The Unknown
by Patricia Henry
Chapter Four
Mort Corey knocked on the door of the Sherman Relay Station. Slim greeted the sheriff with a smile. “I never expected to see you this time of night. Come on in! What brings you out here?”
Entering the house, Mort nodded a greeting to Jonesy. He then gave a quick glance to Andy, who was sitting at the table studying a book.
“Howdy, Mort,” Jonesy welcomed. “I bet you’d like some hot coffee on a night like this. Andy, you been reading that history for some time. Why don’t you slide over so Mort can sit. Mort, I think I still got a piece of pie left from supper and-”
Mort cut in, “Andy, you mind if I talk to Slim and Jonesy alone?”
Andy’s eyes darkened with suspicion. “Something wrong?”
“Please, Andy.”
It was the first time that any could remember Mort using the word ‘please.’
“Something is wrong,” Andy said. He moved close to Slim.
“Andy, why don’t you go out to the barn and brush Traveler?” Slim suggested, but his eyes never left Mort’s face. “I know you promised Jess you’d do that each night and you ain’t done it yet.”
But Andy didn’t move. “Traveler can wait. No Slim, I ain’t going nowhere.”
“Andy-” Slim started to argue.
But Andy cut in with his own argument, “Slim, you said I’m part owner of this place. If something is wrong, then I got a right to know. And something must be awful wrong for Mort to come calling this late. So Mort, tell us.” Andy crossed his arms over his chest and waited.
Mort looked at Slim, who just nodded.
“I don’t know how to say this,” Mort began. “Ain’t no easy way. And I tried to think what words I could use all the time I was riding out here. But there just ain’t none to make this any easier. So I’ll just come right out and say it. Jess is dead.”
Andy jerked as if he had been struck. He screamed out, “No! You’re lying!”
“Andy! You know Mort don’t lie,” Slim’s voice shook with pain. “Mort, what happened?”
“Stage robbery. Weren’t no survivors.”
“They killed Jess?...The passengers?” Jonesy’s face was pale from shock. “But most robberies-”
“I know,” Mort agreed. “But something must have gone awful wrong. Both Jess and the driver were killed.”
“You sure it’s Jess?” Slim asked.
Mort nodded. “Everyone’s been identified. Sheriff wired me. Got the wire tonight. I rode right out here. The sheriff said he has Jess’ bag and his pocket watch. He can put it on the stage for you.”
“I don’t believe it!” Andy tore out of the cabin.
Mort’s face molded into guilt. “I’m sorry, Slim. I didn’t want the boy to know like this. But I couldn’t think of a way to tell that wouldn’t hurt.”
“Slim, you better go to Andy,” Jonesy instructed Slim. “He needs you right now.”
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