“I just don’t like the idea of Simon Price getting away with the army payroll,” Matt Starr said.
They were all sitting in the kitchen at Larry Madden’s ranch. It was night time and they had all finished supper with their hosts. It had been a long and strenuous day.
After Jim and Matt had been rescued from their brush with death at Eelpot Gorge, Jeremy, Matt and Jim Butler had climbed down to the bottom of the gorge searching for the strongbox containing the army payroll. They had found it broken open from the blast and the fall, but it was empty. It was possible that the money had fallen out and was lost in the rubble, but Matt didn’t think so. The lock had not been broken. It had merely, never been locked in the first place. Matt was pretty sure that the money had never been in it. This had all been a plan for Simon Price to steal the money himself and cover what shortage he might have been trying to conceal from the bank examiner. Probably, blaming Kitty, Cyclone, and the others for it, as he had with the bank robbery.
“How much was the payroll?” Jim asked.
“About forty thousand, I think I heard,” Matt said.
“That’s a lot of covering up,” Jim said. “But why didn’t he just say it was stolen in the bank robbery?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t think that’s what he was trying to cover up to begin with. Remember, he said Kitty stole twenty thousand. I think that’s what he was trying to cover, but he had to come up with another twenty for the ransom.”
“And that adds up to forty thousand,” Kitty put in.
“Right,” Matt said.
“Well, you gonna arrest him?” Cyclone asked.
“Can’t. I’ve no proof of anything. What you should be asking me is if I’m going to arrest you.”
“Arrest us?” Cyclone cackled. “Seems to me, you’re forgetin’ we’s the ones who’s got you prisoner.”
“I’m glad you set me straight on that Cy,” Matt said. “I didn’t realize that was the situation. Seems to me I’ve still got my guns.”
“Now, let’s not get into all that hogwash again. Seems to me we had this conflab once before. I just respect that you is touchy about them guns of your’n, so I’m just lettin’ you have ‘em for the time bein’. You is still our prisoner.”
“Come on, Grampa,” Kitty pleaded. “Enough of this nonsense.”
Then to Matt she said, “So, what are you going to do, Matt?”
Matt looked straight into her eyes. He could see the softness and the caring there. “The only thing I can do is to continue on to Tucson with my…..my prisoner,” he said, glancing toward Dandy Jim. Jim just shrugged.
“We’re going to have to do some hard riding to get there in time for that trial, now. I can’t afford to lose anymore time.”
“Once that chore is taken care of I’ve got to come back and see if I can straighten this whole mess out. That means I have to be coming after you.”
Kitty jumped with a start and suddenly became wary. Matt stared into her big eyes and said softly, “It would be best if none of you are around when I get back.”
A tear began to well up in Kitty’s eye and she nodded. They both remained silent gazing into each other’s faces.
It was Dandy Jim who broke the momentary silence. His voice sounded jovial. “Cy, since you have our illustrious marshal a prisoner, I don’t suppose he’d have much to say about it, if you were to let me leave for a while.”
“Wait a minute,” Matt said, arching his back erect. “The only place you’re going is Tucson, whether I’m a prisoner or not. Besides, the prisoner thing is still up for debate.”
“Hold on there, Partner,” Jim said gleefully. “I’m not going anyplace for good. I’ll be back later tonight. It’s just that I suddenly have thought of something I need to take care of. I promise you I’ll be back and ride hell bent for leather with you, all the way to Tucson. And we’ll be in time for that damn trial. If we have to ride all day and night every day, I promise we’ll get the job done.”
Matt grinned. Dandy Jim Butler was certainly one strange hombre. “Just what is so important that you have to do tonight?”
“Well. Let’s just say it’s something you can’t do, but I can.”
“Why not?” Matt asked.
“Because I have special talents.” He added, first glancing at Rap who was sitting in the corner with a half empty flask in his hand, and then to Cyclone.
Cy got the message. “Take Rap’s horse,” He said.
Rap’s head popped up, pulling away from his bottle. “My horse? Why does it always have to be my horse?”
“’Cause he always rides your horse. That’s why,” Cyclone said. “Now drink your slop and shut up.”
Rap shook his head, then took another swallow.
“Are you going to need a gun too?” Matt asked, sliding a pistol from his holster, grasping it by the barrel and extending it toward the gambler.
Dandy Jim cocked his head and surveyed Matt’s face. “You’re a better man than I am, Marshal. I would never give a gun to a man I didn’t trust.”
Matt leveled his gaze at the gambler. “Neither would I, Jim,” he said.
Jim shrugged and ignored the offer of the gun. “See you later.” He opened the door and stepped out into the night.
“What do you mean, I’m short twenty thousand dollars?’ Simon Price bellowed, half rising out of his chair and pounding the desk top with his fist. His florid face was only inches away from Mortimer B. Cather‘s face. Price‘s eyes were wide and dark with rage. “That’s impossible. I took care………” He caught himself before he blurted out what could’ve been a confession. He sat back down in his chair and stared at the man across from him for several moments. “I…I mean, you must have made a mistake. There is no way there could be a shortage.” He finally managed to stammer.
Cather pulled himself more erect in his chair and fumbled at straightening his tie. He looked uncomfortable. He cleared his throat and said with a bit of intrepidation.
“I assure you, Mister Price,” He said. “There is no mistake. I checked it out very carefully first thing this morning.” He glanced up at the clock. It was ten thirty. “Your clerk concurred with the count and there definitely is a twenty thousand dollar shortage.”
“That can’t be,” Price shook his head in total disbelief. He thought for a moment; then said with a triumphant smile. “You didn’t take into account, the bank robbery we had the other day.”
“Oh, yes I did,” Cather came back.
“And you say I’m still twenty thousand short?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What about the army payroll?” Price pursued with irritation. “You didn’t take that into consideration, then.”
“Oh, yes, I did. You’re still short”
“Impossible!” Price snorted. “It just can’t be.”
“Well, it is what it is,” Cather said. “And I did find something else that was rather peculiar.” He tossed an ordinary playing card onto the desk in front of Simon Price. “I found this card attached to a bundle of bills in your vault. Does that mean anything?”
Price fingered the card, then held it up, turning it over between his thumb and fore finger It was the Jack of Diamonds. He thought about it for a moment, then slammed it hard, with disgust, against the desk top. “Damn!” He cursed. He didn’t exactly know what the card meant, but obviously it was the calling card of a thief. A thief who had been in his bank and safe during the previous night. He had never seen nor heard of a calling card such as this, so he still didn’t know who the thief was, but he was sure that whoever it was, was acting on behalf of Kitty Carlin.
Price sank back into his chair. Took a large breath and rubbed his face. He was being set up and now he was caught.
“Well, does it mean anything Mister Price?” Cather repeated when no answer came forthwith.
“No. No it doesn’t,” Price said. He pushed himself erect in his chair. “I.. I just don’t know what to say, Mister Cather. I’m just as surprised as you are.”
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“I’m sure,” Cather answered. A faint smile began creep into his usual stern face. There seemed to be a hint of sarcasm in the two words..
“Meaning?” Price said warily, suddenly becoming very distrustful of the very proper man.
“Meaning,” Cather said. “I’m sure you did everything you could to cover any mishandling of bank funds. And somehow, you failed to cover your tracks successfully.”
“Are you accusing me of stealing bank funds?” Price came back angrily.
“I wouldn‘t put it quite that way,” Cather said. “Let‘s just say that you‘ve just made an error. I frequently find errors such as these and they can be remedied. I assure you.”
“Remedied? How?”
“Well, you know of course, it is my job to report irregularities such as this to the banking commission, but if you were properly insured I wouldn’t have to do that.”
“Insured?” Price leaned forward.
“Yes. For a slight premium you could purchase a policy to protect you.”
Price leaned back in his chair and grinned. “Why Mister Cather, are you asking for a payoff? You a gentleman? An upstanding bank official?”
“Well, we all have to make a living,” Cather grinned. “and like I said, I prefer to call it insurance.”
“So how much of a premium are you talking about?” Price inquired.
“Say…. Five thousand dollars,” Cather offered.
“Five thousand dollars?” Price gasped. “Then I’ll be short twenty five thousand .”
“True, but no one else needs to know that. My report to the commission will attest to the propriety of your funds and statements. I‘m sure you‘ll find the premium a small price to pay for covering yourself until you can get everything sorted out for the next audit.”
Price grinned. “Mister Cather, you’re a man after my own heart“
“Kindred spirits, you might say,” Cather responded.
Price let the remark go. He hardly perceived Cather as being in his league.
“You understand that I wouldn’t want to be seen paying you the…uh…premium, as you call it. I wouldn’t want my clerk to see me take the funds from the bank. It would be best if I paid it out of my own funds. If you would be so kind as to accompany me out to my ranch, I can give you the five thousand then. How long will it take you to make out your report to the commission?” Price asked.
“Not long. Perhaps a half an hour.”
“Good,’’ Price said. “That will give me give me just enough time to get my horse and buggy harnessed up from the livery. I’ll meet you outside your hotel as soon as you’re ready.”
Cather smiled. “I’m sure doing business with you will be a pleasure sir”
“Believe me Mister Cather, the pleasure will be all mine.”
Chapter Thirty Two