Trail-weary and dry, Dace Halston tried to get permission for a couple of days off after his return to Guthrie. He wanted to visit the Eldridge farm to see if George McClary had ended up there. But without having reliable information that the fugitive would be visiting his wife, Nix couldn’t spare Dace from the office.
The best he could do for the deputy marshal was assign him to temporary standby duty that required him to stay in town. Dace bought a bottle and treated himself to a solitary drunk in his room before reporting back to Marshal Nix’s office for duty.
Instead of an assignment, he found a note waiting for him. McGoodwin, the chief clerk, handed it to him with a wink. “Looks like one of the girls at Minerva’s is sweet on you, Dace.”
“It’s my boyish charm,” Dace said. Curious, he went over to an empty desk and settled down with his boots propped up on the top. He opened the envelope that had been handed him. The note inside was terse but interesting:
Deer Marshal i know whur Gorge MKlarry is come and see me at Minurvas Lilly Waring
Dace’s boots hit the floor and he rushed out the door and down the street toward the bordello.
The clerk grinned at Dace as he went through the door. “Have fun, Dace. Give her a kiss for me.”
Dace pushed his way through the crowd on the street, his mind swimming with questions about George McClary. Mainly: where was he? Did he want to make a break for California? What were his plans regarding Harriet and the kids?
Minerva Lang herself greeted the marshal as he stepped into the parlor of her brothel. A definite increase in business had made certain refinements possible, and the clientele awaiting entertainment could buy drinks at a small but ornate bar, then walk back to plush overstuffed chairs on thick carpeting. Lamps with fringed shades stood on shiny waxed wood side tables and the curtain that had been hung over the stairs matched the decor in thick fringes and heavier material.
“Well, howdy, Dace,” Minerva said. “Decided to pay us a visit?” The buxom lady had put on even more weight since Dace’s days as town marshal.
“I’m here on business,” Dace said looking at the girls in the parlor. “I want to talk to Lilly Waring.”
“Shhh!” Minerva hissed. “The girls don’t like their real names bantered about like that. Most of ’em plan on marrying and settling down someday.”
“Just take me to her,” Dace said impatiently.
“She’s upstairs with a gentleman,” Minerva said. “But I’ll let you wait in the kitchen if you’ve a mind.”
“That’s fine,” Dace said. “Run up and tell her to hurry.”
“It ain’t up to her to hurry,” Minerva said leading him through the heavy curtain toward the back of the establishment. “Her companion handles that part of the transaction.”
Even the kitchen had been remodeled and improved, making it difficult for Dace to find the coffee cups with the ease he used to in the old days. He downed two quick cups before Lilly, heavily made-up and wearing a flimsy gown, made an appearance. He hardly recognized her from Ingraham.
“The note says you know where George McClary is,” Dace said.
“Are you gonna throw him in jail?” Lilly asked.
“Where is he?”
“He went back to his wife,” Lilly said sullenly. “After all I gave up for him, the no good sonofabitch went back to his wife.”
“Did he say anything about wanting to give hisself up?” Dace asked.
“No. He just said he was a-going back to her,” Lilly said angrily. “I want you to shoot him, Marshal Halston. He done me wrong.”
“I’ll take care of him,” Dace promised. “How long ago did he leave?” This information would be enough to have him sent to Arkansas City by Marshal Nix.
“Been a coupla weeks or so, I reckon,” the girl said. “We was outside Tulsa when he tole me. Shorty and Leon had already gone their own way, and there we was—broke an’ hungry with me willing to do something about it.”
“Shorty and Leon are dead,” Dace said. “George is lucky they left him.” He looked at the girl. “And you’re lucky George left you, Lilly. I got a feeling that nothing but bad is gonna come outta all this.”
“He don’t like you, Marshal,” Lilly said. “In fact, he hates you something fierce. He thinks you care for his wife too much for your own good.”
Dace’s face reddened. “Thanks, Lilly. I’ll be going now.”
“Good luck,” Lilly said as Dace went out the back door. She ran up and hollered at him as he strode down the alley. “You shoot him, hear? If you don’t, George McClary’ll sure as hell shoot you, Marshal Halston!”
~*~
Ward Stormwell dismounted and walked wearily into the U.S. marshal’s office. He grabbed a chair by the chief clerk’s desk and plopped himself down in it. “Whew! I’ve been riding this country for weeks, it seems.”
“Who the hell are you looking for?” McGoodwin asked looking up from his work.
“Dace Halston,” Stormwell answered. “Has he shown up in Guthrie yet?”
“Sure has,” the clerk answered. “Matter of fact, he was in here this morning. Didn’t stay long though. He got a note from one of the gals over at Minerva Lang’s place. He went over that way and I haven’t seen him since.
Stormwell sat up straighten “Which girl was it?”
“I don’t know,” McGoodwin answered. “But I have an idea it was Lilly Waring.”
Stormwell’s trained mind turned the name over for a couple of seconds. “Oh, yeah, George McClary’s girl friend from Ingraham. And she’s working in a whorehouse again?”
“That’s what they tell me,” McGoodwin answered.
Stormwell could immediately picture the situation. A woman scorned, seeking revenge against the man who left her for—whom? Another woman, of course. Maybe a wife? The Pinkerton man looked at McGoodwin. “Doesn’t George McClary’s wife live on a farm with her father?”
“Sure,” McGoodwin answered. “The old man’s got a place near Arkansas City. I’ve heard Dace mention it several times.”
Stormwell stood up and grinned. “Glad I didn’t take the trouble to unsaddle.”