there.â
âBut he sent the telegram to Kirby.â
âYes. Where is Kirby?â
âActually,â Ingram said, âitâs between here and Orwell.â
âThen Iâll be able to check Kirby on the way?â Clint asked.
âSure, I suppose, if you want to. I mean, itâs not on a straight line.â
They were sitting in Ingramâs office. Clint had turned down the offer of coffee.
âWhere are your deputies?â Clint asked. âIâve never seen them.â
âOne is making his rounds,â Ingram said. âThe other is out with my tracker, trying to find your menâs trail.â
âMaybe,â Clint said, âwhen they do, itâll lead them to Orwell.â
âOr here.â
âOr Kirby,â Clint said.
âWhen will you be leavinâ?â Ingram asked.
âFirst thing in the morning,â Clint said. âIâll be renting a horse. Mineâs not ready for the trip.â
âI can loan you a horse, save you some money.â
âYour horse?â
âI have more than one,â Ingram said. âDonât worry, itâll be a good one.â
âOkay,â Clint said, âI accept.â
âIâll have it ready for you in the morning, out front,â Ingram promised.
âThanks.â
Clint stood up.
âWhere to now?â
âIâve still got some things to do before I leave,â Clint said.
âIâll buy you a drink tonight,â Ingram said. âHow about the Jack of Hearts?â
âFine,â Clint said. âIâll see you there later.â
âFine.â
Clint left the office.
FOURTEEN
Clint went to his hotel to check with the clerk and see if the telegraph clerk had found the name.
âSorry, sir,â the man said, âno messages.â
âOkay, thanks. Let me know as soon as one comes, though.â
âYes, sir.â
âIâm going to be riding out of town tomorrow, but I want to keep my room. Iâll be back in a few days.â
âWhatever you say, sir.â
 â¢Â â¢Â â¢Â
Clint had intended to go to his room and pack his saddlebags, but for some reason today he had been hungry since the start of the day. Even after breakfast, and later pie. He decided to go into the dining room and have an early steak.
There were only a few tables taken, so he was served immediately. While he was eating, he thought about Maria and the night theyâd had together. Maybe thatâs what had his appetite in an uproar. The girl had worked him hard.
He was finishing up when he saw the telegraph clerk come to the doorway and look around, When the clerk spotted Clint, he hotfooted it across the floor.
âI found that name, Mr. Adams!â he said excitedly.
âGood,â Clint said. âWhat is it?â
The clerk looked at the piece of paper in his hand.
âUh, itâs Dunn, Adam Dunn.â He looked at Clint. âI shoulda remembered that, since itâs like your name.â
âI get it,â Clint said. âCan I have that?â
âSure.â
Clint took the piece of paper and handed the clerk a couple of dollars.
âThanks!â the clerk said, and hurried back out.
Clint looked at the name on the slip of paper. He didnât recognize it, but now he had two names: Adam Dunn and Derrick Sands. And hopefully heâd find one or both of them in Orwell, Texas.
 â¢Â â¢Â â¢Â
After he finished eating, he went back to the sheriffâs office, but Ingram wasnât there. Behind the desk sat a young man with a deputyâs badge.
âHe ainât here, Mr. Adams,â the deputy said. He swallowed hard, obviously intimidated by being in the presence of the Gunsmith.
âDo you know where I can find him?â
âNo, sir,â the deputy said. âHeâs just . . . out and about, I guess.â
âOkay,
The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell