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Dow hefted the badge in his hand and read the inscription

“Captain of the Southern Pacific Railway police?” He smiled, clearly relieved that he would not have to kill the porter “The poor porter won’t stop running until he hits Sacramento”

36

MARION MORGAN ARRIVED FROM SAN FRANCISCO WITH ONLY an hour to spare before Preston Whiteway’s banquet for Osgood Hennessy Lillian Hennessy welcomed her aboard the special and took her to her staterooown, but it was soon apparent to Isaac Bell’s fiancee that the beautiful young heiress’s main purpose was to ask questions about Archie Abbott

Isaac Bell had already ridden down to the town to inspect the guardhouses protecting the piers of the Cascade Canyon Bridge He spoke sternly to the guard captain, ree position at irregular intervals so that an attacker could never predict what he was going to run up against Satisfied for the e

It was a vast log-and-tis, rustic furniture that was as la up with “There’ll Be a Hot Tiht” as he rele-breasted tuxedo Moood Hennessy arrived with Mrs Comden, Lillian, Franklin Mowery, and Marion

Isaac thought Marion looked stunning in her low-cut red gown If he had never seen her before in his life, he would have walked right up to her and asked her to reen eyes sparkled She had her blond hair swept high on her head and her decolletage artfully screened by the ruby necklace he had given her for her birthday She had ree that had covered the cut on her cheek froe made it invisible to any eye but his

“Welco her formally since there were too many people around to sweep her into his arms “I have never seen you more beautiful”

“I a back

Preston Whiteway, trailed closely by waiters bearing cha flushed like he’d had a few already, bustled up to greet thereat … Oh, hello there, Bell How’s that Loco?”

“Like a top”

“If you ever want to sell-”

“I don’t”

“Well, enjoy your dinner Marion, I’ve seated you between me and Senator Kincaid We’ll have a lot of business to talk about”

Osgood Hennessy muttered, “I’ll deal with this,” went directly to the head table, and coolly switched all the place cards