The Case of the Deadly Desperados Read Online Free PDF Page B

stopped pegging up sheets & was watching us.
    â€œI am sure of it,” she said. Her eyes were real bright. “If desperados want it badly enough to kill for it, why then it is probably worth a thousand dollars at least. You should take it to the Recorder’s Office and show it to them. Or perhaps a Lawyer.”
    I said, “Lawyers are the Devil’s Own. I will not have anything to do with them.” I folded up the Letter & put it back in my medicine bag. “Where is the Recorder’s Office?”
    â€œThere is one up on A Street near Sutton across from the Newspaper. I believe there is also one in Gold Hill, on the other side of the Divide.”
    I said, “A Street near Sutton.” Then I repeated, “Carson Mills Silver Under Trees Some Where.”
    Belle Donne was looking back along F Street, the way we had come. Her eyes were wide & she was pressing her fingers to the base of her throat again.
    â€œP.K.,” she said. “How many desperados dressed as Indians are after you and that Letter?”
    â€œThree,” I said.
    â€œRiding two horses and a mule?”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    â€œGet behind me, P.K. They are coming this way.”

Ledger Sheet 9
    WALT & HIS TWO PARDS were riding slowly down F Street, looking left and right.
    They did not look excited nor had they spurred their mounts to a gallop, so I judged they had not seen me. But any moment they would. I desperately looked around for a place to hide.
    â€œP.K.,” said Belle Donne. “Climb under my skirt.”
    It was a strange request but I saw immediately that she was right. Unless one of the Celestials would instantly give me shelter, the only place to hide was under her big hoopskirt. Quick as a telegram, I darted underneath it.
    It was like being in a pink tent with two slender legs instead of a tent pole. Belle Donne was wearing ruffled white bloomers & white stockings & dusty black ankle boots with about a dozen hooked buttons on each side. It was cool under there, but also dusty. I felt my nose prickle.
    I crouched down under there and waited. My mouth was dry. I could feel the mountain thumping & I could hear a donkey braying & some Celestials arguing in Chinese. I heard some quail in the sage. They were crying, “Chicago! Chicago!” the way they do. Then I heard the clop of horses getting nearer. Then the clopping stopped & I heard the jingle of a bridle & Walt’s voice saying, “Excuse me, ma’am, but did you just get off the stage from Como?”
    â€œYes, sir, I did.”
    The dust under Belle Donne’s hoopskirt was making my nose prickle real bad. I stifled a sneeze by pinching my nostrils shut.
    â€œDo you remember,” said Walt, “was there a boy on board? About twelve years old? Only he run away from Temperance and his relatives have sent us to fetch him back.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” said Miss Donne. “But I do not recall seeing a boy on board.”
    I did not know it then, but the air in Virginia is real thin & when you first arrive you can feel sick & dizzy. I was feeling its effects just then & the ground started to tip to one side. To steady myself, I let go of my nose and grabbed hold of Belle Donne’s knees.
    â€œOooh!” said Belle Donne.
    â€œAre you all right, ma’am?” said Walt’s voice.
    â€œYes,” said Belle Donne. “Yes, I believe it is only a flea in my corset. It made me jump.”
    â€œI would be happy to fetch it out for you,” said Raspy Voice.
    I was still clinging to Belle’s legs & I felt them trembling.
    â€œNot now, Dub,” said Walt. “We got other fish to fry.”
    I heard the creak of a saddle & the soft slurring sound of horses’ hooves in the dust as they turned to go.
    Then I did the worst possible thing: I sneezed violently.
    There was a pause & then a flood of light & Belle’s voice saying, “Run for it, P.K.! Run!”
    My