The next morning dawned to more pouring rain as well as thunder and lightning. Jim was glad Artie wouldn't have to be out in this mess. He left his friend a note and quietly stepped out. He didn't like the lack of color on his face. Jim got the other delegates up and headed for the restaurant and made a show of knocking on Donovan's door. He told Donovan he would have the kitchen send him up a meal after they left and Donovan suggested he get Artie one as well. Jim left the hotel feeling better that Artie was at least in the hands of a fellow agent.

Artie woke to the sound of thunder. Oh great, here we go again, he groaned. He forced his eyes to open and the smell of bacon assaulted him. He sat up, looked around and found Jim's note. Artie, I didn't wake you because today we are only going to watch the Legislative sessions. Don is in his room said he wasn't feeling well. I had the kitchen send up a plate. Please, pal, eat if all. Don't make me invoke Partner Privilege. If Don feels better by the afternoon session come join us otherwise why don't you take the day off and stay in bed? Jim.

Artie laid the note down and lifted the lid on the tray. The food looked great. He ate until he was full, Jim would just have to understand when he couldn't eat it all. Artie lay back down on the bed and was going over what they had discovered yesterday when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Artie said, thinking it must be someone from the kitchen to get the dishes. Donovan stuck his head inside.

"Mind some company?" he asked.

"Sure, come on in. You look pretty chipper for someone who's not feeling well," Artie glared at him.

"Aw, come on, Artemus. I only did what I thought I had to."

"I thought I told you I didn't need a babysitter," Artie snapped.

"Now, hold on, Artemus. It's definitely not what you think. James and I talked for a long time last night and we both felt it would be best if we stayed teamed up like we are. Matthews and Ketchum might be twits but they aren't stupid. James felt that if he were to team up with me and we ditched them they might get suspicious. So far they seem to be buying my act. That and I would rather spend time with you than them."

"If it weren't for the logic in your statement I'd cold cock you. But I guess we could go do some more checking on those leads."

"No need to, Mr. Gordon. I already did that this morning. I found some very interesting information."

Donovan motioned to Artemus to stay on the bed as he pulled a chair up to the bed. He pulled a folder out and began spreading out newspaper clippings. They poured over their findings and Artemus made notes of people they might want to talk to, giving Donovan some lessons while they worked. They had been working for a long time when there was a knock at the door, startling them. Artie started to get up but Donovan waved him back, telling him he was too buried under all the papers. Donovan rose and opened the door, Artie, thinking quickly, covered the clippings with a map.

"I think this river here might some fairly adequate fishing, Don…" Artie was saying as Donovan let the bellboy in. The bellboy immediately went to the dishes and began clearing them.

"You looking at a map you ain't gonna find the best fishin hole they is," Artie looked at him.

"Care to share your information, son?" he asked.

"Sure thing, Mister," The boy came over to the bed.

"This map ain't got near to enough detail. But you see this here part? They's actually a lake right about here…gots the best fishing in the state…" he said, "oh and I almost forgot," he pulled a package out of his uniform and handed it to Artemus.

"Artemus opened the package and read the enclosed note. His expression hardened and he tossed the package onto the sideboard. Donovan looked at him questioningly.

"Leave it alone, Don," Artie barked as the bellboy scooped up the tray and left.

"Shall we get back to the clippings?" Donovan asked.

"No, I want to catch up to Jim," Artemus left no room for discussion as he rose and grabbed his jacket and headed out. Donovan looked at the package as he followed.

"Mr. Gordon, may I ask you what you saw in those clippings that I missed?"

"It's something that you'll get with experience, kid," Artie said as he mounted his horse, "Why sit here reading about the senators when we can watch them in action. Could be we might see something they don't print in the newspaper. If we're lucky maybe we can figure out which one of the muckity mucks is the guilty party."

They rode to the capital building in silence. Donovan was trying to figure out what Artemus was up to and how to get him to slow down. He seemed to be running full speed all day every day. If he kept this pace up Donovan was sure he would drop from overwork. I don't know how he does it. Little or no sleep, even less food, and he is on the go constantly. But you gotta admire and respect that kind of dedication. Donovan wondered if he would ever be that dedicated.

They pulled up to the Capital building, tied off their horses and went in. Artemus led the way to the balcony area of the gallery for the senate chambers. Artemus quietly took a seat in a corner where he could get a view of the senate floor. He motioned to Donovan to take a seat. Artemus first scanned the gallery and then he turned his attention to the Senate floor. He scanned each and every Senator and their aides. Donovan scanned the gallery not quite sure what it was he was looking for. After about three quarters of an hour, Artemus nudged Donovan and pointed to a spot in the gallery where Jim and the men were sitting. Donovan looked and saw a page going to the row behind them.

They watched as he took something from either Matthews or Ketchum, unfortunately they couldn't tell which one. Artie's eyes followed him until he left the gallery and headed for the stairs. He watched the doorway below but it was a different page that emerged and took a note to a senator. Artie made a note of which senator the note was delivered to.

They watched this system for several minutes. Finally, Artie got up and circled the gallery. He slipped into a seat beside his partner.

"I think we are about to get some action, Jim," he whispered.

"You mean all the note passing that's been going on since we got here?"

"Yeah, for a second there I thought you were slipping," Artie joked, "You stay here, I'm going to intercept the next little note and see if we can figure out what's going on," he moved to leave and Jim grabbed his arm.

"Do you think that's wise, Artie?"

"Someone has to, Jim, and you're busy babysitting. Besides, your style tends to draw too much attention, while my way is suave, sophisticated and quiet."

"Be careful, pal. Taking Donovan with you?" Jim didn't ask as much as he tried to make it sound like an order.

"No, dad, I'm not. We will make it look like he wants to leave, but we're gonna split up. I'm going after the note and he's going after that other page."

"Artie, I don't like the sound of this. Too much can go wrong. I should go with you."

"What, and leave frick and frack up here alone. Ketchum would probably fall out of the balcony. You worry too much, James," Artie slid out of his seat and left, Jim went back to surveying the surroundings.

Artie patiently stood in the hallway apparently engrossed in a pamphlet. A few minutes went by and a page appeared. He ducked into the gallery and when he returned he had a small slip of paper he was tucking into the palm of his glove. Artie followed him to the stairs. As he reached the mid level landing, Artie reached out and grabbed the page. He spun him around.

"Son, I need to get a look at that paper for just a second. The man said he needs to make sure he wrote it correctly," Artie said trying to sound as if he had run to catch him.

"Sir, I can't do that…"

"The gentlemen said he would be very angry if I didn't check that note…"

"I don't know…"

"Come on kid, I'm not taking off with it, just looking at it. You don't even have to let me touch it if you don't want to," Artie said as he offered the page a coin.

The boy looked thoughtful for a moment then pulled the paper from his glove and held it out for Artemus to read. It had some sort of symbol on it. After committing the symbol to memory, Artemus nodded to the boy who quickly put it away and made his way down the stairwell. Artemus turned and started back up the stairs.

He paused a few steps from the top. There was the tip of a boot protruding from the doorframe. Artemus crept up the last few stairs. Just as he reached the top step, he reached out and grabbed the person and pulled him around the corner. The would-be attacker was momentarily stunned and Artemus saw his opening and swung at him. His punch landed on the attacker's jaw, knocking him back against the wall. They grappled for a minute or two, Artie realizing his very limited strength reserves were rapidly depleting.

He reached out to hit his opponent but he spun and Artie's punch hit the wall instead. Artie spun around and tackled his attacker. They landed in a heap on the floor and slid across the hallway falling down the stairs to the landing. Artie landed heavily on the attacker, his wind knocked out of him. Artie struggled to stand and stayed bent over to regain his breath. When he finally straightened, he felt a stabbing pain in his right side. When he put a hand to the spot and pulled it away his fingers were red and sticky.

"Oh you tricky little devil you!" Artie said as he checked the downed man. He found he had broken his neck in the fall and he found a blood-covered knife in his hand.

Artie searched him but found no sort of papers or identification of any kind. He drug the man back up the stairs and dumped him in a heap against a wall. He heard footsteps and he quickly started back down the stairs, he painfully turned around when he reached the landing and started back up. He had his surprised look pasted on his face and it turned into a real one when he rounded the corner and ran right smack into Jim.

"Whoa, Jim, what are you trying to do, scare me to death?"

"Sorry, Artie," Jim pulled Artie around the corner and showed him the body.

"Well, well, James you had another party and forgot to invite me?"

"I thought he was your handiwork," Jim stated.

"Not, me, James, you told me no overworking and if I fought a mouse I'd probably lose to him," Artie replied, gritting his teeth against the pain he was hiding from his friend.

"Speaking of which, pal, how are you holding up? I can make some sort of excuse for you if you want to go back to the hotel," Jim said pleadingly, he didn't like the pale look of his friends face.

"No, just tell them there's a lecture on ancient civilizations at the museum that's tied to the artifacts Don bought and we wanted to attend," Artie said, breathing heavily as he tucked his elbow tightly into his side when he saw a drop of blood hit the floor.

"You going to rest then, pal?" Jim asked.

"Not just yet, Don and I have one more very important lead to check out. Then I promise I will. And tomorrow I'll make it up to you. I'll take all three of them off your hands," Artie offered, hoping Jim would say no.

"Nonsense, Artie. I promised the doctor you would get every opportunity to rest and you will. But, honestly, pal; I don't think you're getting enough sleep. You look worse than you did this morning."

"I'll be fine, Jim. If we can wrap this up today then we can use tomorrow for a buckboard tour of the area or maybe some fishing then the next day they go bye bye and you can get back to playing Mother Hen."

"Ok you go find Don, I'll tell them you went back to the museum," Jim turned to go, "Artie?"

"Yeah, Jim?"

"Tell Don to take good care of you till I get back to the hotel," Artie just rolled his eyes and groaned.