Senator Blake walked into the saloon, nervously looking around for whomever he was supposed to meet. He suddenly heard a sharp whistle, and looked to see a man sitting at the far corner of the saloon. The man beckoned to him, and Blake headed in his direction.

"That all of it?" the man asked, as Blake placed a bag of money on the table.

"Yes," Blake answered.

The man stood. "Thanks," he said. "We'll let you know when we want the next payment." With that, he picked up the bag and turned around…right into Jim West's fist.

The man flew back onto a table, sending it crashing to the floor. Pandemonium erupted in the saloon, as the drunks sitting at the table started throwing their own fists.

Jim pulled the man up off the floor. "Where is Professor Cadawallader?"

"Who?" the man said.

Jim had no chance to say anything else, as a flying body crashed into him and knocked him away from the man, who immediately ran for the door.

Jim pushed the half-conscious drunk off himself and jumped up, ducking strangers' fists and jumping over destroyed tables to catch up with the man.

Bursting out of the saloon, Jim found that he was nowhere in sight. With a heavy sigh, he turned just in time to spot someone's head vanish behind a horse trough, where it had been peeking out from.

Heading over, Jim crouched beside it. "Are you all right, Senator?"

"I'm fine."

"Did you see where he went?"

Blake blinked. "He got away?"

Jim nodded. "Do you still have your money?"

Blake nodded. "Yes, but I'm not sure if that's good or bad…when that man returns without it, will they put another bomb in my house?"

Jim sighed. "Maybe you should stay in the hotel tonight after all…we'll think up a plan."

Blake sighed, shaken. "All right."

With that, they headed across the street to the hotel.

Jim opened the door quietly in case Artie was asleep, and was surprised to find the bed empty. He spotted the open balcony door, and immediately figured out what Artie had done. "We're back, Artie," he said, crossing the room and heading onto the balcony…

…the empty balcony.

"Artie?" Jim called. He headed back into the room to see Senator Blake holding a piece of paper.

"Mr. West…" he said, staring at it.

Jim strode over and grabbed it, his heart sinking.

If you wish to discover what has become of Mr. Gordon, then leave the hotel right now.

Jim dashed out of the room and was outside the hotel within seconds. He looked up and down the road, seeing no sign of Artie.

"Mr. West," he heard, as Senator Blake caught up with him. "Is there anything I can do?"

Jim sighed. "I don't think so."

"You can get outta here," they suddenly heard.

Turning, they found two men behind them, holding guns.

"You're not the one he wanted anyway, Blake," said one of them, holding out his hand for Jim's gun.

Having no choice, Jim handed it to him, and the man gestured with it towards the senator's horse, which was tied to the rail.

Blake silently watched as Jim mounted it and rode off with the two men.

Jim was herded north to a house on the outskirts of town. All he could think about was what shape he'd find Artemus in. He'd already been injured badly enough…what had Cadawallader's men done to him when they kidnapped him? I'll never say 'stay here' to Artie ever again, Jim thought. First the bomb, now this…

Upon entering, Jim wasn't surprised to find Professor Cadawallader standing there, grinning. "Where is Artemus?"he said, getting right to the point.

"Artemus?" said Cadawallader. "Artemus? Who is Artemus? OH, you mean Mr. Gordon. You know that I'm not good with names, Mr. East! Especially a name as fancy and uncommon as his!"

"West."

"That's what I said!" Professor Cadawallader exclaimed. "And hello to you too, by the way. Now! What makes you think that Mr. Gordon is here?"

Jim frowned. "Your letter said that if I wish to find out—"

"What has become of Mr. Gordon," said the professor, wagging his finger. "Well, I'll tell you. I killed him; he's dead."

Jim felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. He held his breath for a second before letting it out, refusing to believe it. "No you didn't."

"Yes I did."

Jim shook his head. "I don't believe that."

The professor frowned. "And why not?"

Jim shrugged. "What purpose would it serve? You hate us, fine. You want revenge, fine, but I don't see you snatching an injured man out of a hotel room, killing him, leaving his body somewhere, and then calling me here just to talk."

Cadawallader chuckled. "Such a smart man you are, Mr. South…or at least, you think you are." He looked at his henchmen. "Throw him into the dungeon."

Jim was grabbed and forced down the stairs into a cellar, where the men opened a door and shoved him inside. What Jim saw on the floor both relieved and concerned him.

It was Artie, sitting up against the wall with a chain holding his uninjured arm over his head. His eyes were closed and he was very pale.

Jim dashed over and knelt beside him. "Artie?" he said, grabbing his shoulder.

Artie lifted his head and opened his eyes. "Hey Jim," he mumbled.

"Are you all right?" Jim asked, looking him over for new injuries.

"Considering," Artie said. He jerked the chain and looked up at it. "Any chance you can get this thing off me?"

Jim stood and grabbed the manacle, finding it to be made of old, rusty iron. It was high up on the wall, stretching Artie's arm to the limit in order for him to sit. Jim took out his lock pick, and started working at it. "Did they hurt you?"

Artie shook his head. "I was on the balcony with my gun, watching the saloon, and didn't hear them come in. They ordered me at gunpoint to go with them, and since I couldn't fight three men in my state…"

Jim sighed. He twisted the lock pick, and *snap*.

When Jim stilled but the manacle didn't open, Artie looked up. "I'm guessing that sound doesn't mean that I'm free."

Jim looked at his broken lock pick. "Sorry, Artie."

Artie sighed and leaned his head back against the wall.

Jim looked around the cellar; hoping to find something that his friend could sit on to give the chain some slack, but found nothing.

"Don't worry about it, Jim," Artie said. "I'll live."

Jim headed over to the door to see if he could get it open—with or without the lock pick—but there was no handle from the inside. The cellar had no windows, either…not that Artie was currently capable of climbing out one even if there was. Defeated, Jim went back over to the wall and sat beside his friend. They sat in silence for a minute, and Jim quickly became aware of Artie's irregular breathing. He turned so that he was facing him. "What's wrong?" he asked. "And don't say 'nothing'."

Artie knew that it was pointless to lie. "Painkillers are wearing off. I don't suppose they're in your pocket?"

Jim's heart sank. "No."

Artie gave him a lopsided smile. "When I write my memoirs, this case is going to go down as being one of my worst."

Suddenly, the door opened, and Cadawallader walked in. "Have you two had enough time to catch up?" he asked.

Jim got right to the point. "What do you want with us, Professor?"

"Well," said Cadawallader, eagerly. "At first, I wanted to kill you…both of you, for foiling my plans the last time. I didn't care about the senator's money; that was just a convenient smokescreen! I figured; why not make the man pay me for having to listen to his nonsense? Everything from him is blah, blah, blah!"

Artie snorted at the 'blah'.

Cadawallader continued. "But now, I think I'll toy with you for a while. Perhaps I'll have you do my bidding, Mr. North, with the threat of harming your friend if you don't."

Jim shook his head. "There's one thing about all of this that I don't understand."

"And what is that?"

Jim held up his hand and ticked off each finger. "You've called me Mr. East, Mr. North, and Mr. South; everything but Mr. West. Can't you remember that my name is the one point on the compass that you have yet to call me?"

Artie laughed.

Cadawallader scowled. "After what I just told you, that is what you don't understand?"

Jim shrugged. "I've been wondering it ever since we crossed paths the last time."

"Didn't you hear what I just said?" Cadawallader continued. "I just threatened to harm your friend if you don't do my bidding!"

"And what is your bidding?"

Cadawallader opened his mouth three times before saying, "I don't know yet!" With that, he turned and stormed out.

Jim turned and looked at Artie.

"You certainly have a way with people," Artie told him.

TBC