Ralph Compton Whiskey River by RALPH COMPTON Page A

card,” said Amanda.
    â€œThere was some deck-stackin’ goin’ on,” Bill said. “Nobody drew low cards except the men who are solid behind Estrello. I get the feeling that there’s some of us old Wolf just don’t trust.”
    â€œI’ve had that same feeling for a while, myself,” said Mark, “and I don’t think you’ve taken it quite far enough. We’ve just heard Estrello choose eight killers to eliminate the steamboat crews. What’s to stop him from choosing another bunch to rid himself of some of the rest of us he’s not especially fond of?”
    â€œI don’t like to think about that,” Bill said, “but it’s a possibility we’ll have to face. If there are fewer men to claim the money, each share increases. Keithley’s with us on the second watch. Let’s see how he feels.”
    By the start of the second watch, Keithley had already spoken to Long, Sullivan, Clemans, Ursino, and Stackler. They all seemed to share the same doubts, concerning the expected showdown.
    â€œI think we’ll be safe enough, until Estrello has eliminated the steamboat crews and has taken the whiskey,” said Keithley. “I expect him to make his move after we reach the landing near here, just east of Fort Smith, on the return journey.”
    â€œWhy can’t Estrello be satisfied with just taking the whiskey?” Betsy asked. “Why does he have to murder the steamboat crews?”
    â€œTo silence them” said Keithley. “A man on foot could reach Fort Smith within maybe two hours, and they’ll have the telegraph there. Estrello’s afraid of that.”
    â€œI don’t know how we can prevent this mass murder Estrello has in mind,” Bill said, “but I’ll feel like less of a human being if we don’t try.”
    â€œBut there’s not enough of you,” said Betsy. “They’ll just turn their guns on those of you who try to stop them.”
    â€œShe’s dead right about that,” Keithley said. “We need help.”
    â€œThere’s the telegraph in Fort Smith,” said Amanda.
    â€œWe’d never make it,” Keithley said. “The moment one of us is missed, Estrello will be ready to send killers after him. Besides, unless you have some ideas, there’s nobody we can reach by telegraph who might get here in time to help us.”
    â€œNo,” said Bill, “and the big question is, can we get help from anywhere in time to stop Estrello’s conspiracy?”
    â€œWe still have to take the steamboats to St. Louis, load the whiskey, and return to this landing near Fort Smith,” Mark said. “That’ll take some time. Todd, is there some way I can get pencil and paper for a message?”
    â€œEd Stackler has a notebook,” said Keithley. “How soon do you need it?”
    â€œRight now,” Mark said, “and I’ll need some light. Who’s got a lantern?”
    â€œI have,” said Keithley, “but you’ll have to be careful. Some of these hombres on the second watch are Estrello men to the bone.”
    â€œLet me go with you, Mark,” Amanda said. “If anybody gets curious about the light, I can tell them I’m sick and that Todd sent me to his wagon for some medicine.”
    â€œThey’ll never believe that,” said Mark, “but we’ll have to try. Getting caught with the message I’m about to send will be the death of Bill and me.”
    â€œGo ahead,” Keithley said. “You know where my wagon is. Circle around, comin’ in from the north side. Don’t light the lantern until you have to. I’ll have Stackler get to you with pencil and paper. Good luck.”
    Mark and Amanda reached Keithley’s wagon without being discovered, and within a few minutes, Stackler was there. Silently, he passed the stub of a pencil and two sheets of paper to Mark. He then