The Hanging of Samuel Ash by Sheldon Russell

for Gallup.”
    â€œGood thinking, Junior.”
    â€œBut it never did,” he said, staring into his plate. “It only accelerated.”
    â€œLay asides can be unpredictable,” Hook said. “One time I rode a coal car clean to Winnipeg, Canada, before she stopped.”
    Junior nodded. “And then we went by these stock cars filled with cattle.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “The thing is, they urinated just as we passed.”
    â€œUrinated, you say?”
    He nodded. “Collectively, as if premeditated.”
    â€œWell, you can never be certain what cows are thinking,” Hook said.
    The pancakes arrived, and both fell silent as they slathered on butter.
    Hook held up his knife. “You mind if we get to the jail part now, Junior?”
    Junior shoved large portions of pancake into his mouth as he gathered up his story.
    â€œSo I’m thinking perhaps I made a serious mistake not jumping when I had the opportunity. But then again, perhaps the train would slow enough when we came to the bus. I calculated that the road couldn’t be that far off.”
    Hook poured syrup over his cakes. “The jail, Junior? I got pressing matters.”
    Junior laid down his fork and stared off into space. “We shot past that bus so fast I could barely see it. We must have been going seventy miles an hour.
    â€œIn the end, I didn’t get off until the train stopped in Fort Defiance. I walked all the way back to the bus and discovered the keys under the seat. Though the bus was in a state of disrepair, I thought it only logical that I attempt to drive it back.”
    â€œThe jail, Junior.”
    â€œApparently the bus belongs to the bridge and building foreman, who had parked it there while attending a job in Amarillo. He’d requested the police to keep an eye on it.
    â€œWhen I arrived in town, I was promptly arrested for stealing railroad equipment. I explained to the deputy that I was in fact a real railroad detective, that I had been directed to remove the bus by railroad officials.”
    â€œHe didn’t believe you?” Hook asked.
    â€œHe said he was a real cop, too, and would be directing me straight to jail.”
    Hook leveled his prosthesis at Junior. “It’s the job of yard dogs to put other people in jail. They’re not supposed to be put in jail themselves.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œA yard dog has to set an example, be an ideal citizen, so to speak. He can’t go around getting picked up by the authorities. His life has to be whistle-clean and his integrity beyond question.”
    â€œI’m sorry, sir. Had I known…”
    â€œBeing put in jail cast the company in a bad light. You don’t want that.”
    â€œI can do better. I promise.”
    Hook pushed his plate aside.
    Junior cupped his elbows in his hands. “Are you going to release me, Hook? I’m afraid my father will not understand.”
    Hook twisted his mouth to the side. “I’m prepared to give this a second chance, Junior, though I do so with considerable doubt.”
    â€œI won’t disappoint you a second time. I promise.”
    â€œThing is, I found a boy hanging off the potash wigwag. He might have been a murder victim.”
    Junior’s eyes widened. “Murder?”
    â€œPossible. Turns out he’d been scabbing, and hard feelings had developed among the signal crew. The coroner found a Bronze Star around his neck with the name Samuel Ash engraved on it. So far, it’s the only lead I have.”
    â€œA war hero?”
    â€œI want you to go back to Clovis and see if you can find out anything about this Samuel Ash.”
    â€œWhere should I begin the investigation?”
    â€œWhere the answers are, Junior. In the meantime, I’ll see if I can clear the air around here.”
    â€œYes, sir, but…”
    â€œBut what?”
    â€œDo I have to jump on another train? Perhaps you