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“I’ll see how I feel,” he answered casually, adding with an alame of draw?”

“Yes, sir Poker after dinner in Judge Congdon’s stateroom”

“And who else is aboard?”

The conductor rattled off the nanates, and the usual complement of railroad attorneys Then he lowered his voice to confide, “There’s a Van Dorn detective got on at Ogden just before you, sir”

“A detective? Sounds exciting Did you catch his name?”

“Isaac Bell”

“Bell … H ‘undercover’ if he told you his name”

“I recognized him He travels often”

“Is he on a case?”

“I don’t know about that But he’s riding on a pass signed by President Hennessy hiive Van Dorn agents anything they ask for”

The Wrecker’s sht filled his eyes “What has Isaac Bell asked of you?”

“Nothing yet, sir I presu all those Southern Pacific wrecks ”

“Perhaps we can ame of draw” The conductor looked surprised “Would a detective have the blood in hiame?”

“I suspect that Mr Bell can afford it,” said the Wrecker “If he’s the same Isaac Bell who I’ve heard rumored is a wealthy man I’ve never played poker with a detective It could be interesting Why don’t you ask him if he would care to join us?” It was not a question but an order, and the conductor proadon’s stateroom

The way a man played poker revealed all there was to know of him The Wrecker would use the opportunity to size Bell up and decide how to kill him