Notes 14

“I’m going to find out who shot Hugh Conway, and bring him or them in and put them in jail. When I do this, I will have your support, won’t
I, Judge?” “You are the acting sheriff, Mr. Jensen,” Judge Briggs said. “You bring the suspect in, and if there is enough evidence to indict, we
will hold a trial.” “Like the last trial?” Matt asked. Judge Briggs shook his head. “If you are talking about the hearing that was held with
regard to the alleged lynching, I’m sure you know that wasn’t a trial. If you recall, there was insufficient evidence to bring about an
indictment.” “Oh, yes, I remember that there wasn’t even a trial,” Matt said. “Believe me, I do remember.” “My hands were tied, Mr. Jensen.
There are certain restrictions and impositions that put restraints upon my ability to act.” “And who puts those restrictions on you, Judge? Is
it DuPont? Or is it Kennedy and O’Neil?” “Mr. Jensen, you are bordering on contempt,” Briggs said. “I’m just bordering on contempt? Damn.
I thought I had done better than border on contempt.” Briggs was still fuming when Matt left his office. Chapter Thirty-five “Hello, Matt, I
was hoping you would show up,” Art Walhausen said when Matt stepped into the Pair O’ Dice after leaving Judge Briggs’s office. “Ah, the
crusading newspaperman.” With a smile, Matt joined the others and looked across the table at Lonnie Cheatum. “Lonnie, would you ask
one of those pretty girls to bring me a beer?” “Jennie Lou, a beer for my friend,” the bartender called. “When’s the last time you’ve seen
Hugh?” Ernest Dean Fawcett asked. “Just this morning.”
• “How is he doing?” “He’s doing all right, considering,” Matt said. “He isn’t in any pain, and he’s
very alert. But of course, he’s still paralyzed from the waist down.” “Damn, that’s bad. It’s a
shame, too. Hugh is a fine man. One of the best men in the entire valley. How is Mrs. Conway
taking it?” “Hard, as you would expect,” Matt said. “She’s a good woman,” Art said. “And a
beautiful woman as well.” “You’ll get no argument from me,” Matt said. “Here you are, sweetie.
Your beer,” Jennie Lou said, putting the mug on the table before Matt. “Thank you, Jennie Lou.”
“I heard you talking about Mr. Conway. Would you please tell Mrs. Conway that all the girls here
are thinking about her?” “I’ll be glad to.” “She has always been very decent to us if she happens
to see us out on the street. Not every woman in town is like that.” “Oh, Matt, I nearly forgot. A
letter came to the newspaper office for you,” Art said after Jennie Lou walked away. “A letter
was sent to the newspaper office for me?” The expression on Matt’s face denoted his surprise
and curiosity as to what kind of letter would be sent to him at the newspaper officer, rather
than the sheriff’s office or even general delivery at the post office. Art pulled an envelope from
his pocket and slid it across the table to Matt. “Here it is. As you can see, I haven’t opened it. It
was addressed to you, and it would have been unethical for me to do so.” Art flashed a
conspiratorial grin. “Besides, I couldn’t figure out how to get it open without it being discovered
that it was opened.” Matt chuckled as he took the letter from Art’s hand. “But you’re going to
hang around until I open it to see what it is, aren’t you?”