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It was less than a ure dressed as Bell had just described ran past the vestibule He saw the twoHis shoulders sluain when he saw that one of his quarry not only had detected him but held a pistol on him as well The man was in his early thirties, dark-haired, with dark eyes behind round lasses He was clean-shaven and rather baby-faced, with an earnestness about him that made Bell think of an acadeht of the gun, and his htly His teeth were tobacco-stained

Bell could see that neither of the stranger’s hands was pocketed or holding anything, so he relaxed and was confident that he had the situation well in hand and there would be no surprises

“Only one question for you, friend, and I think you knohat it

is,” Bell said, his gun steadily pointed at the man’s midriff

“Ah, MrAh, Mr BBB” the man stuttered, then stopped

“Bell,” Isaac offered

“Mr Bell I am so sorrsorrsorry”

Bell recognized that the un held on hih to put it away until he kneho the stranger was and why he was tailing him “Talk”

The stalker took several deep breaths and studiously avoided looking at the gun “Mr Bell My name is William Gibbs I’m a reporter with the Rocky Mountain News When I heard you were headed here to Central City, I decided to follow you Just in case you made another important bust like you did at the Denver post office”

“How’d you hear I was co to Central City?” Bell asked

“I, ahI have an infor with the owner of the Little Angel Mine”

It seemed reasonable, but it was also an annoyance that a hotel with the Brown’s reputation would allow staff to discuss the couests with newspapermen

“Is there a story for me, Mr Bell?” Gibbs asked

Bell had always had a love/hate relationship with the press At times, their ability to reach thousands of households per dayresolutions much easier But, on the other hand, it , which was so much of what he did, more difficult There were no shadows to hide in when the papers were shining lights on everything

“I’m afraid not, Mr Gibbs” Bell slid the 45 back into its shoulder holster “I was asked to look into a few ano the accident at thedied in the collapse” Bell h truth with the lie to satisfy the reporter