Chapter 7: Appointments and Disappointments

"Pete, if you see Dixie again, tell her that I, uh, I love her, too."

"Ba-risco, some things just get lost in the translation, and telling a woman you truly love her should usually be done in person rather than through the hearsay of a third party. Chet, Hank, in actuality, I should probably have said 'always' rather than 'usually'—

The click of the hammer of Pete's piece sounded loud to Brisco as the outlaw-turned-good-guy-turned-outlaw-again continued, "—so why don't the two of you sit Ba-risco down and get those chains off of him or else you'll be sporting a couple of brand new holes where holes shouldn't be. And Cap'n, don't you think about anything stupid either, or else the same goes for you."

Realizing what was happening, Chet said, "The baron is going to be really mad, Hutter," but he still turned the key in the lock, allowing Brisco's chains to fall away.

"See, that doesn't really concern me," said Pete. "The baron didn't hire me and I have a sneaking suspicion that Lon Laney's cash supply is gonna' be drying up sooner rather than later. Now, Cap'n, let's see how quick you can get us back to that dock. I'm suspecting Ba-risco has an appointment elsewhere."

~ABCJ~

It was mid-morning when Comet thundered into Truckee. Brisco jumped from the saddle and ran up to the ticket window, with Comet right behind him. "When was the most recent train to San Fran? And when's the next?"

The ticket agent was looking at the horse crowding into the window with its rider. "Uh, uh, about an hour ago, mister. Next one's this afternoon, 3:45. Say, are you okay? And what's with the horse?"

Brisco fought off a yawn. He was exhausted after the long night and the fast ride from Lon's Valleys. He was worried about Dixie and his head still hurt, too, from the blow he'd taken over a day and a half earlier. Still, he didn't want to get into it with the agent, so he said, "No, but if you'll direct us to the telegraph office, I might be."

"Right over in the next room," said the ticket agent. "Hey, but that horse can't go in there! Hey! Wait!"

A few minutes later, Brisco had sent three telegrams, purchased tickets on the afternoon westbound train for him and Comet, and made accommodations in the livery stable for Comet, over the horse's stern objections, for the next few hours. Brisco then rented a room at the hotel and was sound asleep just seconds after climbing into the bed.

~ABCJ~

The gas lights of the station cast dim glows as Brisco exited the train. He gave a whistle and Comet walked down the ramp from the livestock car without bothering to tell his fellow equine passengers goodbye.

"Brisco! Brisco County!"

Man and horse turned to see Socrates Poole waving as he approached with James "Lord Bowler" Lonefeather right behind wearing a scowl at Soc for informing everyone within hearing distance that the famous bounty hunter was back in town.

Glad to see his friends, Brisco ignored the faux pas. "Evening, guys. You got the telegrams. Good! Any news on Baron Huffeld and Dixie?"

Bowler shook his head. "Nah, they didn't get off here, Brisco, so I checked down the line. From the description you sent of Huffeld, looks like they got off a couple stations back, but the station agents couldn't be sure. Seems they were lookin' at the pretty lady and didn't get a look at the guy. None of them knew where they were headin', either."

"Soc, check the hotels, in town and on the outskirts—"

"But Brisco, that will take all night! And what about the robbery?"

"The Treasury guys will have that place surrounded tighter than a drum, so I doubt that anyone will be getting in there. Dixie's another story, though. If we don't find her, there's no telling what the Prussian will do with her. The government men won't be trying to find or rescue her, so that's up to us."

Socrates nodded. "We'll find her Brisco. I'll get with one of the hoteliers at the Westerfield and will get word out through the city. If they've checked in anywhere, we'll find them."

"Good." Brisco next turned to Lord Bowler, his partner of the past year. "The robbery they have planned is big, so they need wagons to haul the gold out of the mint. Quite a few wagons. Check with your contacts for anyone who's been taking wagons for hire. I suspect they'd want to use a mix of freight wagons and panel wagons to avoid it looking to obvious to anyone on the street. With Laney involved, I also suspect he'll be using his own people rather than having to pull in the hired teamsters."

"Makes sense," agreed Bowler. "Most drivers would understand that pullin' into the United States Mint with an empty wagon and drivin' out with a full one smacks of some-um' fishy. I'll take a look into it."

"Thanks, guys. See what you can find and let's meet at the Westerfield at 7 AM."

"What are you doing, Brisco?"

"Taking a long shot. See you in the morning."

~ABCJ~

The sun had already been up for a good while when a very tired Brisco climbed down from Comet in front of the Westerfield. He handed the reins to the livery man with instructions for Comet to be fed and stabled. "Sorry, Comet, but no sneaking in this time. I'll be back later and will need you here waiting for me and ready to go."

Socrates was seated at a table when Brisco arrived and Bowler walked in minutes later, with breakfast being delivered by the staff right afterward.

"What did you guys find?"

"They didn't check into a hotel," replied Socrates. "At least not a decent one. The guys are still checking out flophouses and the like, but those people might not be willing to let us know even if they're there."

"Same thing with the wagons, Brisco," said Bowler. "Nobody's talkin', but I think it's 'cause nobody knows nuthin. I' got people still lookin', though. What about you? What did you do?"

"I went to see Lee Pow and he's agreed, with stipulations, to have the Scarred Foot Clan on the lookout for Dixie and the baron. Then, I made a trip to Lon Laney's house on Nob Hill—just a few blocks from yours, Bowler—but the place was dark. There are a couple of servants in the servant's quarters, but that's it."

"So we' got nuthin', too," groused Bowler.

"But we do have some more ideas," countered Brisco. "Soc, most of the robber barons have a country estate. Or more. What about Laney?"

"I've never heard of one, but it might be on his Westerfield application that's been denied so many times. Let me check right after this."

"Thanks. Bowler, another question for you: if we can't find the wagons, what about where they'd be taking them? Riding in on the train last night, my first thought was they'd stash the gold in a train car and have it hauled away, but then they're at the mercy of the railroad and any thieves that might be on the lookout for them. Having a bunch of guards in the boxcar or business car would be a dead giveaway."

"Where would they take a train car, anyway?" asked Socrates.

"There are lots of places they could take it, but as long as that gold is in the United States or the territories, they're at risk of being caught and losing it. Huffeld only recently arrived in America and he wants to return home so I'm thinking a ship so he can get out of the country with the gold as quickly as possible."

"Man, if he gets the gold on a real ship, we'll never see it again."

"That's right, Bowler. Now Dix said Laney was financing this. Part of that could include buying a ship for Huffeld to get away. Laney could recover his expenses and takes his share in coins, greenbacks, and a few gold bars that could be melted down and would then be untraceable, with the baron sailing off to Europe with the rest of the gold. Socrates, check to see if Laney owns a ship or if he's purchased one recently. Check with the robber barons, if you have to, to see if anyone's recently sold him one. Or if they know anyone who has."

Socrates nodded despite Brisco's continued referrals to his employers as robber barons, particularly when Huffeld was the real robber baron in this case. He excused himself to go check the records, while Brisco and Bowler had another cup of coffee.

"Brisco, when do ya' think they'll do it? You said Laney's supposed to return on Sunday night. You don't think this Huff guy will wait to do it then when he gets back, do ya? I don't think they'd have enough time to get done by Monday morning when the Mint reopens, particularly when the place is surrounded like you said. My first thought is that they'd want to do it on Friday night or maybe Saturday night, so they'd have time to get it all, but that's probably gone out the window now anyway."

Brisco seemed lost in thought for a few moments before saying, "Not necessarily, Bowler. What if…what if there is an abandoned or rental building right across the street from the Mint?"

Bowler's expression changed. "You mean they could be tunnelin' in rather than coming in through the gate?"

"Yeah. The tunnel could already be dug except for the last foot or two. If they break that and into the vault on Friday night, they'd have all weekend to pull the gold out through the tunnel, put it on one or two wagons at a time rather than having them all lined up. The wagons could be rented from a number of different companies, staged at different times, and the drivers wouldn't even know what they were carrying if it was boxed up right."

"That could be why I couldn't find a bunch of wagons being hired. Nobody'd notice someone hirin' one or two from a bunch of different places. Still, wouldn't the Mint have some guards inside that would let people know if somebody broke in?"

"Yeah, the baron's men would probably have to incapacitate or even kill the few guards on duty inside, but believe me, the guy wouldn't bat an eye at having to do that. That's why I'm so worried about Dix; he'll dispose of her like last week's fish when he's done with her."

Bowler rubbed his chin as he thought for a moment and then said, "That means they'd have to have to get all the gold out before the guards change shifts. When the guards for the next shift show up and nobody lets then in..."

"Right. They'd have twelve hours max to get in and get out," agreed Brisco. "Then a few hours more and the ship and Dixie will be gone for good."

Lord Bowler pulled the gold watch from his pocket and looked at the time. "Socrates'll probably take all day lookin' for the ship so I'll go check on the buildings. What do you have planned?"

"I'm going to see Ethan Emerson."

"Who?"

"The bank guy. He knows every banker in town, including, I suspect, the head of the United States Mint. If there's one person who can get an appointment and pass along our suspicions without raising any of his own, it's Emerson."

~ABCJ~

Brisco was the first to arrive at their meeting late Thursday night. That left him a few moments to think and worry. He sighed as he remembered what he'd said to Pete and how he'd meant every word, but it was Pete's words in reply that had been a nearly constant reminder to him for the past two days. Now, to make it worse, he was growing increasingly concerned that they hadn't found Dixie. Brisco knew that he had to not only rescue Dixie but he also had to personally tell her how he felt.

Socrates and Bowler entered the room and Soc was visibly excited.

"Brisco, I think I found the ship. I had to trace it through a couple of sales and some blind holding companies, but I'm almost positive that it's Laney."

Bowler's brow furrowed. "Almost?"

"Well, as positive as I can be when trying to keep from raising any red flags. It's docked on Pier 19 and has been taking on supplies like it will be leaving soon." He slid a paper across to Brisco. "All the info is there, including the best layout I could get for you."

"Bowler, how about the building? Were you able to find anything?"

"Yeah, I found it, them. Three actually—"

"Three?" exclaimed Socrates. "And you questioned an 'almost'?"

"Those little red flags work both ways, lawyer."

"Okay, guys," said Brisco. "Soc, any word on Dixie, an estate, or anything of the sort?"

Socrates shook his head. "Not a thing, but it's possible they've got her stowed on the ship. It's primarily a freighter, but it's got a deck of first class cabins, too, with some smaller cabins on the two decks below. Based on what you've said, I imagine Huffeld would find himself fairly comfortable on it."

"And he'd be able to hide Dixie, too, Brisco, and if they get out of the harbor with her, we'll never see her or the gold again."

He looked at his friends with a determined expression. "Emerson's having lunch with the head of the Mint tomorrow to pass along what we know and what we expect to make sure that Huffeld doesn't get away with the gold." Opening the folder of information that Socrates had given him, Brisco looked at the plan of the ship. "That leaves the important part, rescuing Dixie, to us."

Author's Notes:

The late Julius Carey did a wonderful job playing the deliberately gruff Lord Bowler. I hope I've done him and his dialogue justice.

James Drury, the Virginian, played Ethan Emerson, the banker who owned everything, in two episodes of the series.

James Hong played Lee Pow, leader of the Scarred Foot Clan, in three episodes.