Read Online Ace in the Hole by J. R. Roberts - Free Book Online

of prison.”
    Kent studied Clint for a moment, then said, “If he did, that’s his business, ain’t it? What’s your interest?”
    â€œWith my reputation, it pays to keep tabs on some people,” Clint said vaguely. “Thanks for your time.”
    â€œSpeakin’ of leavin’ town,” Kent said, “how much longer you figure on stayin’?”
    â€œNot much,” Clint said. “Don’t know for sure yet, but not much longer.”
    â€œWell, enjoy the rest of your stay. I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about from Calhoun.”
    â€œOkay, thanks.”
    Clint walked to the door, then turned back.
    â€œWhat’s this Calhoun’s first name?”
    â€œTito.”
    â€œTito?”
    â€œMexican mother, Irish father,” Kent said. “Why?”
    Clint shrugged.
    â€œLike I said, just keeping tabs.”
    He left the sheriff’s office, then stopped just outside the door. He had a feeling the lawman wasn’t telling him everything he knew about Tito Calhoun.
    But he thought he knew who could tell him more, and he headed for the telegraph office.

TWENTY
    Now that Calhoun and Kent had established that they knew each other, it was no problem for Calhoun to enter the lawman’s office soon after Clint had left.
    â€œAdams was just here askin’ about you,” Kent said.
    â€œSo what?”
    â€œWhat did you say to him?”
    â€œNothin’,” Calhoun said, sitting across from Kent. “I just got to know him a little.”
    â€œYou think that was smart?”
    â€œHe saw me ride in,” Calhoun said. “We was both at the livery gettin’ a horse. It woulda looked bad not to say somethin’.”
    â€œMaybe.”
    â€œHe knows from my clothes and my horse that I just got out. Hell, he can tell. It still don’t mean nothin’. Relax, Tom.”
    â€œYeah, okay,” Kent said.
    â€œWhat’d you tell him?”
    â€œNothin’” Kent said. “I handled it okay. I told him we were acquainted.”
    â€œYou’re sure he’s gonna be at this game?”
    â€œHe’s playin’ in the game,” Kent said. “I got that for sure.”
    â€œWe need to know who else is in that game,” Calhoun said. “We can’t make a move without knowing that. We don’t know what we’ll be walkin’ in to.”
    â€œWhat if we just wait until the game’s over and rob the winner?” Kent asked.
    Calhoun shook his head.
    â€œYou think those fellas are gonna come out pattin’ the winner on the back? Or that the winner’s gonna be smiling and actin’ like a winner? That ain’t gonna work, Tom. We’d have to rob all of them just to find the winner.”
    â€œSo what do we do?”
    â€œWe take the game while it’s in progress,” Calhoun said.
    â€œYou mean…we go in?”
    Calhoun nodded.
    â€œAnd that’s why we have to know who is at that table,” Calhoun explained. “And how many men we’re gonna need. We can’t walk into that room blind, and walk into a bunch of guns.”
    â€œI get it,” Kent told him.
    â€œThen get it,” Calhoun said. “Get the information.”
    â€œI will.”
    â€œI’ve got some men standing by in Selwin,” Calhoun said. Selwin was the next town over, going north. “We’ll pick up however many we need on the way, but it’s up to you to find out how many that is.”
    â€œAll right,” Kent said. “I’ll find out. I told you I’d get all the information we need. But there’s something you need to understand, too, Tito.”
    â€œWhat’s that, Tom?”
    â€œI’m in charge of this…expedition.”
    â€œJust call it a job, Tom,” Calhoun said. “We’re pullin’ a job.”
    â€œFine,” Kent said, “it’s a job, but it’s my