Read Online The Deputy - Edge Series 2 by George G. Gilman - Free Book Online Page A

Sheriff North was outta town.’ He gestured across the street. ‘Mr Otis over there? When I asked him if somebody called Mr Edge was around, he said he’d seen him go into the law office. So I come over here and I waited for you to come out.’
    Edge looked around more carefully now and saw that the ugly old timer with the added misfortune to be at the beck and call of the domineering guesthouse keeper had finished his morning dishwashing chore. Now was seated on one of two benches that flanked the closed double doors of the two story, frame built Dancing Horse Saloon across the street.
    Logan realised he was the subject of talk and raised a hand fisted around a walking cane to acknowledge his awareness of this.
    ‘Pretty smart, uh?’ Bob Frank said.
    ‘Sure was, kid,’ Edge allowed absently. ‘So what’s the message?’
    Fortunately it had not been given by word of mouth and the boy delved into the front pocket of his dungarees to produce an envelope. Then he backed off two steps so he had to reach out at arm’s length to hand it to Edge.
    ‘There you go, mister. Ten cents to get this to the sheriff or you before noon. And I done that like I said I would. With plenty of time to spare, I reckon?’
    ‘No sweat,’ Edge confirmed as he looked at the creased and dirt-smudged envelope that could hold only one or two sheets of paper.
    ‘I can go now I done what I was told to, Mr Edge? I got a whole heap of chores to do for my pa back at the farm.’
    ‘Be obliged if you’d wait awhile.’ Edge used a forefinger to tear open the flap of the envelope.
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    The boy swallowed hard and looked afraid as he blurted: ‘Why I gotta do that, Mr Edge? The gents that give me the ten cents didn’t say nothing about waiting around after I give the message to – ‘
    Edge drew out a single sheet of paper, unfolded it and raised his head to briefly show the nervous youngster a grin. ‘Be worth another ten cents to you, kid.’
    Fear was displaced by a broad smile as the boy nodded emphatically and then waited patiently for the message to be read. It was printed in block capitals in pencil by the same hand as the note left with the rifles and gunbelts on the trail last night. SHERIFF NORTH OR MR EDGE. YOU WILL COME TO THE
    OLD BRADY PLACE ON CREEK ROAD AT PRECISELY NINE
    O’CLOCK THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THERE YOU WILL
    LEARN SOMETHING TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. EITHER ONE
    OF YOU MUST COME ALONE OR THE DEAL IS DONE WITH.
    AT PRESENT THE LADY IS NOT HARMED.
    Bob Frank shuffled his ill-shod feet and asked anxiously: ‘I got to do anything but wait around to get that other ten cents, mister?’
    Edge realised he must have taken a long time to read and reflect on the note from the abductors of Isabella Gomez. And when he looked up it was clear he was no longer showing any sign of the former easy smile. For the boy was nervous again and he even backed off a couple more paces: seemed on the point of whirling around to lunge into the alley.
    So he sought to calm the youngster when he put the note back into the envelope and grinned as he assured: ‘Easy, Bob Frank. Here.’
    He dug into a pocket, withdrew some coins, picked out two nickels and showed them in his palm. ‘The money I promised you, kid. You get it anyway. But I sure would like to know how you came by the message? Who it was that gave it to you?’
    The boy held back from taking the money while he frowned and chewed his lower lip, obviously struggling to cast his confused mind back into the recent past. Then he nodded twice when he hit on the memory he sought.
    ‘Sure thing, Mr Edge. I remember it now. We was out digging a ditch where the east trail runs by our place. And these two Mexicans rode up to where we was working. Real polite they was. Pa said after they’d gone that he hoped I’d turn out like them when I got to be their age. See, I’m only just turned fifteen now.’
    ‘Did you pa know these two Mexicans?’
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    ‘No, sir. Pa, he was a little leery of them when