Ralph Compton Sixguns and Double Eagles by RALPH COMPTON Read Free Book Online Page B

said. “Here’s some identification.”
    He presented the coded card Silver had given him, along with the watch that Silver had once given Nathan Stone. Powers looked at the card first and then snapped open the engraved silver cover of the watch case. Inside was the great seal of the United States, and beneath it, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
    â€œI’ve seen that watch before,” said Powers.
    â€œIt belonged to my father,” Wes said. “We are representing the man who gave him the watch, and we must reach him by telegraph today.”
    â€œCome with me,” said Powers. “We only have a six-man outpost, and our telegrapher’s not here. Do you read Morse?”
    â€œI do,” Wes said. “I can send and receive. My name is Wes Stone, and my amigo is El Lobo. We’re also known as the El Diablo Pistolas.”
    â€œBy God,” said Powers, “you’re the hombres who wiped out that bunch of outlaws in Mexico. We intercepted some of your telegrams.”
    â€œWe are,” Wes said, “but that’s all I can tell you. Do you have a code for your outpost that won’t give away your location?”
    â€œWe do,” said Powers.
    â€œGood,” Wes said. “It may be important for persons receiving this telegram to know we are at a federal outpost.”
    The military headquarters consisted of three rooms in one side of an office building. A sergeant sat behind a desk. He stood and saluted as Captain Powers entered.
    â€œAs you were, sergeant,” said Powers. “We have business with the telegraph, and are not to be disturbed.”
    â€œYes, sir,” the sergeant replied.
    The small room was bare, except for three chairs and a table upon which the instrument sat. Beside it were pencils and a supply of yellow paper for the transcribing of incoming messages.
    â€œGo ahead,” Powers said. “Sign off with thirty-four.”
    Wes drew up a chair, tapped in the proper information, and asked for permission to send his message. The instrument was silent for a moment and then began to chatter. Permission had been granted. Carefully, Wes sent the coded message that would tell Silver they were in New Orleans and what they had discovered. The message was simple. It read “Two one one zero stop.” Wes signed off with thirty-four. The telegraph instrument was silent for a moment and then began to chatter. The message had been received.
    â€œNow what?” Captain Powers asked.
    â€œWe wait,” said Wes. “This being federal business, there may be a message for you.”

Washington, D.C. October 13,1884.
    â€œA strange message, sir,” said an aide who brought the telegram to Bryan Silver. “Will there be a reply?”
    â€œIf there is,” Silver replied, “I’ll send it.”
    The code was simple but meaningless to one who had not been told the key words. The two told Silver the number which appeared on the reverse side of the Golden Dragon coins. The one referred to the first of the three mints, in New Orleans, while the second one was a code word for the mint’s director. The zero meant that nothing had been done. The next move belonged to Silver, and taking note of the location, he composed a message directly to Captain Powers. It read:
    â€œAct on orders from our agents. Stop. Place under military arrest person or persons so designated. Stop. Tight security and around clock guard until further contact.”
    Silver signed his name, along with his title from the office of the attorney general. He then headed for the agency’s telegraph office.
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    Conversation had soon dwindled away to nothing as Wes, El Lobo, and Captain Powers awaited a response. Three-quarters of an hour passed before the telegraph instrument began chattering for permission to send. Wes granted permission and then took down the message as it came over the wire. Without a word, he passed the message to the