Free John Fitzgerald GB 06 Return of by Return of the Great Brain Page B

“The serial numbers you see checked off are from bank notes that Davis and Hutchinson lost playing poker in the two saloons, that Grant used to buy a saddle from Jerry Stout, that Eggerson used to buy a watch and chain, and that Ludell used to buy dresses for Rose at Pearl Addison’s Dress Shop.”
     
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    Sheriff Baker then walked in front of the cell Hutch was in. “We also know,” he said, “that you killed Simpson. He recognized you from that scar above your right eyebrow which the bandanna mask didn’t cover-And when he called you Hutch you knew he’d recognized you and you killed him.”
    Then the sheriff walked back to his desk and sat down. “We will start with the’bank notes in the money belt Grant was wearing,” he said to Uncle Mark. “The district attorney and Mr, Fitzgerald will witness the serial numbers I cross off as you call them out.”
    Uncle Mark opened Grant’s money belt. He removed the bank notes and made a pile of them. Then he began calling off the serial numbers. Sheriff Baker would locate the serial number on the list and check it off, then nod his head for Uncle Mark to call off the next serial number. Uncle Mark had only called off ten serial numbers when Grant pushed his face between the bars of the cell.
    “That’s enough,” he shouted. “You’ve got us cold. But I wouldn’t have gone in on it if I’d known there was going to be any shooting.”
    Eggerson was the next to crack. “Me neither,” he said. “Sam and Hutch planned the whole thing but promised there would be no shooting.”
    Ludell then grabbed the bars of his cell and pushed his face against two of the bars. “I admit Hutch and I planned it,” he said. “But Hutch promised there would be no shooting. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw him kill Simpson in cold blood. The man didn’t reach for a gun or anything. I’ll turn state’s evidence.”
    After Ludell said that, Hutchinson knew the game was up. “I had to kill him,” he said. “I forgot all about that
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    damn scar. I saw Simpson staring at it, and when he called me Hutch I knew he’d recognized me.” Then he backed up and slumped down on the bunk in his cell, “I didn’t want to kill him but I had to.”
    Sheriff Baker looked at Curly Davis. “That leaves just you,” he said.
    Davis stared at the sheriff for a moment and then looked at District Attorney Vickers. “If I plead guilty will I get a lighter sentence?” he asked.
    District Attorney Vickers thought for a moment and then spoke. “To save the state the expense of a trial,” he said, “I am willing to let four of you plead guilty to armed robbery and Hutchinson plead guilty to second degree mur-der. If you stand trial we have enough evidence to convict four of you as accessories to murder and send you to prison for life and enough evidence to see Hutchinson hang.”
    All five of them said they would plead guilty and signed confessions. On Monday morning Judge Potter sentenced Eggerson, Grant. Davis, and Ludell to twenty years in prison and Hutchinson to life.
    I thought Tom would be very disappointed when he found out the Bruford Brothers weren’t going to give any reward. I guess they figured Sheriff Baker and Uncle Mark were just doing their duty. Instead, on the day he found out there would be no reward he was whistling as we did the evening chores.
    “I don’t know how you can be so cheerful,” I said. “If I were in your shoes I’d be so mad I could chew up railroad rails and spit out spikes.”
    “Simmer down, J.D.,” he said. “Before I put my great brain to work on the train robbery and murder I made sure I’d get a reward if I solved the crime.”
     
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    “Well,” I said, “the Bruford Brothers sure as heck aren’t going to give you a reward according to Sheriff Baker and Uncle Mark.”
    “You are forgetting the railroad,” Tom said grinning. “Remember me telling you after lunch last Tuesday that I was going to the depot to talk