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what hotel he was in, Red.”
    â€œI did,” Red said, “but I wanted to make sure it was the same man, so I went and had a look myself.”
    â€œAnd . . . ?”
    â€œHe caught me followin’ him.”
    â€œWell, this fella must be good,” Appo said. “He’s caught you twice.”
    â€œHe’s the Gunsmith, George,” Red said. “He’s a legend.”
    â€œSo I hear,” Appo said. He was pretty used to being on the receiving end of all of Red’s adoration, so he was feeling a tingle of jealousy as the boy talked about Clint Adams.
    â€œWell, I guess it’s not such a coincidence that he’s here in New York,” Appo said.
    â€œHe musta come lookin’ for Bethany and Ben, huh?” Red asked.
    â€œIt’s more likely he doesn’t know who he’s looking for, Red,” Appo said. “It’s probably Willie, since he’s the one who killed that woman.”
    â€œThe Gunsmith is lookin’ fer a killer?” Red asked. “But he ain’t a detective.”
    â€œApparently that doesn’t matter. Red, what hotel is he staying at?”
    â€œThe Belvedere.”
    â€œA favorite hideaway of Captain Byrnes when he has a dignitary in town,” Appo said. “I think there is also a telegraph office a block or two from there.”
    â€œSure is. We passed it while we was walking to the restaurant.”
    â€œWell,” Appo said, “maybe I ought to have a talk with the clerk there.”
    â€œYou think the Gunsmith sent a telegram to somebody? ” Red asked.
    â€œThat’s what I’m going to find out, my boy,” Appo said.
    â€œI’ll go with you,” Red said.
    â€œNo,” Appo said. “You’re no good to me now when it comes to Adams. He’s seen you twice. And, obviously, he’s fed you.”
    â€œReally well!”
    â€œThen I suppose he’s managed to earn himself one fan in town,” Appo said.
    â€œDon’t worry, George,” Red said. “To me you’re still the greatest.”

TWENTY-ONE
    When Bethany came out the next morning, she found Ben sitting on the front steps. She sat down next to him and bumped his shoulder with hers. She loved him dearly, but as a brother. She wished that was enough for him.
    â€œHey,” she said.
    â€œHey, yourself.”
    â€œStill sulking?”
    â€œNaw,” he said, “I’m over that. Now I’m just angry. ”
    â€œJesus, Ben,” she said, “you’re always angry.”
    â€œYeah, I know,” he said. “I feed on it.”
    â€œI think it feeds on you,” she said.
    â€œI’m gonna have to go and see Ma today,” Ben said. “You wanna come?”
    â€œNo,” she said. “I never like to see her unless I have to. And I don’t want to see how she treats you. When do you figure Willie will get here with the goods?”
    â€œAnother few days, at least,” he said.
    â€œGood,” she said. “The longer I go without seein’ his ugly face the better.”
    â€œYou and me both. You see George last night?”
    â€œYeah. I ate with him and Little Red at the Metropole. ”
    â€œThat little guy’s got a bad crush on you,” he said.
    She nudged him with her elbow and said, “That makes two of you, huh?”
    He leaned away from her.
    â€œDon’t tease me, Bethany. You know how I feel about you.”
    â€œI do know, Ben,” she said, “and I try to make light of it. It ain’t right. You’re my brother.”
    â€œHalf brother.”
    â€œStill . . .”
    â€œI’m sorry,” he said. “It’s just how I feel.”
    â€œYou have to find a nice girl, Ben.”
    â€œBethany,” he asked, “what would a nice girl want with me?”
    Clint approached the clerk at the front desk and had to admit to himself he didn’t know if it was Owen or