Ralph Compton Whiskey River Read Free Page B

“For some time, I’ve had a mission in mind that only a truly desperate man might consider. The two of you certainly qualify.”
    â€œIf it’s anything less than the firing squad,” said Bill, “I’d be interested in hearin’ it.”
    â€œIt may be every bit as dangerous as the firing squad,” Ferguson replied. “Have either of you ever heard of Wolf Estrello and his whiskey runners?”
    Mark and Bill shook their heads, and Captain Ferguson continued.
    â€œRotgut whiskey is being brought by steamboat to Fort Smith,” said Ferguson, “and wagoned from there to Estrello’s stronghold in Indian Territory. This poison is being sold to the Kiowas and the Comanches. During the war, when we lacked the manpower to strike back, Estrello built a formidable empire, creating a haven for deserters from both sides of the conflict. Now we’re ready to infiltrate Estrello’s outfit and finish him once and for all.”
    â€œThat’s interesting,” said Bill, “but it means nothing to us.”
    â€œSuppose there’s a way the two of you can help destroy these whiskey runners, and in so doing, regain your freedom, your confiscated property, and full amnesty? Would it still mean nothing to you?”
    â€œGreat God almighty, what I wouldn’t give for such a chance,” Mark said.
    â€œAmen,” said Bill reverently.
    â€œThen listen to me,” Captain Ferguson said. “I want the two of you to work your way into Estrello’s confidence. He’s getting the whiskey from an illegal distillery somewhere near St. Louis, and then steamboating the loaded wagons along the Mississippi and the Arkansas to Fort Smith. Your mission will be twofold. I want you to escort the wagons by boat from St. Louis, and then become teamsters from Fort Smith to the Estrello hideout. Am I getting through to you?”
    â€œYes, sir,” said Bill. “You want us on the inside of Estrello’s whiskey-runnin’ outfit. You’re wantin’ it rode into the ground. Just how many men are we up against?”
    â€œPerhaps as many as fifty,” Ferguson replied, “but we’re prepared to grant amnesty to all who are willing to desert. Except for Estrello himself, of course. We want him dead.”
    â€œI’m beginning to understand what you have in mind,” said Mark. “You aim for us to free all these varmints that’s willing to give up whiskey running, and kill the others.”
    â€œPutting it bluntly, yes,” Captain Ferguson said. “It was the president’s dream to heal the nation, to forgive those deserving of it, and to eliminate the hard-core criminals who are beyond redemption. I believe you two can be rehabilitated, while helping to make the president’s dream a reality. Needless to say, you are sworn to silence, and until such a time as you’ve successfully completed your mission, you’ll be outlawed, with prices on your heads.”
    â€œWhat kind of prices?” Bill asked.
    â€œTen thousand dollars on the heads of each of you,” said Captain Ferguson. “That’s the same bounty on the heads of all the Estrello gang. I might add that those who aren’t interested in amnesty and must be eliminated are subject to having their bounties paid to you, if you earn them. That’s in addition to amnesty for yourselves and the return of your spreads near Waco, free and clear of all taxes.”
    â€œWe’re not concerned with bounty,” said Bill. “We only want our spreads back and the freedom to live there.”
    â€œNevertheless, there’ll be some bounty,” Captain Ferguson said. “Some of Estrello’s bunch is hardened criminals. When it comes to a showdown, they’ll shoot or be shot. Any questions?”
    â€œYes, sir,” said Mark. “At which end of this ‘Whiskey River’ showdown do we buy in? At the start of it,