CHAPTER TWO

Early morning, Tuesday 12th June 1883 - Helena

Next day, after a night at a Helena hotel, Heyes and Curry were holding onto their patience as Wilbur Beckett, a fussy, nervous, senior clerk in charge of the Butte copper mine account, went over their instructions.

"Now we have received excellent references for you gentlemen from," he consulted a letter in his hand, "Mr. Porter of the Bank of Porterville, Wyoming. He states that you foiled a robbery attempt by a gang of six desperate outlaws. He goes on to say you fought to save the bank's money 'as if it were your own'. There is also a recommendation here from," again Beckett peered at the document he held, "Elected Sheriff, Lom Trevors."

Becket paused and peered over his spectacles at the partners standing before him. His eyes moved from Heyes, confident and relaxed, to Kid, gracefully leaning against the wall. The pair had behaved with the utmost civility since arriving at the bank, but Beckett caught an underlying sense of danger.

Clearing his throat, he went on, "Sheriff Trevors speaks most highly of your ability, initiative and capacity to predict the likely workings of the criminal mind."

Heyes and Curry exchanged a wry glance at this and Heyes favoured Beckett with a self-deprecating smile.

"You understand this is a very large amount of money being transported? $80,000."

"You made that very clear, Mr. Beckett," said Heyes.

"I will be accompanying you to take care of documenting receipt by the company and any administrative issues arising from its allocation to gang leaders and other employees. The job is not over when we reach the mine; only when the payroll is safely distributed. I hope that's understood?"

"You expectin' trouble at the other end?" asked Kid, with a glance at Heyes.

Beckett frowned, "I am not cogniscent of any anticipated difficulties. However, since Mr. Carleton insists on the bank's retaining liability until after distribution and is prepared to pay the additional security and insurance costs incumbent upon that request, I can only assume that he does indeed -" the clerk met Kid's eyes, " - expect trouble at the other end."

"Uh huh," said Kid and again his eyes met those of his partner.

Heyes adopted his most persuasive tone, "Now, Mr. Beckett, that kinda changes the terms. We were hired to guard a payroll durin' transportation. Sounds like there's been what you might call, extras, added after transportation?"

"I don't think the words 'during transportation' were specifically mentioned, Mr. Smith. The pay for the job is agreed at $400."

Heyes smiled, but his eyes when they met Beckett's held a challenging look.

"Seems to me, if this Mr. Carleton is payin' for additional security, my partner and I can expect a share. Unless, of course, you want to find someone else to take over after transportation."

Beckett eyed him with a certain admiration, "I am authorised to offer you a further $200 to reflect the extra duties required in Butte."

"Apiece?" said Heyes.

"Really, Mr. Smith, I think that is not entirely reasona…"

"Apiece," said Kid, firmly.

Beckett looked from Kid's cool blue eyes, to the tied down gun resting so naturally in its scuffed holster.

"Apiece," he agreed, with a gulp.

To recover his authority, Beckett began again to lecture the partners.

"You are responsible not only for the money, but for my personal safety as an employee of the Helena City Consolidated Territorial Bank of Montana. I hope that's understood."

Kid pushed back his hat and looked Beckett up and down.

"We kinda figure any thieves'll prefer the cash, Mr. Beckett. But if they take a fancy to you instead, rest assured, we'll do our level best to stop 'em."

---oooOOOOOOOooo---

Later that morning, Heyes was leaning against the car set aside for the Hamilton & Lloyd Mine payroll. He was reviewing a map of the route, assessing likely points for any trouble. Curry was checking out the couplings and underside of the car for tampering and testing the firing angles he could achieve from each window. Finally, he practiced swinging himself out of the car and onto the roof.

Seeing Beckett's astonished, but impressed, glance he said laconically, "Just in case!"

Heyes became aware of a minor disturbance further up the platform. The diminutive, but determined, Meg was arguing with a conductor.

"Told you twice already, ma-am. This ain't a passenger service. It's just takin' blastin' equipment out to the mine."

A discrete man, he did not mention the payroll.

"But the scheduled train is a three day wait. I could be with my friends this afternoon!" She tried feminine wiles, "Surely you could find a tiny corner for little me? Please?"

She tried - and failed.

"Lady," he said firmly. "I just blow the whistle. You wanna talk someone into lettin' you ride perched on boxes o' dynamite and nitro' - go bother the mine engineer." He nodded at a man supervising the loading of the freight cars, "He'll say no - but go annoy him. Not me."

Meg did not go to annoy the Engineer. Turning disconsolately away, she caught sight of Heyes and Curry. With a yelp of happiness, she scampered up the platform toward them.

"Hello again," chirruped Meg. "Is this where you're carrying the -?" having learnt her lesson yesterday, she finished the sentence with an exaggerated wink.

Heyes glanced behind him at the car. Kid was now swinging himself down from the roof, before checking - again - the bolts of the door.

"Hope so," said Heyes. "Otherwise Thaddeus sure is wastin' his time."

"May I ride with you?" she asked.

Heyes looked at her.

Meg had fully intended to honour her promise of buying dinner for the partners last night, but they firmly insisted on paying. Kid, unbeknownst to her, had seen the girl worriedly study the room rates; count the contents of her purse; then ask for a reduction if she skipped breakfast. Heyes did not share Kid's high level of instinctive chivalry. But he did not like to picture lively, sociable Meg, knowing not a soul in Helena, seeking a cheap boarding house to sit out three lonely days.

"Not my decision, Meg," he answered. With a nod towards the bank clerk, he went on, "Go ask Mr. Beckett, there. Tell him it's fine with us - don't make gettin' robbed any more likely."

The ex-outlaw listened to Meg going once more through her plea.

"… a three day wait. I could be with Kate, - with friends in Butte, today."

Heyes watched Meg's shoulders droop as she was again turned down.

"I suppose I should wire Emerson, that I'll be three more days," she sighed.

"Emerson?" repeated Beckett. "Emerson Connor?"

Meg nodded, beginning to hope.

"So, Kate, the friend who would come to meet you - is Mrs. Emerson Connor?"

Another eager nod.

"I had the pleasure, once, of helping Mrs. Connor with a small banking transaction," said Beckett and smoothed down his hair, trying to cover the bald spot.

Meg gave this an 'how interesting' smile.

"What a nice lady. So refined. It would be a pleasure to do a favour," Beckett bowed, "for a friend of hers."

He straightened his tie and adjusted his cuffs, polishing the silver links.

"Under the circumstances, I will allow you to travel under my escort," concluded Beckett.

"Oh, thank you." said Meg. "I'll go wire her to expect me. And tell her, it's all thanks to you, Mr. Beckett," she added diplomatically.

Beckett smiled graciously. An idea occurred.

"Allow me to wire your expected arrival time to Mrs. Connor. I'll take the liberty of sending my respectful compliments with it." In an undertone to himself, as he scurried away, he added, "I wonder if I could borrow a clothes brush..."

Heyes stared at Meg.

"What's this friend of yours got, that makes mentionin' her name so all-fired persuasive?" he asked.

Meg gave a shrug, then wry smile.

"I suppose you could say, she's quite pretty," she offered.

Heyes watched the sudden spring in Beckett's step, as he rounded the corner to the telegraph office.

"If she gets that reaction, just by visitin' a bank, Meg," he said, "I suspect 'quite pretty' isn't a description up to your usual standard."

---oooOOOOOOOooo---

The journey to Butte was completed without incident.

Curry helped Meg step down from the car. Both partners were still on the alert for danger. Meg looked round. With a cry of pleasure, she sprinted over to be caught up and swung off her feet, by a tall, lanky, sandy-haired man.

"It's so good to see you!! The office just hasn't been the same!! You look so well!! Where is she? Where's Kate?" she babbled.

"Just coming. She waited in the rig until the train pulled in," he replied. Then, "Here she is."

With another squeak of joy, Meg ran to the approaching young woman, hugged her, then began to pull over her old friends to be introduced to her new ones.

Tactfully, Meg started her introduction of Wilbur Beckett with - "Of course you'll remember Mr. Beckett. You met him at the bank in Helena…"

Heyes watched Kate Connor, shake hands and smilingly thank the bank clerk. He had to excuse the man's Adam's apple bobbing, as he stammered, how happy he was to meet Mrs. Connor again.

Meg had definitely suffered a temporary dip in her descriptive powers, in calling her friend 'quite pretty'.

"… And this is Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones, who were so kind as to keep me company yesterday and buy me dinner…"

Heyes smiled as his partner shook hands, first - slightly open-mouthed - with Kate, then with Emerson. Curry looked from Kate - wide generous mouth with a delightful lift at one corner, dimple showing like a dent in cream, whenever she spoke or smiled, smoky dark eyes; to Emerson's beaky, bony face. As his partner was a man of few words, Heyes thought he could sum up Curry's mental comments as; "Wow!" followed by, "Sheesh!"

Introductions over, Meg was looking curiously at the man, shirtsleeves rolled up, authoritatively supervising the unloading and onward transport of blasting equipment.

"That's Chris Lloyd," said Wilbur Beckett, deferentially. "As in 'Hamilton & Lloyd' mine company. He likes to stay involved on the practical side."

"Hamilton was one of the few Easterners to make a fortune in Deadwood," explained Emerson. "He had a lucky strike in the Black Hills back in '76. Teamed up with Lloyd as the operation grew."

"Mr. Lloyd is one of the cleverest trained engineers in the country," Kate continued.

"What he doesn't know about the technical side of mining, isn't worth knowing," agreed her husband. "Hamilton made him a junior partner on the strength of it. Together they raised capital to develop a silver mine here, two years ago."

Wilbur Beckett was torn, whether to keep his eyes on Kate, or cast them enviously towards one of his bank's most valued customers.

"They never struck a main silver vein," he explained. "But last year, Lloyd hit one of the largest copper deposits ever discovered. The mine's already shifted nearly 5,000 tons."

"So he's what you might call rich," said Heyes.

"Very, rich. Very, very, rich." Beckett breathed. "And he only owns fifteen percent."

"We likely to see this fella, Hamilton, around too?" asked Kid.

"'Cause we'd like to be warned in advance, so as not to choke on the dust kicked up by the bowing and scraping," Heyes added, raising a giggle from Meg.

"He died last winter," said Beckett. "Mr. Carleton is now the major shareholder and runs the mine. He came out from Chicago. Used to be in the meat packing trade there. You'll meet him soon." His expression suggested, this was not something to look forward to. "In fact…." he indicated a suited clerk, accompanied by two armed men, clearly waiting to speak to him.

"Of course, you have business to attend to," said Emerson, preparing to leave with the ladies. "Mr. Smith, Mr. Jones, will you dine with us tomorrow night? I'd like to thank you, for your kindness to Meg."

The partners exchanged a silent conversation. That left tonight for the poker, whiskey and saloon company, which usually followed getting paid for a job - and tomorrow to sleep it off. As a contrast, a civilised evening, in the home of friendly people, who wanted nothing from them, sounded good too.

"Mr. Connor, it'll be a real pleasure," said Heyes.

---oooOOOOOOOooo---