Austin picked up a beautiful ring of gold with two tiny blue sapphires. “This one caught my eye.” He held the piece up to catch the light from the window. “How much?”
The man quoted him a price. Austin arched a brow. “How much?”
“Well, I might be able to take off five percent.”
“Still seems mighty high,” Austin told him. “How about twenty percent?” He knew full well the man would never agree to such a large discount, but this way they could dicker to the percentage Austin expected to get.
“I should say not,” the man replied, sounding most offended. He seemed to forget all about the covert reason Austin had come in the first place. “I could go maybe as high as seven percent.”
“How about fifteen? I mean, that’s me coming down five percent.” Austin grinned. “And it’s for a good cause. I have the prettiest gal waiting for me in Texas.”
The man stiffened. “Ten and that’s my final offer.”
Austin pretended to be uncertain, even though ten percent was exactly the discount he was seeking. “I suppose if that’s your final offer then I haven’t got much of a choice. I’ll take it.”
The jeweler seemed surprised when Austin pulled out the cash and handed it to him. “I’ll take it with me.”
“But sir, what about the size? Will this fit your young lady?”
Austin looked at the ring and thought of Jessica’s slender fingers. “I think it’ll be fine. If not, we can take care of the matter in Texas.” He tucked the ring into his vest pocket and bid the man good-day.
Pulling up the collar of his coat, Austin stepped outside and squinted against the morning sun. The light glinting off the snow all but blinded him. He drew a deep breath and felt the cold air sting his lungs. How in the world did people live in this frozen land? Without another thought he dodged a couple of men on horseback and crossed to the bank.
The bank was an older redbrick building that held a sort of warm grace in contrast against the snow. Austin had already been informed it was one of the local banks that hadn’t needed to close for long during the recent financial crisis. Hence, they’d been able to keep Chesterfield’s box locked in the vault until they could once again reopen. Austin walked into the building and pulled off his hat. Looking around the room, he saw tellers already busy receiving customers. Unfortunately, it wasn’t much warmer inside than it had been outside.
A man at a desk to the left of him glanced up and smiled. “May I help you, sir?”
“I’m here to see the bank manager, John C. Espry.”
The man stiffened. “Do you have an appointment?”
“Of sorts. I think when you let him know I’m here, he’ll be more than happy to meet with me.”
The man gave him a look of disbelief but nevertheless got to his feet. “Who shall I say is calling?”
“Austin Todd.”
The man gave a curt nod and hurried to a closed door near the back of the bank. It was only a moment before he returned. “Mr. Espry will see you immediately.” The man looked to be surprised by this turn of events but said nothing more. He showed Austin to the office and closed the door behind him.
“Mr. Todd,” the older man said, getting to his feet. “Thank you for coming today. I received your note last night and am quite anxious to see this matter attended to. The president and owner of this bank wants it cleared up right away. He is making plans for changes in the future and feels this needs to be settled.”
“I’m happy to oblige,” Austin replied. “Here’s the letter I’ve brought from Mr. Chesterfield’s daughter, Alice Chesterfield Barnett, giving me permission to receive the lockbox and its contents.”
Espry took the letter and, without even bothering to read the contents, instructed Austin to follow him. “The box is being kept in a private room. I’ll take you there,” he told Austin, glancing again at the letter. He tossed it to his desk. “Frankly, even without the letter, I was instructed to hand it over to you.”
The older man pulled a set of keys from his pocket. “Come with me.”
He led the way out a back entrance to the office and down a long narrow hallway. When they reached a back staircase, Austin thought they might be headed up. But Espry took a sharp turn to the right and led Austin to a large wooden door. Espry inserted a key and the lock opened. “It’s just in here,” he said. Espry turned on the lights and escorted Austin inside. Austin couldn’t help but sneeze several times in a row. The room smelled musty. The cloying scent of cigars seemed to permeate the draperies and carpets. Espry seemed embarrassed and apologized. “This room was used just yesterday to hold a board meeting. I am sorry that we didn’t think to air it out.”
Despite sneezing, Austin assured the man it was of no concern. “I’m here for the box. I’ve endured worse smells than this.” His glance went to the table where a black box sat. “Is that it?”
Espry looked to the table. “Yes, this is the box left with us by Mr. Chesterfield.”
Austin stepped forward. The box was most unusual. It looked to be about twelve by twelve by twelve. Austin ran his hand over the ornate black lacquered piece and noted obvious Oriental touches to the box. He pulled the strange key from his pocket and inserted it in the lock. The moment of truth came as the key turned and the box opened.
Chapter 24
The contents of the box were better than Austin had hoped for. Not only were the counterfeiting plates within, but so too were the certificates, papers for additional certificates, and several bottles of ink. He snapped the lid closed quickly as Espry stepped forward to see the contents.
“Thank you,” Austin said and relocked the box. Looking up, he could see that Espry was disappointed Austin hadn’t shared the look inside. “I’ll take this with me.” He hoisted the locked box to his shoulder. “You’ve been a great help, and I know Mrs. Barnett appreciates your cooperation in this matter.”
The bank manager seemed hesitant. “And the contents . . . were they what you’d expected?”
“Exactly so,” Austin replied, heading out of the room and back down the narrow hall.
He didn’t waste any time. Making a straight path through the bank, he exited the front door, knowing that his cohorts would see him and the box. The trolley was just approaching, and Austin quickly signaled with a wave and jumped aboard the crowded conveyance.
The box wasn’t all that heavy, but its value was enormous. The contents could have easily caused massive problems with the monetary system. He would need to make a closer examination, but it was clear why this had cost Alice’s father his life.
As the trolley reached the area of Austin’s hotel, he paid the fee and jumped down from the steps. He shifted the box to his left shoulder and made his way into the hotel. The clerk looked at him in surprise and called out before Austin could make his way to the stairs.
“Sir, would you like a bellman to help with that?”
“No thanks,” Austin said over his shoulder. “I’ve got it.” He bounded up the stairs, as if to prove his ability, and quickly made his way down the hall to his room.
Once inside, he deposited the box on his bed and returned to the door to lock it. The room was warmer than it’d been downstairs, and sunlight shone brightly through the window. At last Austin was starting to warm up.
Taking the banjo-shaped key from his pocket once again, Austin inserted it in the lock.
Pushing back the lid, Austin reached into the box and began pulling out the contents. There were plates for the gold certificates, as well as plates for pressing twenty dollar bills. Austin carefully examined each item, marveling at the work that had gone into putting together such a kit. The work was exquisite and no doubt done by one of the best in the business.
A knock on the hotel door brought Austin to attention. That would be his friends Kayler and Fegel.
“Just a minute,” he called out and placed the items back into the lacquered box. He didn’t bother to close the lid and lock it, but went to unlock his door.
“We’re glad to be here, as well,” Morgan said, pushing Austin back.
Austin felt like ten kinds of fool for having let his guard down. He had been more than a little foolish to feel safe in his hotel room.
Morgan headed to the box and peered inside. “It’s exactly as I had hoped. You’ve saved me a great deal of trouble, Mr. Todd.”
His holster was hanging at the top of the bed. Austin moved slowly toward it. With a little luck, he hoped to pull his revolver without the men noticing. But even as he tried, Morgan’s partner pushed Austin back and took the gun from the holster.
“You won’t be needin’ this.” The man’s icy blue eyes narrowed, and his expression seemed to dare Austin to fight.
Morgan looked up to see what had caused the exchange. “Glad to see you’re on the job, Mr. Smith. That could have set us both back had Mr. Todd managed to get his weapon. I’m afraid I wasn’t very observant, since I had my mind fixed on other things.”
He went back to rummaging in the box while Austin tried to figure a way he might overpower the tall lanky Mr. Smith.
“I’m glad to see that Chesterfield was careful with this.” Morgan looked at Austin and smiled. “When he told me he no longer planned to help me in my endeavors and that he planned to go to the police, well, I feared I might never again see these.”
Snapping the lid in place, Morgan turned the key. “But now they are safely back in my care.”
“You do realize that the Treasury Department is well aware of these plates and forged certificates. They’ve put more men than me on this case, so you can’t hope to get away with this.”
“I don’t hope to get away with this, Mr. Todd,” Morgan said, fixing him with a blank stare. “I’ve already gotten away with it. For some time before Mr. Chesterfield got cold feet, I had gotten away with it. Chesterfield caused me a most uncomfortable delay, especially in light of the financial difficulties of ’93. However, now that my property has been returned to me, I shall endeavor to make up for lost time.” He looked to Mr. Smith and shrugged. “I suppose the first thing we need to do is dispose of Mr. Todd.”
The henchman stepped closer to Austin and put the revolver to his head. “That won’t be no trouble.”
A knock on the door startled the two thieves. With his eyes narrowed to slits, Smith lowered the gun to Austin’s midsection.
“Austin, it’s us. Open up.”
Morgan moved to Todd. “Say nothing.”
“Come on, Todd, we haven’t got all day if we’re going to catch the train to Denver.”
Austin shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. He had to warn the men of what was happening, but how? Smith punched the barrel of the gun into Austin’s stomach. Doubling over in a grunt, Austin managed to back into the nightstand. The lightweight piece of furniture toppled over, and all the contents on it spilled noisily to the hardwood floors.
“Fool!” Morgan exclaimed as the hotel door was kicked in.
Austin straightened just as the agents attacked. A gunshot rang out and Austin felt a burning sensation run through his body. Even so, he pushed forward to disarm Lothar. The other agents were busy with Morgan, who had drawn a revolver of his own.
Austin kicked Smith in the shins, but the man held fast to the gun. The taller man had the advantage and held his ground. Forcing Lothar’s arm upward, Austin tried but failed to make him drop the weapon. Instead, as Smith’s arm lowered, he somehow managed to get his finger on the trigger once again. The sound of the gun being fired was all that Austin heard as blackness overtook him.
It had been two weeks since Austin had headed to Colorado. Two weeks and no word. Jessica paced most unhappily through the house, wringing her hands and fretting about what might have gone wrong.
Perhaps Harrison had been right and Austin had changed his mind about returning. But even as the thought came to mind, Jessica did her best to take it captive, as the Bible directed. Her mother and father knew how worried she’d become.
“You’re not helping yourself any by fretting,” Father said when Jessica made her way back through the front sitting room.
“I know, but I can’t put aside the feeling that something is wrong.” She went to where her father sat and knelt. “Papa, can’t you send a wire or contact someone who might know what’s going on?”
Her father reached out and patted her hands. “Sometimes these things take time.”
“But this has already taken far more time than Austin believed it would. Not only that, but he promised to wire as soon as his task was completed. He should have been able to send us a message, something telling us he was all right.”
Gazing at her with a sympathetic look, Father reached up to gently take hold of her chin. “I hate to see you so worried. You’re not eatin’ or sleepin’ properly, and your mother is beside herself. I guess I’d better do what I can, or she’ll have my hide.” He gave her his classic lazy smile, which eased Jessica’s mind just a bit. “I’ll check with Will and see if they’ve had any word.”
Jessica threw herself against her father’s seated frame. “Oh, thank you. Thank you. I’m so afraid of what might have happened. I can’t rest until I know.”
“I figured as much,” her father declared. “If you’ll get up off me, I’ll go right now.”
“Can I come with you?” she asked, her voice pleading. “Please, Papa, I promise to do whatever you say, and no matter what news we hear . . . I assure you I can bear it.”
“Very well. Have one of the boys saddle our horses, and I’ll let your mother know what we’re up to.”
The ride to the Barnetts’ seemed to take forever. Jessica wanted to run Peg all the way, but Father wouldn’t allow for such abuse. “We’ve plenty of time, Jess.”
When they finally arrived, Jessica drew her leg up and over the horn of her sidesaddle as she kicked out of her stirrup. Without warning, she jumped to the ground.
“You trying to kill yourself?” Father asked. “Next time wait until I can help you down.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just so anxious to know what’s going on.”
“I realize that,” he said, tying off their horses, “but if you’re dead, you won’t get to know anything.”
Jessica knew he was right, but she trusted her mount. Peg was used to her mistress taking chances. Father took hold of her arm, and together they made their way to the porch.
“Let me do the talkin’,” Father said. “In your state of mind you won’t make a lick of sense.”
Jessica nodded but knew it would be hard to say nothing. Even so, she’d do her best. When Robert appeared at the door, she fought the urge to pounce on him and demand answers.
“Mr. Atherton . . . Jess,” Robert said with a grin. “We weren’t expectin’ you to come visitin’.”
“We came to see if there’s been any word from Austin.”
“Come on in.” Robert moved away from the door. “I haven’t heard anything since the wire tellin’ me that Morgan and Smith were on the train.”
“Jess is worried. I guess I am, too. He hasn’t come back, and he hasn’t gotten in touch with Jessica. I figure since the man plans to marry her, he’d at least let her know when he’d be back.”
It was the first time Jessica realized that her father was just as concerned as she was. She looked to Robert. “Do you suppose your father has had word or maybe Jake and Marty?”
Robert shrugged. “It’s possible, but Pa would have told me if he knew anything. As for Marty and Jake, I couldn’t say. I haven’t seen them in a couple days. The kids have been down sick, and they weren’t at church yesterday, as you know. If they’ve had a letter or telegram in the last few days, I wouldn’t know about it.”
“I have to think that if they’d had any word,” Father countered, “they would have let you know.”
“We have to do something!” Jessica ex
claimed. “We can’t just keep waiting.”
“Waiting for what?” Will Barnett asked, coming from the hallway.
“Howdy, Will. Jess and I were just trying to learn if there had been any word from Austin.”
“None that I know of.” He frowned. “And you’ve heard nothing?”
“Not a word.”
Jessica stepped forward to the man who’d been a sort of uncle to her. “Please help us. We have to find out what’s happened. I’m afraid something is wrong and Austin is in trouble.”
“We could send a telegram to his old boss in Washington,” Robert suggested. “What was his name?”
“Ellery Turner,” Jessica replied without a breath. “Can you go immediately?”
Robert smiled and put his hand on Jessica’s shoulder. “For you, I’d do most anything. Let me tell Alice, and I’ll head out.”
“You’ll stop by the house as soon as you know something?” Jessica asked.
“Sure will. Just remember, it might take days to get word back.”
Jessica nodded, knowing full well those days would feel like years.
Austin opened his eyes to a sight he’d never thought to see again. His brother Houston was perched on his bed, grinning at him like he’d just beat him at checkers.
“You’re dead,” Austin said, shaking his head.
“Well, from the standards of life as you know it—yes.”
“Does that mean I’m dead, too?”
Houston chuckled. “Nope. It means you’re dreamin’.”
Austin looked around the room. It all seemed so real, so clear. How could it be a dream, a trick of the mind? “Where am I?”
“Does it matter?” his brother asked.
“I suppose not.” Austin looked at his brother for a moment. “I’ve wanted to talk to you for a long time.”
“I know,” Houston replied, his smile fading. “You’re wondering if I blame you for what happened, ’cause you blame yourself, and it’s become a difficult burden to carry.”
Austin nodded. “Yes.” He tried to sit up, but pain caused him to fall back.
A Matter of Heart Page 24