Shooting For Justice by G. Tilman (reading books for 4 year olds txt) 📕

her, he saw she had the .38 Smith & Wesson break open revolver in her hand, hidden by the other hand.

She recognized the tall handsome figure and slipped the gun back into her purse.

“Success?”

“Oh, yes! The event will happen at an undisclosed location south of here on Thursday. We need to find out the president’s plan for Thursday. Like right now!”

They went straight to the Western Union office at the train depot and sent an urgent telegram to Lincoln in care of the War office. Pope knew it would be delivered directly to him at home as soon as it was received.

He wished the War office had a cypher system like Wells Fargo had. If it did, he was unaware of it or its codes. In plain language he said they had new information about an event happening Thursday south of his current location. He asked what the “Chet’s” itinerary was on Thursday. He said he would check back at the telegraph for the reply upon opening tomorrow morning. He also said he hoped to have more information tomorrow night.

“If we need to take Nelson to Washington under duress, I think getting a couple military policemen from West Point Military Academy might be prudent. I am jumping ahead, but if this is an assassination attempt in several days, we don’t have much time to plan how to stop it,” Pope said.

“It is coming down to the wire, I believe,” Sarah said.

“How did you get this far so fast?”

“Feminine wiles. I dangled a big juicy orange carrot under the jackass’s nose and wouldn’t let him get near it.”

“Don’t you think what you did was pretty dangerous, Sarah?”

“Not at all. I could take him with my bare hands. Or gun, or knife. All without getting out of breath,” she said.

Pope had a great deal of confidence in his partner. He also knew most men were stronger in the arms, shoulders and legs than most women. It was possible for a highly trained and motivated smaller person, man or woman, to succumb to being caught off guard and overwhelmed. He did not argue the point. He knew it was not productive from experience.

The next morning, Pope checked for a response telegram at the Western Union office. There was none at nine. He found a nearby café and had coffee until ten. The second check was fruitful.

President Chester Arthur was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the dedication of a new monument in downtown Washington at two o’clock Thursday afternoon. Pope had never heard of the person depicted on the monument. All he cared about was Arthur would be a viable target, both traveling and at the dedication ceremony. There had been notice in local papers and a small crowd was expected. It would be a perfect time for the Marxists to strike.

Pope decided to wait until he had a chance to interrogate Roger Nelson before telling either Lincoln or Brewster more. He simply did not have enough of the plan to share yet. He did, however, know this was it. The threat. The case. He had a very dependable gut feeling. He sure hoped he was right. So much depended on it.

He walked back to the room.

“Arthur is dedicating a new monument in Washington at two on Thursday. There will be a crowd. I am sure the Marxists will attempt to hit him then,” he told Sarah.

“Then, we have to get the information tonight from Nelson,” she responded.

“Yes. We will need the plan and names of all participants.”

They formulated their own plan and help phrase for Sarah. Pope did not like the chance she was taking at all, but she remained committed to it.

At seven-thirty, they walked towards Nelson’s house. It was a long walk, but they did not want to take a hansom cab and have a witness to them being at the location.

Sarah fixed her hair so she could free it with a quick pull on a hairband. She wore a simple cleaning woman dress. While Pope checked the telegraph office, she bought a new, plain cotton shift to wear underneath it. Pope had not seen it yet. She suspected he would not like it for tonight’s use. It was thin to the point of almost transparency. Sarah thought they had one opportunity to find out enough about the attack to save the president. Modesty was the least important part of the case to her.

It was dusk as they approached the house and getting darker by the minute. They decided to wait until it was completely dark.

Once dark enough, they went over their plan. Most people did not bother to lock their home doors. Sarah would knock and go in. They would eventually go upstairs. Windows were open on the hot summer night, so Pope would be able to hear her signals.

He hid in the bushes as Sarah knocked on the front door.

Nelson answered the door in some sort of satin robe and clearly nothing else.

“Well, don’t you look ready for a night of relaxation!” Sarah told him.

The door closed and Pope heard the lock click.

“Damn!” he said silently. He did not have his lock pick set. It was in the investigative bag in Washington. He had the Bowie and a Barlow pocketknife. Maybe one could slide the lock bolt aside.

Then, he heard the bolt click open, yet the door remained closed.

Sarah watched with surprise and horror as Nelson locked the door. She had to do something quickly.

She leaned her back against the door and smiled seductively. She unbuttoned her dress and let it drop to the floor. Nelson saw through the thin shift in the parlor light and smiled.

“Lead the way to wherever you have some wine, Roger,” she said.

He turned and she unlocked the door with the hands hidden behind her back.

Sarah followed Nelson up the stairs and into the bedroom. He had a bottle of wine and two crystal wine stems beside the bed. If ever there was a seduction scene, this was it.

Pope slipped into the door