A/N: I would like to once again thank my terrific beta readers Apple and Qohart they did an excellent job and I would like to thank Sambev for issuing me the challenge. I hope you all enjoy the story!

The Night Of The Errant Game

Artie took his hat off and wiped his brow for what he estimated to be the tenth time in as many minutes. Even for the hills of Pennsylvania it was hot, too hot. He removed his fringed riding jacket and slung it across the saddle behind him. Taking a drink from his canteen Artie sighed as he absently rubbed his sore hand.

"Damn panda…biting the hand that was trying to be nice to it…" Artie mumbled as he allowed Mesa her lead. His thoughts drifted back to the strange assignment he had just completed. And what a strange one it had been!

One week ago—

Artie trailed Ozzy Sievert all the way from the Philadelphia Zoological Society to a desolate little town called Wellsborough, some 230 miles north of Philadelphia, only to find out the man had a legitimate bill of sale for the panda bear he had advertised in the Wellsborough Gazette!

"What I don't understand, Mr. Gordon, is why you are here asking about my panda. I came about it honestly." Sievert wanted to know as he leaned back in the chair behind the desk in the office in his home.

"Like I told you, Mr. Sievert, someone stole a panda from the Philadelphia Zoo and we're tracking down all the leads. So now may I please see the bear?" Artie asked quickly becoming irritated.

"I don't see what good that'll do but come on." Sievert rose and Artie followed him out to the barn.

Sievert opened the barn door and showed Artie to a cage in one corner. There, behind the bars, lay a sleeping panda. To Artemus it looked like an overgrown child's toy and appeared to weigh around 200 pounds. He stared through the bars of the cage trying to get a closer look at the bear. Artie lifted the bar and opened the cage door.

"Hey, Mister, you can't do that! Panda's are dangerous." Sievert tried to stop Artie.

"The stolen panda has a small number tattooed under his chin I just need to get a look."

"Mister…that thing might look cuddly but I assure you they have more fight than any grizzly I ever saw." Artie glanced to the animal then back to Sievert.

"Mr. Sievert, unless you know of a better way to look for that tattoo I'm going in there. Besides, he's asleep how much harm can he be?" Artie smiled as he ducked inside the cage.

Artie cautiously approached the slumbering bruin and maneuvered around to stand in front of it. He knelt down and looked at the magnificent animal. These beasts are simply elegant, Artie thought as he carefully slipped his hand under the panda's chin. He gently lifted the bear's head taking great care not to wake him. Looking under his chin Artie failed to find the tattoo the Zookeeper had shown him on one of their other bears. Satisfied, he gingerly placed the panda's head back down on its foreleg and began to pull his hand back.

The panda's eyes shot open as he became aware of the intruder. Before Artie could even blink the panda bolted to its feet and lashed out with one paw. Artie pulled his hand back and lost his balance. Falling backward one of Artie's arms flew up into the air. The panda clamped his powerful jaws on Artemus' left hand and bit down hard.

"Aaaaggghhh!" Artie cried out as he yanked his hand back and jumped to his feet. Sievert rushed in and stood between Artie and the bear.

"Mr. Gordon, get out. I'll hold him off."

Artie didn't need to be told twice. He quickly exited the cage slamming it shut after Sievert backed out. Ozzy put the bar back on the cage and turned to look at Artemus. Seeing the blood on his hand, Sievert led him to the house where he bandaged the hand. He told Artie to get it looked at by a doctor as soon as possible as panda bear bites could be quite damaging.

Artie was shaken back to the present when Mesa whinnied. He realized he had dropped the reins and Mesa had wandered away from the road. Leaning down, Artie scooped up the reins and shook his head as a wave of vertigo over took him. Must be from too many hours in the saddle, Artie thought as he rolled his shoulders trying to work out the fatigue.

"James, you better not tell me you had a great time in Philadelphia." Artie mumbled as he pulled Mesa back toward the road.

WWWWWWWWWW

Jim sat in the parlor car of the Wanderer looking over his report for Colonel Richmond. He had left out all the parties he had attended with the Senator's niece not to mention the visiting dignitaries and their equally lovely daughters. I hope Artie had a good time on his mission, I'd hate to think of the mood he'll be in if he didn't. He hates to ride and having to ride for almost two weeks round trip won't do much for his mood, Jim thought with a smile as he put the report in the envelope and handed it to the courier who immediately left.

WWWWWWWWWW

Artie entered the train through the ramp leading to the stable car. He rubbed his hand idly while feeding Mesa her oats and when he had her curried he headed for the parlor car to file his report.

"James!" Artie called out as he entered the parlor.

"Artie, you're back!" Jim called out, his back to the door.

Jim poured his friend a snifter of his favorite Napoleon Brandy and handed it to him with a smile as he took in Artie's appearance.

"Really, pal, you could take a bath first. Your report to Washington can't be that important." Jim smirked.

"Oh nooooo…I've been looking forward to this brandy for the last 200 miles." Artie swirled the amber elixir of the gods and took a sip as he handed Jim the report he had written while sitting by his campfire the previous evening.

"Ahhhh, now THAT makes the whole miserable trip worth the time." Artie downed the brandy and set the snifter on the sideboard then patted his stomach with his other hand, his thumb tucked into his vest pocket. Jim noted that Artie absentmindedly rubbed his hand.

"I see your mission didn't go as well as you had hoped." Jim nodded to Artie's hand as he set the report down on to the table.

"What…this? It's nothing. Stupid panda bit me is all." Artie again rubbed at the bite.

"Here…let me take a look."

Jim strode over to his partner and grasped his hand. Pulling him over to the light to get a better look, Jim examined the bite wound. It seemed to be healing nicely although it was still a little swollen. As he inspected the bite, Jim noticed another mark.

"Hey Artie, what's this?" Jim pointed to the red spot.

"Huh, looks like a spider bite or something. It was pretty swollen for a day or so from that panda bite I guess I didn't notice." Artie shrugged as he rubbed at the irritation.

"Maybe you should get this checked." Jim remarked with a frown.

"Oh you'd just love that wouldn't you? Any excuse to keep attending all those fancy parties with out me." Artie snapped adding a smile almost as an afterthought.

"Artie…"

"No, no, it's quite all right, James. At least we know who was doing all the hard work this time."

"Artie, that's not fair. It was no picnic baby sitting dignitaries all day." Jim reminded him.

"And let's not forget wining and dining all their lovely young daughters every night either. You must have plumb tuckered yourself out." Artie looked at Jim and stifled a yawn.

"Come on, Artie, we agreed…" Jim began only to be cut off.

"No as I recall it was you who agreed. I never would have agreed to a 500 mile round trip on horseback! You know, Jim, sometimes I think you take me for granted." Artie poured another brandy and quickly drank it down, then set his snifter down on the sideboard and kept his back to his partner.

"Artie, the last thing I would do is take you for granted. You know more about stuff like panda bears than I do. You were the logical one to send. And I'm sorry I had to keep the train here but it was necessary." He tried to placate Artie and Jim frowned when Artie kept rubbing at his hand.

"Yeah, for your cushy assignment. You HAD to have the train. You COULDN'T just take the ladies out to dinner without bringing them to YOUR train and showing off."

"Artie, I…"

"I don't want your platitudes, Jim. You wanted to make my part of the assignment tougher because you don't think I can take it." Artie stifled another yawn as he turned to face his fellow agent.

"That's not true and you know it, Artie. Where is this coming from? We discussed the case before we chose who went where and you said you were happy with the arrangement. If you weren't you should have said something."

"Well, I'm saying it now. You know I have half a mind to ask for some vacation time and just get away from here for a little while." Artie regarded his partner sternly.

"Oh yeah I almost forgot," Jim went to the desk and retrieved the telegram from the Colonel. "Once your report is filed we get a whole month off!" Jim hoped the information would boost his friend's spirits.

"A whole month? Who ordered that?"

"Apparently the Old Man himself ordered it. Seems when he was looking over the records he noticed we haven't had any leave since the New Year."

"I have an idea, James." Artie looked thoughtful.

"Artie I don't like that look…" Jim eyed him cautiously.

"How about we settle this once and for all?" Again Jim noted Artie was rubbing his hand but he didn't seem to be aware he was doing it.

"Settle what?" Jim asked trying to figure out what his partner was up to.

"How about we settle just how good an agent I really am." Artie looked smugly at him.

"Artie, I told you, you're a good agent." Jim was becoming frustrated.

"Yeah, I'm good…just not as good as you right?"

"Sure I'm better than you at some things but Artie you're better at a lot of things than I am." Jim tried to appease him, noting that he was again rubbing at the bite on his hand and he was trying to stifle another yawn.

"I suggest we find out just how good I am." Artie was adamant and not about to let this go.

"Fine, Artie, what do you suggest?" Jim asked just hoping to get it over with so they could get on to their vacation.

"What I propose is a contest of sorts," Artie waved his partner to silence when he tried to interject, "Hear me out before you say no." Jim nodded and Artie continued.

"Now, we have the next month off right? I think we could pull this off…" Artie pulled the map down from behind the cupboard above the sideboard and ran his fingers along the map.

"Pull what off? What are you talking about, Artie?" Jim was perplexed.

"A contest James my boy. We're here," Artie pointed to the map, "I say we set San Francisco as the finish line." Jim was beginning to see where Artie was headed.

"So the contest is to see who can get there first." Jim stated with a smile.

"Very good…but you're wrong." Artie smiled back, "Close but not quite what I had in mind. I propose that you give me oh say a day's head start and then we will find out just how good an agent I really am." Artie turned a smug look toward his partner.

"I get it, you want me to give you a head start then I have to find you, is that it?" Jim asked.

"Now you're talking, partner. I bet you I can reach San Francisco before you can find me."

"That's a pretty long shot, Artie. I might not be as good a tracker as you but surely I could find you before you got to Chicago let alone San Francisco. This train can beat any horse…" Artie glared at his partner.

"Oh noooo. We're on vacation--remember? No train, Washington has wanted to do an overhaul on her and now is as good a time as any. You'll pack your saddlebags same as me." Jim looked astonished.

"Oh come on, Artie, that's a little harsh don't you think?" Jim chided him.

"No I do not! You don't seem to want to let loose of this train unless the Colonel forces you to. Maybe I'm not the one who's soft." Artie chided back.

"All right, Artie, you've got yourself a deal. What are the stakes?"

"Hmm…loser buys supper and tickets to the play, musical or opera of the winners choice at The California Theater including hotel accommodations."

"You're looking pretty smug there, pal. Okay you're on." Jim extended his hand and Artie shook it.

"You ought to clean up first, and maybe you should get that hand looked at before you head out." Jim tried to get another look at Artie's hand before he pulled it back.

"Oh no you don't. Your slippery tongued tricks don't work on me…I'm not a female. I'll see you in San Francisco, James." Artie tipped his hat as he headed out of the parlor.

"May the best man win," Jim said to his partner's retreating back.

"I will, James, I will." Artie's voice drifted back into the parlor.