“There ain't a telephone in town,” said the agent. “The line goes up the other side of the river to Tillman. I don't believe you can find a 'phone nearer than Truesdale.”
“How far's that?” asked the Senator, after an expressive pause.
“'Bout fifteen miles by the river road. You have to go round by way of Oakwood. It's going to rain, too,” he added, glancing at the clouded sky.
The look of annoyance on the Senator's face settled into one of determination, and the agent began to fear lest the invitation to “have something” had slipped from the great man's mind.
The Senator asked slowly, “Is there such a thing as a livery stable in this”—he gulped—“in this town?”
“I guess old man Barnes could let you have some sort of a horse. He's got a place just the other side of Hogan's. I'll go down there with you if you like.”
The parley with Barnes took only a few minutes, and at half-past three the Senator drove down the main street and turned west toward the river road. His vehicle was a light delivery wagon with a canopy over it, and was drawn by a ragged old white horse, which, according to the livery man, was an exceptional animal.
“The General's an aristocrat, he is,” said Barnes. “I might say a thoroughbred. I hate like poison to let him out to a stranger, but I let you take him because I see you understand a horse.”
There was no flicker of intelligence in the agent's face as he heard the words, but when the Senator asked him to accompany him on the drive he declined. “I want to be on hand,” he explained, “when Jim Weeks comes down the line.” So Senator Jones started out alone on his drive to Truesdale, and the agent watched him from the door of Hogan's saloon. “Go along with him!” he thought. “I guess not. It'd be a circus, though, to see what happens when they get to the river bridge.” Then, as Barnes joined him on the steps, he added, “What do you suppose the General will do to him?”
“Oh, he won't hurt him,” answered Barnes. “He'll just turn around and come home when he gets good and ready. Come in and have something.”