Chapter 12 – Chester Goes His Own Way

Chester Goode quietly slipped away from the group walking down the boardwalk toward the jailhouse. He hoped none of them saw him, but he just had to catch those two with the money and prove Mr. Dillon, the best man he knew, didn't have anything to do with stealing that army money. He liked Frank Reardon and his woman Maria Soaring Eagle, but he didn't want Mr. Dillon's best friend to have to do his boss's job and help his friend and for the two of them to try to comfort Miss Kitty all at the same time. It was better that he, Chester, catch them. He had the most time and it was his responsibility to help his boss in whatever way he could and that included helping Miss Kitty worry a bit less about Mr. Dillon.

Chester slipped into the Lady Gay, glancing at the poker game at the corner table to the right of the bar, as he limped over to where the barkeep, Collie Tucker, was taking chairs down from the tables at the opposite end in preparation for the post trial crowd. He cleared his throat and Collie turned around.

"Mornin', Chester. What brings you to the Lady Gay? I thought you'd be holed up at the jail with the rest of your former boss's hangers-on."

"Mr. Dillon ain't been fired yet, Collie. He's only suspended and he'll be back as marshal soon as Mr. Brooker wins that appeal for him. I can't do anythin' fer him right now so I thought I'd join that poker game over there Bill Pence told be about, but it seems I'm too late to play with those two stage company men. Looks like the remainin' two are just 'bout finished," he added as the two card players rose from their table with the taller one scooping up most of the money.

"Them two only played a hand when the four of them came back here after the verdict. Seems they was losin' badly. They checked out of their room here and left about 15 minutes ago."

Chester decided to follow the stranger who pocketed the poker winnings. It didn't take long to spot him talking to another stranger, who was obviously from back east. He put himself into the shadows along the saloon wall of the alley and inched closer so he could hear what they were saying. He didn't hear everything because they were talking quietly, but he heard enough. The eastern dude was from Washington and was the one behind the Kansas Attorney General himself bein' the one against Mr. Dillon in court and his swift suspension. The gambler was head of the company's regional office in St. Louis and had arranged for the two who'd left the poker game early to be in a position to steal the money. Both would be staying around Dodge at least until after the court martial over to the fort and Mr. Dillon's appeal. That wasn't how they put it, though. They were so sure of the ruling they planned to follow along in the same train as he was taken to Leanvenworth.

The two had obviously finished because they went their separate ways. Chester waited long enough to make sure that even if one of them saw him, he wouldn't think he was overheard. Then he casually made his way to Moss Grimmick's stable. Moss, who had been keeping a sharp eye out to partially compensate for caving in and voting to convict the marshal, confirmed Ben Stoker and Simon Raleigh were gone, headed northeast toward Jake Worth's ranch. Chester rode after them, stopping at the Worth ranch to pick up supplies and to let Mr. Worth know where he was headed in case something went wrong. The rancher and several of his men would come to the spot where they'd found the abandoned stage if the jailer didn't return with the men he was after by the next morning.

Chester skirted the spot where Jake Worth was to come and searched for where the two men he was after might recover the stolen money. He spotted them in a narrow side passage of the canyon. It had only one means of entry and exit. He'd tied his horse just outside the passage five yards from where the men had hidden theirs, taking his rifle with him after relieving his chestnut of his saddle. The outlaws' mounts looked like they were in for a relatively long stay. They were hidden where rainwater had formed a small pool and there was plenty of grass. Chester's mount was hidden on the far side of the pool and outlaw camp so he also would have plenty of grass and water.

There was a small copse of cottonwoods at the mouth of the passage with another scooped out, but dry rock to form a seat, that afforded a way to watch the men without being seen. Chester took up his vigil. The thieves had removed a final rock from the crevice in which they'd hidden the real treasure box and brought it out. Stoker fetched the key from his pocket, opened the box and scooped the money from it, coins and bills, into two sacks held by Raleigh. Once the box was empty except for the key left inside, they repeatedly dropped heavy rocks on it until it was all but destroyed. Then they put it back in the crevice and covered it back up.

The men stood still listening for the slightest sound. When the failed to hear anything, they picked up the sacks and walked right past where Chester was hiding to their camp. Chester waited until they were ten yards past before he slowly rose to retrieve the box, which he put in his coat pocket, and then follow them. He circled round their camp to the small area where he'd hidden his horse and took some jerky from his saddlebags and his full canteen, keeping his rifle at the ready as he took up a position against a large tree to continue his vigil. His quarry, thinking they were alone, built a fire in the circle where they'd piled twigs. Once they had it going good, they proceeded to cook their beans and heat a pot of coffee.

Chester continued to watch. Knowing how much Mr. Dillon's future depended upon his vigilance, he resisted the urge to fall asleep. He was cold despite his heavy coat and a blanket but it helped keep his mind focused. Thus, he spotted Stoker and Raleigh breaking camp two hours before dawn despite the darkness. Patiently waiting, like Matt had taught him, until the outlaws were saddling their horses, he moved in behind them.

"Hold it right there! I'm takin' you in so I can clear Mr. Dillon's name. Now drop your gun belts and turn around slowly. One wrong move and you'll feel a bullet from my rifle."

Stoker did as he was told, but Raleigh turned before dropping his belt. He was just reaching for his gun and Chester was tightening his finger on the rifle's trigger when a voice made him freeze and Chester almost let his rifle drop.

"Don't try it or you're a dead man. We only need one of you alive to clear Matt," Frank Reardon, who had stood watch opposite to Matt's assistant. "Chester, do they have the money?"

"They sure do, Frank. It's in two sacks, one in each of their saddlebags."

"Keep them covered while I take possession of it and throw them over my saddle. My horse is right behind me. Grab hold of your reins and get moving boys towards Chester's horse. As soon as he's ready, we have a date in town and don't think you can get away. Jake Worth and some of his men are waiting for you at the mouth of the main canyon."

Soon the acting marshal and Matt Dillon's assistant had Stoker and Raleigh cuffed and each had hold of the reins of one of the outlaw's horses to prevent him from trying to ride away. They stopped only long enough to nod at Jake Worth before riding back to Dodge.

When they arrived, Chester prodded the two through the door ahead of him and Frank. They found Doc, Sam, Matt, Kitty and Maria sitting around the table eating what appeared to be dinner. The group looked up in surprise and watched as Chester grabbed the keys and ushered both men into the back cell while Frank handed Matt the saddlebags full of money and the crushed treasure box to put in the safe until the $10,000 could be returned to the army.

Before Chester could join them in the office, Sam left to put the horses away and return to the Long Branch. Maria and Doc remained up front and began to pile the dishes, including Matt's almost untouched plate, on the trays to take back to Delmonico's, but Kitty followed Matt and Frank into the cell area so she could stay with him a wee bit longer. Matt returned to his cell, where Frank, who had taken the keys from Chester, locked him in.

The office became crowded as Judge John Kendall, Kansas Attorney General Archibald Williams, Matt's lawyer Caleb Brooker and Colonel Leland Parker joined Doc and Maria. Upon hearing of the arrest of the two men, Judge Brooker set their trial to begin the next day. It happened that the stage company's lawyer was in town to follow the progress of events and would act in defense of the company's employees. Once that was over, his responsibility toward them would end and, regardless of the outcome, they would be fired. As to the money in the safe, it would be turned over to the army once this second trial was completed. Two days later, the court martial, which was the original reason for the crowd coming into the office, would be held out at Fort Dodge.

Local prosecutor Luke Henley would oppose Winston Clark at the Stoker and Raleigh trial, but Williams decided to stay on to see how this new trial might impact the appeal, which, thanks to Brooker's persuasive efforts, would include the evidence and testimony from not only Matt Dillon's trial but the trial of the men the DA looked on as accomplices and the court martial. Everyone in the little building was certain the press would be splashing the news about the trials all over the country, but at least it was taking place quickly enough that reporters from Boston, San Francisco and other large cities would have to rely on the story put out by the locals.

Most of the group was about to leave when the new prisoners confronted Judge Kendall with the fact that Matt Dillon hadn't been in his cell when they were brought in. He addressed Frank.

"Mr. Reardon, is this true? Have you been releasing Mr. Dillon from the cell to which he's confined? How do you justify that since my ruling was that he remain incarcerated here until after his appeal has been decided except for a sojourn to Fort Dodge so he may present his accusations against Lieutenant McClendon, Sergeant Sommers and Private Jamison at their court martial?"

"Yes, I have, Your Honor. If Matt loses his appeal and has to serve out his sentence in Leavenworth, he'll have access to an exercise yard and mess hall and a prison work detail. Here all he has is a small cell. He's a big man, so I thought I'd allow him to stretch his legs a bit and sit at a regular table while he eats. At all other times he is locked in his cell."

"I see. From now on, if you are to continue that practice, you must also allow the same privileges to his fellow prisoners who have yet to stand trial and thus are presumed innocent. I don't believe you wish to do that due to the security issues involved."

"No sir. I already let Matt know I can't grant him that amount of freedom any longer."

The judge seemed satisfied and took his leave along with the others. Brooker remained so he could talk with Matt about his testimony at both the next day's trial and the court martial. Frank locked him in the cell so lawyer and client could communicate without the two in the next cell overhearing. Only Chester and Frank remained in the front office. Something was troubling Chester. It was at the back of his mind that there was something else he needed to tell him, but the acting marshal sent the assistant to collect the mail and meals for both of them before he could puzzle it out. By the time he returned, he'd completely forgotten about it.