Ralph Compton Train to Durango (18 page)

“We won't be doing Monique and Louise any favors, having a bunch of killers follow us back to the house,” Wes said. “They could set the place afire and shoot anybody trying to escape.”

“That's precisely why we aren't going to follow Hogan home. We'll go another way, leave our horses at the livery, and enter the house by the back stairs,” said Silver. “If his hired killers can't find us, it'll worry the hell out of Hogan, wondering where we are and what we'll do next.”

“
Bueno
,” El Lobo said. “El Diablo modo.”

Reaching the livery, they led their horses inside and unsaddled them. They took their Winchesters from saddle boots and made their way the several blocks to an alley that would allow them to reach the back of the house without being seen from the street. They entered the house through the kitchen and dining area.

“We're just getting supper started,” Louise said. “It'll be ready in less than an hour.”

“Good enough,” said Silver. “Is Priscilla in the hall, or is it safe for us to go up?”

Louise and Monique thought that hilariously funny. Silver, Wes, and El Lobo mounted the stairs and hurried to the room at the end of the hall.

“I hope we got here ahead of Hogan,” Silver said. “I want to see his reaction when he discovers we didn't follow him.”

“Well, hell, we know where he lives and where his office is,” said Wes. “We don't have to follow him, unless we think he's about to skip town.”

“That won't come until he's made some arrangements to escape with the gold,” Silver said. “Even if it's in Denver, he'll be careful not to lead us to it.”

“I don't know why,” said Wes, “but I don't believe it's in Denver. If it's not, then he's having to rely on somebody else to secure it for him. I'm wondering whom he can trust to hide millions in gold, without the possibility of a double cross.”

“Maybe nobody,” Silver said. “From what I've seen of the Golden Dragon, Hogan's the kind who will use others as long as he can, killing them when their usefulness is done.”

Their attention was drawn to the window, for Hogan had reined up before the house. He dismounted, and still looking back, led his horse around the house to the stable.

“He can't believe he wasn't followed,” said Silver.

“He may get the horse laugh if he's got a bunch of bushwhackers following him,” Wes said. “There won't be a sign of us or our horses.”

“Comico,” said El Lobo. “Now what we do?”

“Useless as it seems,” Silver said, “we'll keep watching, waiting for Hogan to make his move toward the gold. We know he will. What we don't know is the when and where of it. I think we can be sure of one thing, and that's that he doesn't plan to share it with his hired killers.”

“It might be interesting to get into that office of his and look around,” said Wes.

“We'll save that for a last resort,” Silver said. “I doubt any of the gold is kept there. Whatever we think of him, he's not foolish enough to leave evidence lying around that can incriminate him.”

There was unexpected activity on the street below as three horsemen reined up before the Hogan house. After a few moments they rode away, not looking back.

Wes laughed. “After a few more days like this, he may have trouble hiring gunmen to do his killing. For the first time, we know who the bastard is, and it's him that's on the run.”

“One thing bothers me,” said Silver. “We may never learn who's been supplying the quantities of gold and silver the Golden Dragon's been using to cast those counterfeit double eagles.”

“Don't be too sure of that,” Wes said. “Remember after we rescued Renita and Tamara near Santa Fe, we rode to Durango and took the train to Denver?”

“Yes,” said Silver. “Go on.”

“We saw Elias Hawk and Hobie Denbow in a saloon there,” Wes said.

“Bastardos,” said El Lobo.

“Just because you had a bad experience with them before,” said Silver, “doesn't mean they're crooked now. If they're in any way associated with the Golden Dragon—if they have anything to do with the gold—Hogan will lead us to them.”

“That's one thing I don't like about your federal position,” Wes replied. “Knowin' some varmint is guilty as hell is never enough. You have to have evidence to please the court.”

“It's necessary if we're ever to have law,” said Silver. “The days when one man can pull a gun and become judge and jury must come to an end.”

“Supper,” Monique said, knocking on the door.

Silver, Wes, and El Lobo made it to the stairs at the end of the hall without meeting Priscilla. Supper was a quiet meal, and not until it was over did Louise speak.

“Have you made any progress?”

“Yes,” said Silver. “For the next few days we'll be playing a waiting game, until the rat decides to run.”

“You have to catch him,” Monique said. “We barely escaped from Kansas City with our lives. Now we find the leader of the gang living across the street from us.”

“Hogan wouldn't bother you if he knew who you are,” said Silver. “His vindictive days are over. From here on, he'll be trying to save his own hide.”

“Oh, I hope you're right,” Louise said, “but how do you know he won't slip away in the night?”

“We don't know that he won't,” said Silver, “but there is at least one good reason why we don't expect him to.”

“Just to be sure he doesn't escape in the night, one of us will always be watching the house,” Wes said. “After all we've been through at his hands, I'd follow him to hell and go in after him.”

•   •   •

Drade Hogan sat in the darkness of his parlor, a half-full whiskey decanter his only companion. He was at a loss as to what had gone wrong. While he wasn't all that sure of Blanton Hood and his gunmen, he had seen Kent, Hollis, and Bidamer rein up in the street. They had followed him, but obviously nobody else had. He had no doubt they would confront him the next day, and he had no answers. His only consolation was that he had received an immediate response to his telegram. His contact in Santa Fe had shipped a new freight wagon to Durango by train. But as he thought about it, it further complicated things. How was he going to take the train to Durango without Silver and his comrades following?

“Damn it,” Hogan said aloud, “I'll go if I have to hire fifty gunslingers to go along to protect me.”

•   •   •

Dodge City, Kansas, April 19, 1885

Harley Stafford had made it a point to escort Molly, Renita, and Tamara to Delmonico's for their meals. When Harley met them for supper, he had a recent edition of one of the Kansas City newspapers.

“Our friend Ashe Wexler's at it again,” said Harley. “Look.”

The story, under Wexler's byline, was on page two. It began by stating, “Gunslingers Silver, Elfego, and Stone have left Dodge City.” It went to great length in placing the blame for all the recent violence in Dodge. It ended with a question and a plea: “How long will Dodge City continue to be a mecca for outlaws and killers? True, three of them are gone, but their women are still here. Is there any doubt they'll return?”

“Damn him,” said Molly. “I hate him almost as much as those Golden Dragon outlaws.”

“Silver can do nothing now,” Harley said, “but when he has the lid on this case, he'll be in a position to burn Wexler's tail feathers. When newspapers are given the full story, Ashe Wexler will be known for the meddling old fool that he is.”

“Foster Hagerman said Wexler's been giving Sheriff Dumery a hard time over those three killers who are in jail,” said Renita.

“He has,” Harley said, “but the sheriff has stood his ground. The two killers wanted in Missouri will be leaving on today's eastbound, under armed guard. The third man, wanted in Texas for murder, is waiting for a deputy U.S. marshal from Fort Worth.”

“I'm glad,” said Molly. “The sheriff should be rewarded.”

“I'm sure he will be,” Harley said. “Bryan Silver never forgets his friends. I've seen him stand by Nathan Stone when it seemed like Nathan didn't have another friend in all the world.”

•   •   •

Durango, Colorado, April 19, 1885

Despite their desire to be gone, Elias Hawk and Hobie Denbow were only three or four miles south of Durango when they had to give it up for the night.

“Damn it,” said Denbow, “I was hopin' we could be twenty miles away by first light.”

“So was I,” Hawk said, “but starlight's not good enough to see all the chuck holes and drop-offs. It's not worth risking a shattered wheel or busted axle. We'll just have to make good use of the daylight.”

They got an early start, but the heavily loaded wagon worked against them. With Denbow at the reins, the left rear wheel slid into a stump hole. The horses strained in their harness until they were exhausted, and the bogged-down wagon didn't move.

“We'll have to unload it,” Hawk said.

They set about unloading the wagon, and the chests of gold seemed twice as heavy as before. Finally, with the wagon freed of its load, the team was able to pull it free. Denbow and Hawk then began reloading.

“Two damn hours,” said Denbow, when the job was finally done. “Take the reins for a while. I ain't done so good.”

Hawk took the reins, and they continued keeping to the high ground, heading toward the southwest.

•   •   •

Denver, Colorado, April 19, 1885

After a virtually sleepless night, Drade Hogan made a pot of black coffee and slumped down at his dining room table. He felt like he'd fallen from the top of the world and it had rolled over on him. What was wrong?

“That damned saloon woman,” he said aloud, bitterly.

There seemed little he could do. While there had been no trouble with the law, the incident at the Pretty Girl Saloon had been sufficient to get Bryan Silver on his trail. He gritted his teeth, more determined than ever that Silver was going to pay. He got up from the table, dressed, and buckled on his gunbelt. He then stepped out the door and went around the house to saddle his horse.

“There he goes,” said Silver. “He's likely going to his office, but we're going to follow him. I want him so damned spooked he can't sleep at night.”

By the time they had saddled their horses, Hogan had already ridden away, but they soon were within sight of him. Twice Hogan looked back, and the second time, Wes drew one of his Colts and held it up. El Lobo laughed.

“Careful,” said Silver.

Hogan reached his office building, unsaddled his horse, and picketed it in the shade of a tree. He unlocked his door, and the place seemed especially desolate and lonely, for he had not bothered hiring another receptionist. He would spend his days behind locked doors with a loaded Colt in his hand, until he could escape with his wealth.

Wes, El Lobo, and Silver had taken up a position where they could see the front of the building, where Hogan had left his horse. They had been there for almost an hour when three horsemen reined up and picketed their horses. One of them pounded on the door, and when it was opened, they went inside.

“That looks like the three that followed Hogan home last night,” Wes said.

“I expect they're here to give Mr. Hogan a hard time,” said Silver. “I doubt they'll be following him home tonight.”

The trio had entered Hogan's office, and ignoring his invitation to sit, they remained standing. It was Bidamer who spoke.

“We follered you all the way home and didn't see nobody but you. We ain't chasing ghosts. Take your bounty and stick it.”

The door was locked, and before Hogan could make a move, Hollis drew his Colt and blasted the lock. The trio left, leaving the mutilated door standing open.

Denver, Colorado, April 19, 1885

Drade Hogan's day had gotten off to a bad start. He had little hope of it getting any better, and it did not. Within an hour after Kent, Hollis, and Bidamer had stormed out of his office, Blanton Hood arrived. This time, Hood didn't bother to sit, but took a position directly before Hogan's desk.

“Put that Colt away,” Hood ordered. “A wrong move, and I'd have to kill you.”

Hogan opened a desk drawer and disposed of the weapon. When he said nothing, Hood continued.

“I reckon you know we come up dry yesterday. Wasn't nobody follerin' you but three other gun-slicks of my acquaintance. By God, it's us or them. My boys has been paid for two more days. After that, we're done.”

“Like hell,” Hogan snarled, getting to his feet. “Kent, Hollis, and Bidamer are out of it. Where I made my mistake was allowing you to hog all the bounty money, while paying the rest of your outfit a daily pittance. Now we're going to change that. The bounty, if there is one, will be split equally among all of you.”

“My boys has been promised fifty dollars a day, and they're gonna git it,” said Hood.

“They'll get that, plus a possible bounty,” Hogan growled, “but it'll be on my terms, not yours.”

“Then talk, big man,” said Hood. “What are your terms?”

“I want you to get me to Yuma, Arizona, alive,” Hogan replied.

Hood laughed. “So instead of fighting back, you aim to run like a scared coyote.”

“The federals are after me, damn it,” said Hogan. “Now I want you to tell this gang of gun-throwers—”

“I'm tellin' ‘em nothin',” Hood said, “except that you're payin' the money and dealin' the cards. The lot of ‘em are waitin' on Cherry Creek for some word of what we're to do next. Now you're gonna tell ‘em what you've told me, and you better hope they decide to stick, because if they ride out, I'm goin' with ‘em. Now saddle your horse and let's ride.”

•   •   •

Silver, Wes, and El Lobo had witnessed the arrival and departure of Kent, Hollis, and Bidamer, and the purpose of the single gunshot remained a mystery.

“Maybe there was a fallin' out, and they shot Hogan,” said Wes. “Why in tarnation didn't somebody come to see what the shootin' was about?”

“It's too early,” Silver said. “There's nobody in the building, other than Hogan.”

“If Hogan be dead,” said El Lobo, “why we wait?”

“Because I doubt that he's dead,” Silver replied, “and I want to see what he'll do next. I suspect what we did last night put a crimp in his tail and got him in trouble with some of his hired guns. I predict there are others, that if they don't come to him, then he'll be going to them.”

“You may be right,” said Wes. “If we can avoid his gunmen long enough, he may give up the idea of having us gunned down. Every man has a breaking point, and there may soon come a time when Hogan will be satisfied to take the gold and run for it.”

“I'm counting on that,” Silver said. “I think we've pulled the Dragon's teeth, that in no way can the outfit operate as it has in the past. From now on, they'll be running and we'll be chasing them.”

“Hombre come,” said El Lobo.

They watched Blanton Hood rein up, dismount, and enter Hogan's office suite.

“It might be interesting to know who he is, and how he fits in,” Wes said. “When he leaves, why don't I follow him?”

“Do that,” said Silver. “We're getting nowhere fast, trailing Hogan.”

But when Blanton Hood left the building, Hogan was with him. Hood waited impatiently while Hogan saddled his horse.

“That settles it,” Silver said. “We'll all follow them. Something's about to break.”

Hogan and Hood rode away, Hood leading. Hogan kept looking back.

“What are you lookin' for?” Hood demanded.

“Those three damned gunslingers,” said Hogan. “They'll be following us.”

“
Bueno
,” Hood replied. “It'll give us a chance at that bounty.”

“Claim the bounty if you can,” said Hogan, “but I'm primarily interested in going well beyond the reach of the federals. If I can't kill the bastards, then I'll have to escape them.”

Hood laughed. “They're everywhere. Where do you aim to go?”

“As far as you're concerned, Yuma, Arizona,” Hogan said shortly.

“Tarnation,” said Hood, “we're touchy, ain't we?”

Nothing more was said. When they reached Cherry Creek, there was an abundance of abandoned claims and buildings in varying stages of disrepair. They reined up before one that still had most of its roof. Nearby, eleven horses were picketed.

“They're all here,” Hood said. “You'd better not say nothin' about offerin' me a bounty while payin' them fifty dollars a day. They'll likely tell you to go to hell.”

Once they were inside, Hood wasted no time.

“Gents, this here is Hogan. It's him we're workin' for, and he's got somethin' to say.”

Hogan looked at the assortment of killers before him, as chills crept up his spine. He swallowed hard and spoke.

“I have put a bounty on the men pursuing me,” said Hogan. “The head of each of them is worth fifty thousand dollars, and you can split it among you.”

“That's all right, as far as it goes,” Illivane said, “but suppose we can't find them three
hombres
? Fifty dollars a day ain't much when you're riskin' gettin' your string cut. Will we be losin' that if we go for the bounty?”

“No,” said Hogan. “I'll continue paying each of you fifty dollars a day, plus food, but there's been a change in my plans. The federals are after me, and I see no sense in staying here, engaging in a fight I can't win. I want you all to accompany me to Yuma, Arizona, seeing that I get there alive.”

“I don't like the sound of that,” Ginsler said. “There goes our bounty.”

“I don't think so,” said Hogan. “The three men I want dead will be trailing us. If the entire lot of you can't bushwhack them, then I don't need you.”

Some of the gunmen laughed, for it was the kind of macabre humor they understood.

“Come on,” said Hood, “and give the man an answer. Are we goin' or not?”

They shouted their agreement, and Hogan breathed a little easier.

“Now that we got that settled,” Hood said, “when do we start?”

“I want all of you to leave tomorrow,” said Hogan. “Get a boxcar for your horses and take the train south to Durango. There's a hotel of sorts. I'll be there as soon as I can tie up the loose ends here. From Durango, we'll travel southwest to Yuma, Arizona.”

“You're sure these
hombres
with prices on their heads will be following us?” Illivane asked.

“I know they will,” said Hogan. “They followed Hood and me here.”

“You don't know that,” Hood said. “I didn't see nobody.”

“Then you'd better open your eyes,” said Hogan. “You think I'd be spending this kind of money if they wasn't breathing down my neck? Now I want all of you on that train to Durango tomorrow. Go there and wait for me.”

With that, Hogan left them all hunkered there, looking at one another. A considerable distance away, Silver, Wes, and El Lobo were watching.

“Well,” said Wes, “he's leaving alone. Do we continue following him, or do we wait and follow this bunch he went to meet?”

“We continue following Hogan,” Silver said. “While I suspect these men Hogan came to meet are probably killers of the bushwhacking stripe, we have no proof he's sending them after us.”

“They kill us dead, then we know for sure,” said El Lobo.

“Yeah,” Wes said. “That's what I don't like about the law. You know damned well the varmints are out to get you, but you can't lay a hand on them until they've bushwhacked you.”

Silver laughed. “I know the law sometimes leaves us at a disadvantage, but we're not much better than the criminals themselves if we sink to their level. When you wrestle a pig, you only get muddy, while the pig loves it.”

Once Hogan was well on his way, Silver, Wes, and El Lobo followed.

“Why don't we just go back to his office building and wait?” Wes suggested. “He'll be going back there.”

“We can't be sure of that,” said Silver. “He may be gettin' ready to run for it, and we know he won't leave without the gold.”

It soon became obvious that Silver had been right. They followed Hogan at a great distance, and he headed for the busiest part of town. He reined up before one of the largest banks and went inside.

“I want to close this account,” said Hogan to one of the tellers, “and I want it all in gold coin.”

“It will be very heavy,” the teller said.

“I know that,” said Hogan impatiently. “Get it.”

Hogan left the bank with a canvas bag in which were almost twenty-five thousand dollars in double eagles. He hoisted it up over the withers of his horse and climbed up behind it.

“Not much doubt why he went in there,” Wes said.

“That may be only the start,” said Silver. “He may have money in other banks, under different names.”

Again Silver was proven right, as Hogan visited two more banks, returning to his horse each time with a bulging canvas bag.

“Oro,” El Lobo said.

“Yes,” said Silver. “There must be thousands in gold. He's getting ready to run. From here on, we don't dare let him out of our sight.”

“Those bags are heavy,” Wes said, “but not near as heavy as those crates of double eagles we took away from the Dragon in California. Hogan will need at least one freight wagon. Maybe more.”

“All the more important that we don't lose him,” said Silver. “When the time comes to move the gold, I think Hogan will try to do it himself. He won't trust anybody else.”

“For that reason, I can't understand why the Golden Dragon moved inland,” Wes said. “Hogan could have boarded a sailing ship and been out of the country before he could have been stopped.”

“I think not,” said Silver. “After we boarded the ship captained by Antonio Diaz and found those four cases of gold, the United States Coast Guard began boarding incoming and outgoing ships at random. Not just in San Francisco harbor, but in all others. When the Golden Dragon moved inland—to Denver—they didn't expect things to unravel as they have. That defeat we dealt them in California, and the capture of Dent Shankler was the beginning of the end.”

After leaving the third bank, Hogan did not return to his office, but went directly to his home. Silver, Wes, and El Lobo left their horses at the livery and made their way on foot to the alley that led behind the place Monique and Louise owned.

“You're early,” said Monique, as they entered through the kitchen. “Supper's still two hours off.”

“Sorry,” Silver said. “The gent we're following came in earlier than we expected.”

“Are you going to capture him?” Louise asked hopefully.

“Eventually,” said Silver. “In any event, neither of you have anything to fear. He'll be leaving here pretty soon.”

“And all of you will be following him,” Louise said. “We're going to miss you.”

“Oh, yes,” said Monique. “Nothing exciting ever happens in a whorehouse.”

“Nothing?” Wes said. “There's Priscilla.”

Monique laughed. “There was that one time when Priscilla got drunk and we couldn't get her out of bed. We poured a bucket of cold water on her.”

“Yes,” said Louise. “Monique and me learned some new cuss words that day.”

By the time Silver, Wes, and El Lobo reached their upstairs room with its convenient window, lamplight shone in several windows of the Hogan house.

“There must be a back door to that place,” Wes said, “and he keeps his horse in the back. One of us should be watching that back entrance, in case he tries to slip out during the night.”

“You could be right,” said Silver, “and we can't afford to take any chances. You keep watch until midnight, and Palo or me will take it until dawn.”

•   •   •

Denver, Colorado, April 22, 1885

For three days and nights, Silver, Wes, and El Lobo watched the Hogan house. At no time did Hogan leave the house, except to feed and water his horse.

“I reckon we didn't spook him as much as we thought,” said Wes.

When Hogan finally did leave the house, he rode toward town, reining up behind an old building with a FREIGHTING AND HAULING sign painted on the front.

“Now we're getting somewhere,” Silver said.

Inside the establishment, Drade Hogan was making some arrangements.

“Here's my address, and here's a key,” said Hogan. “Go in the back way, and there'll be a heavy wooden crate in the kitchen. It's addressed and ready to go. I want it taken to the railroad depot, and I want it done today. It must go south on the morning train.”

“Fill out this bill of lading,” a clerk said. “We'll have to make a special trip, so it'll cost you five dollars.”

“Fair enough,” said Hogan. “Just dispose of the key. I have others.”

Silver, Wes, and El Lobo watched Hogan mount his horse and ride away.

“Wes,” Silver said, “I want you and Palo to follow him, wherever he goes.”

“
Sí
,” said Wes. “And you?”

“Call it a hunch, but I doubt Hogan's returning to the house. If he does, then we'll be back where we started. I'm going back to watch the house. Stay with Hogan until he heads for home.”

Silver rode out. Wes and El Lobo kept a great distance behind Hogan, and it quickly became obvious that the man wasn't returning to his house.

“Silver bueno hombre,” El Lobo said.

“He's all of that, and more,” said Wes. “He thinks Hogan's luring us away from the house.”