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He showed Isaac the top of the tool where the handle slotted in through a hole in the metal pick itself
“What a at?”
“See the two nails that have been driven into the wood?” Wickersham asked
“Yes And?”
“It’s an old trick to add more tension between the head and the shaft of the pick so the head stays on better The thing is, you only need to do that with inferior or worn-out tools This is an old pick”
Bell understood the implication i the latest and finest equipment”
“The pickdressing in case anyone caht
“A clever ruse, and one that would doubtless work if eren’t already suspicious about the details of the accident” Bell was more anxious than ever to dive the mine properly and put an end to this mystery If it turned out that the men had faked their own deaths, it would be up to Hans Bloeser to continue the investigation with Charles Post, Van Dorn’sequipment from San Francisco
6
While awaiting the delivery from California, Bell helped Tony Wickershael Mine for its curtain call They were going to rig the mouth of the shaft with explosives and collapse the tunnel deeply enough to stanch the floater They’d also hired a couple of Bill Mahoney’s men to help drill into the rock to maximize the TNT’s effect They purposely left out the booster charges so there would be no accidental detonations until Bell’s explorations were complete
With just enough time to reach the train from Denver, Bell borrowed Wickersham’s REO truck and drove back to Central City to meet his fellow Van Dorn detective
The narrow-gauge loco into the depot when Bell finally reached town He’d shaved time from the trip up into the foothills but had paid the price of a battered body from the uneven trails The dirt streets of Central City felt like freshly laid tar-bounde steaes and place it on a wheeled trolley He didn’t recognize the agent, but the trunk was adorned with the logo of Hecht Marine, an octopus clutching Poseidon’s trident
Bell parked the REO as close to the platfor fro ride “Hello I’m Isaac Bell”
The porter regarded hient turned quickly and rushed toward him, his hand outstretched like the bowsprit on a schooner “Mr Bell I’m Colin Rhodes It is an honor to meet you”
Young Master Rhodes hteen, with a shaggyout froer puppy not yet grown into its body