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Bell’s first step following their meal was to head for the town’s lone post office Wickersham had a vehicle, but the office was near the hotel so the two le room was bisected by a low counter with prison-like iron bars to offer a measure of security for the off-liher characters who’d lived here over the years bla the postal workers for late or nondelivered parcels

He waited until there were nothe clerk, who he could tell was also the postmaster

“May I help you?” the slight, balding clerk asked His voice was high-pitched but friendly

Bell said nothing He laid a business card on the counter

The clerk picked it up and pulled the glasses dangling around his neck on a slender silver chain to his eyes “Wowza! All the way froton, DC”

“There was a certain matter in Denver”

“Oh, the arrest Yeah, I heard about that Soht to steal money”

“She was , but I assure you she was no cripple Slapped me harder than a mule” Bell turned his head and indeed his cheek was flushed He took the card back and slid it into his coat pocket

“What can I do for you, Mr Northrop?”

“We’re here on a separate el disaster”

“Terrible shame These mountains claim their share of men every year, but it’s still a shock every time it happens” The clerk suddenly looked suspicious “There isn’t a postal angle to what happened to those men, is there?”

Bell i equipe Company They insist the invoices reached Joshua Brewster, but they weren’t paid I wonder if you knew anything about this matter?”

“Can’t say I do Only one of the men killed had an address here John Caldwell He rented a roo Street The others were spread out too, I i up near the mines None had any business with me”

“What about Brewster? Do you knohere he lived?”

“Tent by the mine Every once in a while, he’d rent a rooht or two Up until a few o he had a place in Denver, but I know for a fact he sold it to come here”