Chapter Two The Night Of The Missing Agent
Artemus Gordon was upset at the news, his friend Jim West had disappeared during the past two weeks. And no one was talking to him in regard to what had has happened to him.
He needed to find out quick, and the first place, he would start with the staff on the train.
It was two hours later after he told everyone, no one would be fired for keeping secrets, all he wanted to know, what was going on in the first place.
When the butler came knocking on his door in the bedroom section, Artemus opened the door to let him in, along with a sip of whiskey to settle his nerves and Jerome having to been working with them for almost ten years.
"All right Jerome, where is Jim West?" Taking a quick gulp of the whiskey to have it burn in his stomach going down.
"Mr. West is in Baltimore, Maryland for a undercover mission for President Grant, along with another agent from out west, as a married couple to find out who has been killing mail-order brides because of their wills."
"Wow!" Artemus Gordon gave a loud whistle to have his partner get involved with something like that in the first place.
"What are we supposed to be doing now Mr. Gordon?" He says with finishing his whiskey.
"We have this train head for Baltimore, Maryland, contact the engineer of the change in destination."
"Yes, sir right away." He leaves through the other doors to get to the engineer section of the train.
/
That night at the saloon. A man name Rollins told West, he could make a great deal of money with the mail order business, and he has the perfect woman to meet, it would be Wimona having been placed into his catalog of women, and a long list of misery behind them, all of them with wills including Wimona.
When he saw the catalog with her photo, he knew, they were getting close to catching whom ever was behind the entire operation.
They would have to play out the rest of the charade, even though his feelings for Wimoa were quite strong, and after today in the bath tub, it was the best time he had with someone like her in such a long time. While using his flirtatious smile and body to really pleased her.
West told Rollins, he was very interested in choosing the woman Wimona, along with how much it was going to cost with getting her here in Baltimore, Maryland?
"$500.00 with no strings attach, you can get your money back, if she doesn't fit your bill Mr. West." He chuckled.
"I would be sure to stick with this one right to the very end." As Jim raised his eyebrow at Rollins. "So we have a deal then?" He says.
Before taking out his wallet to hand him the money into his hands, along with asking for a receipt.
I will make sure she will be here in a few days, she will be coming in on the train, look for her then, I will be sure to send you a message via the courier." He replied quickly before handing him the written receipt, before leaving to go upstairs to his room in the saloon to rest for the evening.
/
It was the next day when Artemus Gordon arrived on the train in disguise of a very old man with a cane, he asked for where he could find a man name Jim West.
"Oh yes!, Mr. West is waiting for his bride to arrived on the train very soon, from what I understand, he's going to be getting married to a real doll from what I am told, I suggest you find him at the saloon a few blocks from the train station."
"Thank Ya!" He says before moving off slowly with his cane kicking up the dust from the cobbler street.
Twenty minutes later he arrives, walking past the saloon doors to find a seat at the bar asking for a shot of whiskey and two bits onto the counter, for the bartender to put into the register.
He didn't have to wait long, when Jim West and the woman were talking in the corner, using his recording device in his ear, he was able to pick up the entire conversation, for which he had gotten it all wrong with his partner.
He really was on a undercover operation. Wimona was more concern for Jim West then herself, with the entire operation to end in a few days, ending it with her fake death to find out the real suspect behind the murders.
Artemus had an idea to call in his sources to arrive into town to keep a close watch on this Rollins, and fellow him to see where it would lead them.
Wimona told Jim, she would be going back to the hotel to take a hot bath, She asked on whether or not he would like to join her.
"Wait for me, I will be their shortly, I need to think for a few minutes before walking over to join you." He says in a soft whispered, even for Gordon to hear, he would wait for the woman to leave before getting up to join his partner, without having to scare him.
Wimona gets up from her seat, giving him a quick, sweet kiss to his cheek before leaving the saloon.
It was his clue...He gets up with his cane, to join his partner in a whispered tone. "I must say Jim ole boy, you are a real charmer with that one having just left."
"Jesus Artemus, how did you find out?" While looking around the saloon.
"I know the whole story Jim, I will be watching your back for the most part, along with some of the secret service to be trailing this Rollins once your deed is done with Wimona."
"You do know it's going to be a fake shooting, we have been planning this for weeks now?" He replied with taking a sip of his whiskey to burn in his throat and stomach.
"I just realize it Jim, just be sure the plan works out for your advantage and Wimona."
"And besides, when this operation is over with, I am planning on asking Wimona to marry me, I need someone in my life after years of roaming around for the Secret Service, looked what happened to you last year with having that heart attack, you almost died for god sake Artemus!" He was angry at his friend with having the emotional outburst inside the saloon. "I need to go now, I have a bath to take with Wimona before the entire deal goes down, later..." He gets up to pat his friend on the shoulder before leaving.