Free Ralph Compton Train to Durango by Ralph Compton Page A

“At least you had the presence of mind to use the telegraph. As long as we know where they’re going, they haven’t escaped.”
    â€œI didn’t telegraph west or south,” Franks said. “I could think of no reason for them going back to California, or south to Santa Fe or El Paso.”
    â€œThere is one thing bothering me,” said Hogan. “The Denver and Rio Grande has plans to go south all the way to El Paso. End of track is near Santa Fe now. I’ve learned that Silver, Stone, and Elfego rode to Durango—a hundred miles—and from there took a train to Denver. Why?”
    â€œHell, I don’t know,” Franks said. “You think they had a reason?”
    â€œOf course they had a reason,” said Hogan irritably. “We chose Durango because of its virtual isolation and the railroad connecting it to Denver. Now I don’t intend to see all those plans shot to hell because of Silver and his gun-throwers. We must warn Hawk and Denbow. I want security doubled, and I want them made aware of the penalty for failure.”
    â€œThere’s the telegraph,” Franks said.
    â€œToo risky,” said Hogan. “I intend to send a messenger.”
    â€œYou want me to go?”
    â€œI want you right here, keeping track of Silver and his men,” Hogan said. “What do you think of Turk Pardue and Dent Shankler from our operation in Carson City, and Emo Hanks from New Orleans?”
    â€œI haven’t seen any of ‘em in action since they come here,” said Franks. “I reckon one is good as the other. Only thing I have against any of them is that they’ve all had a shot at these two gunslingers ridin’ with Silver, and they’ve all failed.”
    â€œThat’s sound thinking,” Hogan said. “I should have considered that before Stringfield rode to El Paso. I’ll send somebody else to Durango.”
    Sighing with relief, Franks departed, closing the door behind him.
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    Harley Stafford listened in amazement as Bryan Silver told him as much as he needed to know about the Golden Dragon, and of their need to ensure the safety of Renita, Tamara, and Molly.
    â€œI reckon they’ll be safe enough in Dodge,” Harley said, “but arming them is the smart thing to do. I saw what those varmints did to Wes and Palo after stopping the train on its way to Dodge. Hagerman’s a member of the town council, and I’m sure he’ll do anything that he can.”
    â€œWho’s the sheriff in Dodge?” Silver asked.
    â€œJack Dumery,” said Harley. “They don’t last long, and he’s the latest. Good man, far as I know.”
    â€œSeems like the trail towns would settle down, now that the cattle drives are done,” Silver said.
    â€œThey have, to some extent,” said Harley, “and now that they can’t blame all the hell-raising on Texas cowboys, they’re havin’ to face up to the real problem. All the killers and renegades are still holed up in Indian Territory, and following their bank, train, and stage robberies, they return there. The federals should send a company of soldiers in there and clean up the territory.”
    â€œMaybe when it becomes a state,” Silver said. 15
    â€œI reckon that’s one possibility we didn’t consider when we thought of Dodge,” said Wes. “The kind of money the Golden Dragon throws around—even if it is phony—could recruit an army of killers just a day’s ride away.”
    â€œMaybe after we reach Dodge, we’d better allow them a few days to come after us,” Silver said. “Since our only lead was in Denver, and it didn’t pan out, we really don’t have any sense of direction.”
    â€œIf you lost them before leaving Denver,” said Harley, “how are they going to know where you are?”
    â€œThey’ll know,” Silver