Silverton Marshal Todd Johnson and his deputies were faced down by Miles, Charlie, and Mateo with the help of Wells Fargo agents Appleby and Barnes. Tioga, at least for the time being, was still under the custody of Sheriff Johnson. When Johnson and his men left the Wells Fargo office, Miles found out that the train would be leaving for Durango in thirty minutes. Nothing hindering, they still had time to make it to the train. Let’s continue with this exciting tale from yesteryear.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I went out to uncuff Tioga from the post, and while doing so I questioned him, “Think your boss will have you shot down like he did Devlin?”
I didn’t doubt that Tioga was a tough guy on his own right, but he knew what kind of man Marshal Johnson was. “You’ve got to get me out of here!” cried Tioga. “He’ll kill me!”
Smiling, I took the cuffs off one hand then pulled him to his feet. I led him to the hitching rail that was three feet off the boardwalk into the street, pulling him by the handcuffs. “Maybe I should give whoever shot Devlin an easier target. Sure is an easy way to get a prisoner off my hands.”
“No! You can’t do that! You can’t let them shoot me down in cold blood, without even a way to defend myself,” he shrieked. “It’s against the law; I know my rights.”
“I don’t know of any law that says I can’t handcuff a prisoner to a hitching rail. In fact, from what I hear that’s the common practice in this town,” I responded then pushed him against the rail.
“You can’t!” he pleaded.
Jerking his arm up by the cuff I pulled him toward me. “Who shot Devlin?” He wouldn’t answer. “If I recall right you were in the street with Johnson and some others. That makes you an accomplice to murder.” I pushed him back against the rail and started to wrap the chains around it.
“Fountain!” came the scared voice. “It was Smokey Fountain that shot Devlin. Marshal Johnson ordered it done.”
I smiled, then pulled him with me toward the Wells Fargo office. Upon entering I saw that Charlie and Mateo had their things together and were ready to go. “Take him to the train. When you get to Durango, get with the district attorney and see if they can get some kind of deal made for state’s evidence. I’m goin’ to hang around here and find a man by the name of Smokey Fountain.”
Charlie took the cuffs, then Mateo came to my side. “Do you think that wise, you stickin’ ’round?”
“If you guys hurry and get on that train, they’ll think I’m with you. Johnson wouldn’t think that I’d stick around with such a prize witness. Now you get goin’. Tell Molly I’ll be down tomorrow, the next day at the latest. Now don’t argue, get!”
They went out and hurried down the street toward the station. I watched them through the broken window of the office, then heard the sound of the train whistle letting passengers know that it was time to leave.
Turning to Morgan and Ron, I said, “I’m goin’ to hide out in that file room. If Courtney shows up don’t let him know I’m still in town. It’s not that I don’t trust him, but with him leavin’ I have doubts as to his courage.” I glanced toward the window. “You better start gettin’ that cleaned and boarded up. I’ll leave sometime around midnight.”
I went into the file room and sat down on the floor. At least it wasn’t totally dark in there as it was still daylight. It pleased me when I heard Morgan locked the door and then slide the key under it. I leaned back against the wall with a cabinet to my left.
“Lord, I’m sure goin’ to need Your help tonight. Mostly from doin’ some fool stunt and gettin’ myself killed. Molly wouldn’t like that much. Plus I’d miss her makin’ those wonderful pies. So, I’m countin’ on You,” I prayed, the chuckled to myself. Yep, He said He was goin’ to stir things up.
I hated to put Morgan in this situation, but I know he recognized the risk. I knew that Jakub Brewlinski would hide me out, but I didn’t want to move to his place in the daylight plus the fact that there were many men up there that might see me. No this was best, best as I could think of.
There was a knock on the door that suddenly awakened me. I hadn’t realized that I had fallen asleep. “Miles, it’s seven o’clock. Barnes and Courtney have already left, and I’m closing up. I checked the schedule, the train leaves at nine in the morning. There’s some old coffee on the stove, it might still be warm.”
After that there was silence except for Morgan’s footsteps sounding on the wooden floor. I waited for about thirty minutes then unlocked the door. It was getting too dark in that room, and I reckoned I would be safe in the darkness of the office. I went to the stove, touched the side of the coffeepot and found it still warm. It wasn’t much, but I drank it from the pot. Warm, bitter, and a bit scorched, but it made me feel better.
Setting the pot back on the stove, I took a chair and went to the darkest corner. I’d bide the next few hours there, waiting..