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“I know Tony and I know Ernst Bloeser, Mr Bell Would you like me to make the call for you?”
Although Bell was sorely tempted, Tony was his responsibility “Kind of you to offer, but this is my bullet to take”
The es while Isaac downed a quick shot of whiskey in the bar When the wires were aligned, the er motioned for Bell to enter the booth just off the reception desk Bell did and closed its accordion door A light automatically flickered to life above him
“Mr Bloeser, this is Isaac Bell Your brother and I ate the Little Angel Mine disaster”
“Hello, Mr Bell This is actually Hans Bloeser I aet some news from you”
“The news is not good, I’m afraid Your man, Tony, was accidentally shot in the shoulder” Bell heard a sharp intake of breath over the staticky line “He’s going to be fine The doc’s going to keep hi him home”
A few seconds passed while Hans reiterated the news to his brother He finally told Bell, “When the time comes, Ernst will fetch Tony and keep him at his house until the lad is up and about”
“The doc here mentioned physiotherapy”
“Ja, ill find the best in Denver and he ith Tony every day until he is, ah, right as rain”
“I’enerous support”
“Mr Bell, what about our reason for hiring you? Were you perhaps successful—”
Bell cut him off before he could finish the question He cited the fact that this was an open wire, but, in truth, he wanted a fuller understanding of the situation fro “Why don’t we ive you my full report”
“Very well, Mr Bell Until tomorrow”
He exited the telephone booth and asked the ory Patmore arrived, Bell was to be told immediately His room didn’t have its own tub, but as it was between dinner and bedtiuests, no one disturbed hie cera facility Afterward, he ate a late supper and had two n of the Colonel Bell was too tired to consider this a bad oht man and went to bed
Patmore didn’t turn up until an hour after dawn Bell was in the hotel restaurant, lingering over a coffee and staring idly out the hen the h froain, he had been ca for the better part of a week