Ragtime Cowboys Read Free

it’s another. I don’t reckon you know where he went after you let him go.”
    â€œI got a wire from a ranch up in Sonoma County yesterday asking about his fitness. The son of a bitch used my name for a reference.”
    â€œWhat did you say?”
    â€œI haven’t answered it yet. Josie says I should cool down before I say anything I might regret. She treats me like a horse; I’m surprised she doesn’t rub me down with a piece of burlap before she puts me to bed.”
    Siringo always thought Josephine was too smart for her husband.
    â€œIf I was you, I’d paint a pretty picture of the boy, get ’em to hire him on. Then you’ll know where he is so you can pump him.”
    Earp chewed the ends of his handlebars. Finally he nodded.
    â€œIt sticks in my craw, but sure. Only if it’s me doing the pumping, I might just kill him.”
    â€œYou’re too hotheaded for the job. Fists are no good in detective work. If they’re tough it just makes ’em stick down deeper and if they ain’t all you get is lies to make it stop. You got to oil a saddle to bring out the grain.”
    â€œWell, I’m no hand at that sort of thing. That’s why I’m here instead of out beating the brush for my horse.”
    Siringo pulled on his pipe, found it had gone out. He placed it next to the typewriter to cool.
    â€œI’m out to pasture,” he said. “Hire a Pinkerton. I’m down on the outfit since they let me go, but I guess they can still handle horse stealing.”
    â€œYou quit, the way I heard it. Seems to me I read it in that Isms thing you wrote, or as far as I got into it. A gentleman rancher such as myself hasn’t a great deal to do but sit around and read, but that one lost me in the tall grass.”
    He knew the “gentleman rancher” lived off his wife’s money, but he wasn’t one to judge a man for making his way however he could. Siringo had sniffed around some well-set-up widows after Mamie died, but he’d lost considerable of the looks and charm that had gotten him so far in the past. All he’d been able to throw a loop around was Lillie. That had not ended well; certainly not in riches.
    â€œ Two Evil Isms: Pinkertonism and Anarchism, ” he said. “The Agency confiscated every copy. Anyhow, there wasn’t much to do after I was fired but go ahead and quit.”
    â€œWell, I tried the Pinks in Frisco. They wanted too much up front, with no guarantee they could even turn anything, but a secretary there told me on the Q.T. about this young fellow who sure enough quit them over principles. He had some.”
    Siringo was prepared to like the man, but he couldn’t see Earp being impressed. The next thing he said cleared up the confusion.
    â€œI saw when I met him that was just an excuse. He’s a lunger, like old Doc was, rest his soul in hell. The work got too strenuous on a steady basis. He’s in the way of being a writer, like you, only the publishers can’t see it. He’s got a gal who’s expecting and he intends to marry her, so he accepted my offer.”
    â€œYou’re all set up, then.”
    â€œHold on. He’s got the smarts and experience, but I suspect he’s distracted.” Earp, who had set down his glass, fashioned an imaginary one from his fist and flipped it toward his mouth. “Just like Doc.”
    Who was no great loss to posterity. Siringo had hung around killers, but that was all in a day’s work. He found them a filthy lot, and too dumb to see they were no better off than if they’d kept the Sixth Commandment. The man sitting on his bed had always seemed to prefer their company over decent men’s.
    Siringo took a swig from his own glass, which was real enough.
    â€œIt happens to the best of us. Last time I got so distracted I woke up in Chihuahua three days later with my ears pierced.”
    â€œI know you’re just