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“I protest,” said the dispatcher “This is a breach of all safety procedures”

Bell hurried out to the train, shouting orders

“Uncouple the Pullman Accountants, lawyers, translators, and auditors: stay here Keep digging until we know everything Kincaid planned We don’t want any et on the train!”

Brakemen scrambled When they had uncoupled the extra car, Bell saw Ja forlornly in the Pullman’s vestibule

“What are you waiting for, James? Get on the train”

“I don’t have a gun”

“What?”

“You said ‘armed operatives,’ Mr Bell Van Dorn apprentices are only allowed to carry handcuffs”

Guffawing detectives exchanged incredulous looks

Hadn’t anyone told the kid that that was the first rule you broke?

Bell raised his voice “Boys, meet James Dashwood, former apprentice with the San Francisco office He’s just been pro a key clue that exposed Senator Charles Kincaid as the Wrecker Can anyone lend him a firearm?”

Fists plunged into coats, hats, waistbands, and boots An arsenal of autoers, and pocket pistols flashed in the rainy light Eddie Edwards got to Dashwood first and thrust a nickel-plated six-gun into his hand

“Here you go, Dash It’s double-action Just keep squeezing the trigger Reload when it stopsnoise”

“Get on the train!”

Bell climbed up into the Pacific’s cab