THE NIGHT OF THE DEADLY SHOWBOAT

By Andamogirl

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Two days later, on board the River Queen

Port of New Orleans

Captain Simpson dropped a trunk at Artie's feet and said, "You left something on board the last time you were here Mr. McArty – I mean Mr. Gordon."

Smiling Artemus recognized his trunk and knew what was inside: Chester. As he could barely move, Jim opened the trunk for him. He pulled out the marionette and showed it to his partner, who was keeping himself upright thanks to a pair of crutches. "He's fine."

Happy to have Chester back, Artie slid his hand inside the marionette's fabric body and said, "Hiya Chester. How are you buddy?"

Chester opened his mouth and said, "Hiya Artie, I missed you. I was kind of scared you know, alone in the dark, in that box. I thought that you had abandoned me."

Shaking his head Artemus said, "Never. I was busy you know Chester… I even died, for a moment. But I'm back, and you're back with me."

Howard Simpson applauded. "You're formidable, Mr. Gordon," he said." He frowned puzzled. "Now could you tell me why you wanted me to be here?"

Looking around him – at the vast auditorium – the older agent said, "It's a beautiful auditorium, with red velvet covered chairs, a red and gold curtain, very nice woodwork everywhere, a big staircase with gold railing… and lots of decoration on the front of the stage and on its sides: golden theater masks, golden musical instruments, golden notes, etc." He glanced at Jim. "James-my-boy, could you take your pocket knife and scratch one of those decorations please, something tells me they are not plaster-covered gold paint…"

Simpson frowned. "What?"

Using his pocket knife Jim scratched a theater mask decorating the front part of the stage and said, "You're tight, it's not paint – but gold, solid gold."

Looking at Simpson Artemus said, "The Confederate gold is on board your ship, Captain. But not in the form of coins or bars… but astutely hidden in the decoration of the auditorium – and maybe in the railings too. Those who did all that very clever astuce never came back to retrieve their gold – they were probably killed during the war and took that secret with them to their graves. Only the knowledge that Confederate gold was transported on a Memphis showboat during the war remained."

Jim chuckled and then he applauded. "Bravo Artie! You knew that when you asked me where I would hide the content of a glass of water…"

Artie smiled. "Yes, but I had to prove it… now it's done."

Simpson looked around him amazed. "All the decoration and the railing are solid gold? But-but what's going to happen now?"

Chester intervened (Jim raising his hand), "The decoration will be removed and transported to Washington to end in the vault of the Treasury Department and the former decoration will be replaced by new gold-painted plaster decorations."

Simpson shook his head, still amazed. "All that gold… so close, hidden in plain sight…"

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Later, in the Wanderer

Holding a piece of paper, Jim joined Artemus at the table. "We have just received greetings from the President and his congratulations."

Holding Chester on his knees Artie nodded. "Yes, I know. I translated the message in my head, Jim. The president added a post-scriptum."

Chester looked up at his master. "Yes, he wants you to go to the Washington Military Hospital as soon as possible for a medical evaluation. That means a further hospitalization and… that you're going to see Elizabeth, Mary, Violet and Denise, those lovely nurses…"

Placing his hand on Chester's mouth Artie said, "Enough. It's time to say goodnight Chester."

Chester nodded. "Goodnight Artie, goodnight Jim."

Jim let out a short laugh. " Ah! Artie, you're priceless!"

The end