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

can’t handle it so good.
    ‘Deputy Ted Straker managed to calm him down enough to figure out something of what he was saying. Then Ted asked a bunch of us citizens to stay up and alert. Told us to watch that no Martinez guns came to town to check for sure on what happened at the Bellamy place.’
    Edge did not ask the question a pause invited and Whitman went on: ‘That was maybe thirty minutes before the sheriff and you were first spotted riding in from the north. Without the Gomez woman George was supposed to be bringing in for the trial?’
    There was an implied inquiry in the man’s tone and expression which he emphasised with a hand gesture across the street: toward a dry goods store that bore the family name of the kidnapped woman.
    Edge said: ‘With the circuit judge dead, the trial will have to be postponed.’
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    ‘It sure will,’ Whitman agreed. ‘And it figures the Gomez woman won’t be needed to give evidence until after a new judge makes it to Bishopsburg in one piece.’
    ‘I guess so,’ Edge answered in the same easy manner as his previous sparse contributions to the exchange. He ignored the scowl that flitted across the black bearded, wire framed bespectacled face as Whitman was denied the information he sought. The liveryman’s attitude was still disgruntled as he halted out front of a three story clapboard house with a steeply stepped stoop. A discreet, expertly painted sign to one side of the firmly closed door advertised it was the HYAMS GUEST HOUSE and offered REASONABLE DAILY AND LONG TERM RENTAL RATES.
    ‘Well, this is it, mister. I expect Doris will be tucked up in bed by now but I can show you up to one of the vacant rooms, and maybe the kitchen, if you want to fix yourself something to eat? It’ll have to be cold, though. Doris don’t ever allow us roomers to mess with her cooking pots and pans. Not even me, and I’m one of – ‘
    The door at the top of the steps began to swing open and a woman said in a sternly censorious tone: ‘Nor do I allow any of my guests to rent out my rooms before I’ve seen for myself that the new folks are clean and decent. And I know they have the wherewithal to pay for what’s provided under my roof.’
    The door was now fully open and Doris Hyams stepped on to the threshold. A short, overweight woman with grey hair and small dark eyes, she was beyond fifty and maybe into her well preserved sixties. She was bare foot but the rest of her from ankles to throat was encased in a thick, dark coloured robe belted at her expansive waist. Her frown of displeasure at Whitman for usurping her prerogative gradually altered to an expression of qualified satisfaction as her tiny glittering eyes ran an unblinking gaze up and down the tall, broad frame of Edge and the gear he toted on a shoulder.
    ‘He rode in with George North, Doris,’ Whitman assured defensively. The woman cleared her throat. ‘It wouldn’t make no difference if he rode in with Jesus Christ Himself at His second coming. If I didn’t take to him he wouldn’t get to put his feet under my table or lay his head on one of my pillows.’
    Then she gave an emphatic nod and delivered her verdict. ‘But it so happens you look like an all right man to me, mister. A dollar a night, including three squares a day. No reduction if you don’t eat any of your meals here. If you stay the whole week I offer terms of six dollars for the seven nights.’
    Edge had tipped his hat when he first met the woman’s searching gaze and now he repeated the gesture, adding an easy smile this time. ‘That sounds good to me, lady. I’ll pay by the day. Since I’m not sure how long I’ll be staying in Bishopsburg.’
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    ‘Whatever you want, mister. Rex will show you a room just like he said he could. But my kitchen ain’t at the disposal of any guest to help himself, for hot or cold grub. And I’m sure not about to go in there myself at this time of night.’
    ‘I ain’t too hungry, Mrs