Chapter 4

Convincing the shrewd and stingy Cornwall to offer such a loan was not very easy, but presumably Milton's information had made Mr. Cornwall feel that such a bunch of desperate fugitives did intend to cleanse themselves, and more crucially that there was indeed a blood feud between them and the bastards of O'Driscoll gang, so he need not doubt the sincerity of these reckless men in dealing with Colm - they would have done so even without pay. So they were safely seated in the parlor again, and there were no bounty hunters pointing guns at them.

It took Hosea a lot of convincing to get Cornwall to accept that "holding is not a good idea," because Cornwall was still suspicious that they would just take the money and disappear.

"If that's the case, I wouldn't mind paying the Pinkertons a little more to offer you a good treat." He said so threateningly.

"Oh, we won't let anything unpleasant like that happen." Dutch promised, "but the holding - you heard Mr. Matthews' suggestion that our work is, after all, a little ... you know, not all very honorable, and I don't think you want your own company to get involved with some of our business in a legal on the relationship. Of course, maybe you don't mind, but it would add a lot of unnecessary paperwork, after all."

Cornwall stared deadpan at Dutch. It wasn't that he hadn't thought about arresting these three roughnecks and turning them over directly to the state police, but Milton had warned him that these men were even more destructive than O'Driscoll. What was even more disturbing was that the story they had told on their last visit about Colm repeatedly being taken to the gallows but surviving in one piece was true. That being the case, there was no guarantee that the three men would not return alive if he turned them over for the $15,000 reward. Of course, he believed that Pinkerton Detective Agency can eventually solve them, but before that day comes, he would still need to suffer in their crazy revenge. How much loss would there be? He has a large number of interests in the area, thus risk for a mere $ 15,000 would be quite uneconomical. Cornwall was not afraid to take risks, but he was also good at giving up some small profits at the right time. Just the right amount of risk-taking and caution, which is exactly why he can be unbeatable in the business world.

"All right." Finally he nodded, "Let's discuss the loan amount and interest rate."

Once again, Dutch walked away from the Cornwall's mansion satisfied. The interest rate wasn't low, but he got what was most important to the Van der Linde gang - a breather.

"Ah-ha, look who we've met here." Just as the three were walking toward their horses, a man in a small bowler hat approached them. Dutch and Arthur instantly put their hands to their waists, but the visitor gave a low spread, indicating that there was no hostility.

"How do you do, Mr. Milton."

"Calm down and relax, Van der Linde, I'm not here for you today." Andrew Milton, the veteran detective of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, said haughtily, "Mr. Cornwall has already told me that we are in partnership in the matter of pursuing Colm O'Driscoll." He gave a smile that was a mixture of contempt and mockery: "Are we, Van der Linde?"

In fact, it was clear that the two sides were now in competition, but Mr. Cornwall was now so eager to hang Colm that he could not yet afford to let a force like the Van der Linde Gang, which could fight and kill and had a grudge against Colm, go to waste. In Cornwall's words, it is a shameful thing to idle such an asset. The demands of their employers mean everything, so for now, the Pinkertons can't go after the Van der Linde Gang - at least not blatantly.

"All I can say is that we have a common goal." Dutch let go of the hilt, "but you need to understand that Colm's life belongs to me - to us - and not to an incompetent buffoon like you."

"Don't get too cocky, Van der Linde." Milton clenched his fists and whispered, "The affair in Blackwater is not over yet, do you think Mr. Cornwall will keep indulging you like this?"

"Oh, you've really reminded me of that, Mr. Milton." Dutch responded by staring him straight in the eye without showing any weakness, "If I recall correctly, you have been banned from taking government jobs since six years ago by the Anti-Pinkerton Act, and you are only allowed to perform some 'protective security and guard' duties. It was the federal government's money carrier that suffered the loss in the Blackwater case - the federal government, very clearly in line with the Anti-Pinkerton Act, surely you know better than I do, don't you? Now tell me, please, does this case fall within the scope of your business?"

"..." Milton was momentarily speechless; if the situation was such that the government - or even Cornwall - was employed them as bounty hunters, they could indeed still settle old scores with new ones, but the government could not employ them now, and Cornwall, bent on punishing the O'Driscoll's who had brought him into disrepute, obviously did not want to pay an extra share to deal with Van der Linde. Quite the contrary, he also hopes that these experienced bandits can join him against the O'Driscoll gang.

After all, Pinkerton Detective Agency is only a business firm, which is responsible for its own employers.

"We'll see about that, old dog." Dutch stepped onto his horse, ignoring the expression on Milton's face, and the three men galloped off.