Luke's Gold by Charles G. West Read Free Book Online Page B

good times,” he said.
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    Standing in the shadows of the cottonwood trees, Lem Snider watched the man emerge from Belle’s tent and walk hurriedly toward town and the hotel. Judging from the man’s clothes, Lem speculated that he was a lawyer or salesman. At any rate, he had enough interest in him to find out. He left the trees and headed toward the tent.
    Entering the front portion of the tent, which was partitioned off from the rooms in the rear, Lem found Belle, having a drink with her partners, Lucille and Violet. He paused at the entrance to endow them with a sarcastic grin. “Well, ain’t this a bouquet of faded flowers.”
    â€œYou go to hell, Snider,” Violet replied.
    â€œHell wouldn’t have him,” Belle said. “Are you coming to buy something?”
    â€œI’m comin’ for some information, but we might as well do some business while we’re at it.” He looked at Belle directly. “Who serviced the gent that just left?” When she answered that she did, Lem grabbed her by the arm and said, “Let’s go in the back.”
    After they had completed the business that Belle specialized in, Snider asked her about the man she had pleasured before him. If Thompson had planned to be in town longer than one night, she would have been reluctant to share information with Snider. Since she saw no further opportunity for her, she was willing to sell what she knew about him.
    â€œHe’s a whiskey salesman,” she volunteered. “And he’s leaving early in the morning on his way to Bozeman.”
    Snider’s interest was sparked immediately. “A whiskey salesman, eh? Ain’t that somethin’?”
    â€œHe’s pretty well-heeled, too,” Belle said. “His wallet was so thick, I thought it was a gun in his coat till he pulled it out to pay me.”
    Lem smiled as he pictured it. “Maybe me and the boys oughta make sure he gets started in the right direction in the mornin’.”
    â€œI figure that information is worth a little something extra,” Belle reminded him.
    â€œYou’ll get it,” Snider said as he left the tent still buttoning up his trousers, “but first, we’ll see how much it’s worth.”
    â€œDon’t you short me,” she warned. “If something happens to Mr. Thompson, I might have to talk to the law.”
    He halted abruptly and turned to face her. “Now, Belle, you wouldn’t ever wanna do somethin’ that damn foolish. That’s the kinda talk that gets whores’ throats cut.”
    â€œThat was quick,” Lucille scoffed when Snider walked through the front room.
    â€œIt ain’t how long,” Snider said, “it’s how good, and Belle ain’t never had no better.”
    â€œHah!” Violet snorted contemptuously. “I’ll ask Belle about that.” As he went out the front entrance, she called after him. “And tell that big dummy Curly it’s gonna cost him more next time. I’d as soon mate with a bull elk.”
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    Claude Thompson was at the stable behind the hotel before sunup the next morning, saddled and with his merchandise packed on a mule. His intention was to leave for Bozeman before daylight so as not to attract any attention. He had been warned by John Alderson, the owner of the hotel, that there had been some recent reports of road agents operating between Coulson and Bozeman. Thompson was not a timid man. He wore a .44 pistol and he was not averse to using it should the necessity occur. He was gratified to make his way out of town without seeing a sign of anyone out and about at that early hour.
    Following the trail along the banks of the Yellowstone, he was well along his way by the time the sun made a showing behind him. As he guided his horse around a barren section of high bluffs, he spotted a lone rider on the trail ahead coming toward him. Always careful when encountering