestion that, as the local authorities were unavailable, the two of them should go to the Blaby mansion and put the matter in the hands of Governor Stanton Howard’s staff. Realizing that he was not sufficiently skillful with a gun to impose his will upon a man he had heard was a very proficient pistolero valiente, he had seen no objections to agreeing.

Once they were in the privacy of the ship owner’s carriage, Dusty had disclosed his true identity. Telling him something of his assignment, he had requested and been granted cooperation. On reaching their destination and finding that other guests were already beginning to assemble, he contrived, with the ship owner’s assistance, to reach the owner of the mansion’s ground floor study unnoticed. At the Governor’s request, he had waited until the royal visitor’s retinue arrived before telling his story.

Almost two hours had gone by before the meeting could commence. It was comprised of the Ysabel Kid, Waco, Howard, Colonel Wilhelm Liebenfrau, the sheriff of Nueces County—of which Corpus Christie was the seat, although he had not yet taken up his duties—and, out of courtesy, the ship-owner. Their host, Senator Cornelius Blaby, Crown Prince Rudolph of Bosgravnia, Major the Baron von Goeringwald, Captain Fritz von Farlenheim and Mark Counter were not present, it having been considered that their absence from the reception could arouse unwanted attention.

“It looks that way,” Dusty admitted to Waco, seeing that most of the party appeared to be in agreement with the blond youngster’s comment. “Or it’s one hell of a coincidence.”

“Too much of one for my liking,” the Ysabel Kid declared and, once again, there was general concurrence.

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