Longarm and the Colorado gundown

_{“Before you ask, Marshal, I don’t know where the chief nor anybody else has got to. That’s the truth. They didn’t let me know ’cause they know I’ll spill anything if I’m pushed about it. All I was told was if I had any questions or wanted to pass any messages I was t’ do it through John here.” Longarm pulled John around to face him. “That’s corroboration of the charge against you, mister. The Justice Department will see it so. You’re looking at eighteen months to two years. Twelve to fourteen months inside, even with time off for good behavior. And that time won’t be spent strolling around a park. You won’t like what you find inside those walls. You truly won’t.”}

_{John looked away and refused to say anything.}

_{‘Take your prisoner, jailer. And I hope for your sake that you know better’n to allow him loose.”}

_{“I understand, Marshal.”}

_{Longarm retrieved his handcuffs, and watched while John was locked into a cell. Then the deputy completed the paperwork that was necessary. By the time he was done Longarm felt weary. Aggie followed him quietly back up the stairs. She was acting like she was still shocked that Longarm had actually gone through with the jailing and the charge against the clerk.}

_{Neither of them said a word as they went outside and headed for a cafe.}

_{“Paper, mister?” The kid was about ten years old, with carrot hair and enough freckles to share with half a dozen buddies. His clothes said he was poor, but his grin said he probably didn’t realize it. Hell, he had a job to do, and therefore was in possession of all the prospects in the world. All the ones that counted, anyhow.}

_{“Fresh news, son?” Longarm asked.}

_{“Yes, sir. The Snow shoe Independent, sir. It comes out twict a week. This here one was printed just this morning.” “Help out with the printing too, do you?”}

_{The kid’s grin got bigger. “Yes, sir. Sometimes.” He giggled. “When things go just right I’ve helped. That’s how you can always tell.”}

_{“Then I expect I can take your word that things are as they should be, eh?”}

_{“Ye?, sir.”}

_{Aggie became tired of Longarm’s playful conversation with the newsboy. She motioned that she was going on ahead, and swept off in the direction of a restaurant that she favored, leaving Longarm to catch up when he pleased. “How much for this newspaper of yours, son?”}

_{“The usual, mister. Two cents.”}

_{“A man couldn’t hardly pass up a bargain like that.” “No, sir,” the boy agreed.}