Chapter 15 #2
“I hope you’ll give it consideration. Your intelligence and experience in this field is just what is needed. I hope to get several others to join us in time. For now, however, we will have to build our reputation and knowledge.”
“I will discuss the matter with my husband and, as you suggested, pray about it.”
Dr. Compton got to his feet. “You have a great personal reputation in this town, Dr. Vogel-Duval.”
“Dr. Duval is just fine.”
He nodded and smiled. “No matter what you call yourself, people think highly of you. They may not yet know you as a physician, but that will come in time. I know your passion and your heart to help others. Given the findings you’ve made, even if credited to another, I believe we can make great progress in our research. ”
She smiled at his encouragement. “I will thoroughly consider your proposition. But I must tell you that Dr. Nelson was less than pleased when I broke off our engagement. He . . . well, he was dependent upon me in our research and holds a grudge. He threatened to see that I would never be acknowledged in this area of study. He wants me to face complete disgrace and failure. I’ve no doubt he’ll go out of his way to tell others what a waste of time I am. ”
Dr. Compton gave her a wry smile. “Sour grapes.”
“What do you mean?”
“Aesop tells the story of the Fox and the Grapes. The fox wants the grapes but cannot reach them or obtain them in any way. Therefore, he declares them undesirable. Dr. Nelson can no longer reach you or obtain your work, and therefore he’s declaring you undesirable—sour grapes.
” He surprised her by chuckling. “I’m unconcerned with his threats.
I believe once we start making headway in research, others will know the truth for themselves. ”
Carrie shook her head. “I had prayed God would send the right people into my life regarding my work. Looks like once again I stand in the presence of answered prayer.”
“Dr. Duval, I feel the same way exactly. For now, however, I will bid you good day.” He picked up his hat. “Oh, I wonder if you and your husband might come to supper next Friday evening?”
Carrie knew of no reason they shouldn’t and gave a nod. “I believe we are free to accept. Thank you.”
“Wonderful. You shall meet my wife and daughters. My oldest would like to be a doctor one day. Perhaps you can offer her encouragement.”
“I would be honored.”
Spencer had known he’d have to come up with an excuse to go knocking on the doors of each man on Al’s list of UP workers who’d been in Cheyenne since 1870.
He figured if all else failed, he could go from man to man on the pretense of hunting for a friend or family member.
An idea had come to him to say that he was looking for an acquaintance of his father.
A man who’d come west after the war, but whose name he didn’t know.
He’d wrestled with the idea of what excuse he could give for looking for this man and hit upon his father owing the man money.
He could say that he’d promised his father to repay his debt and now he was looking for the man he owed but couldn’t remember the man’s name.
All he knew for certain was that he’d once lived in Philadelphia, still had a mother there, and he worked for the Union Pacific.
There was no need to mention that the mother was dead or that the man he truly sought was a criminal.
He felt almost certain he would recognize Eugene Astor even with all the years between them. The man couldn’t have changed that much. Furthermore, Spencer knew he looked like his father. It might be shock enough for Astor just seeing him. Surely he could remember the face of the man he’d killed.
But maybe not. Maybe Astor didn’t even remember much about the murder.
Perhaps he’d murdered a great many people, and Harrison Duval was just one of those who’d inconvenienced Eugene Astor.
The very thought of him not even remembering what he’d done bothered Spencer in a way he couldn’t talk about.
He’d once confessed to Al that a day didn’t go by without him remembering that day in the alleyway.
Al told him it would be better to let it go.
“Give it over to God, Spence. He’ll take care of all business in His time.”
But Spencer had wanted to take care of it himself. He wanted to be the one who got justice for his father and made Eugene Astor pay for what he’d done.
He went over the details of what he knew once more.
Astor had been alive as of a week before Christmas.
He’d last mentioned Cheyenne to his mother in a letter written in November.
He’d told her about the clock finally being fitted into the Union Pacific clock tower and how it had been a wonderful addition to have.
He spoke of the cost and of the UP’s belief that the clock would draw more people to the station if for no other reason than to get the accurate time.
If Astor had moved, it had been since December.
It seemed unlikely to Spencer that he would just up and leave for no good reason.
He supposed, however, that Astor could have been tipped off that his mother had died.
That might cause him to leave the area. There were all sorts of possibilities, but Spencer’s Pinkerton job had equipped him with a great many searching skills.
He felt confident that he would get his man.
Even if it had taken more time to pin Astor down than Spencer had figured.
And then what?
That question had haunted him. After he caught Astor, what would happen next?
He had fallen in love with Carrie, and she was in love with him as well.
Even if she hadn’t exactly said it, he could tell her feelings for him had deepened.
He had never planned to marry anyone. He’d always figured he’d work as a Pinkerton all his life and avoid commitments to anyone.
It wasn’t that he didn’t desire a home and the love of a good woman, but he knew the potential for pain and suffering that came with it.
His mother had been devastated after losing her husband.
He had been heartbroken by his father’s death.
How could he put another woman and child through the possibility of losing him as he continued to work for the agency?
But after capturing Astor, maybe he didn’t have to continue working for the Pinkertons.
After all, he could just as easily serve the local law enforcement.
He was college educated and could even make himself useful to those in business or the government.
Wyoming was standing on the threshold of becoming a state.
There would be plenty of government positions available, and a man with his education could be a tremendous asset.
He let out a heavy breath. Could he be happy with a desk job?
Spencer looked again at the list of names on the telegram Al had sent.
The first name was John Bushton. He wondered if there was a city directory that might list the man’s name and address.
The easiest way to find the addresses for each of these men was probably to go to the Union Pacific.
But he’d already talked to several people there.
It would only raise suspicions if he went back with a list of names and demanded addresses.
He supposed he could break into the offices and search through their records. He’d done things like that before. The ends justified the means as far as he was concerned. But he doubted his father-in-law would see it that way.
Again, Carrie came to mind. It was such a dichotomy. How had he lost focus of what he was doing so much so that he had fallen in love?
Who am I fooling? I’ve always loved her. Since we first met, I was taken by her appearance and attitude. I fell hard for her and ignored it because she belonged to someone else.
But now she belongs to me.
He’d really made a mess of things. At least he’d confessed his feelings to her.
Of course, he hadn’t stuck around to discuss them, and the next morning he’d been particularly careful not to wake her as he was leaving for work.
He had no desire to discuss the matter just yet.
He wasn’t even sure what he hoped to gain from it.
Spencer shoved the list back in his pocket and went to grab his coat from the station’s coat-tree.
“You finally done with your paperwork, Duval?” a young uniformed officer asked.
“Yeah, everything is logged. I’m heading home.”
It was well past his usual time to leave. Thankfully, no one was there to question him for his lengthy stay. The last thing he wanted was to have to explain to Carrie’s family why he wasn’t exactly eager to head home.
He pulled the coat on and stepped outside to a light rain. He hadn’t even noticed the sky had clouded up. The days were getting longer, but even so the sun had set probably half an hour ago, and twilight had been hastened by the rain.
What was Carrie doing? Had she fixed them supper? Had she wondered why he was late? Spencer was eager to see her, but at the same time dreaded it. He had to somehow ignore his feelings for her. It was interfering in his duties. He was failing to move quickly toward Astor’s capture.
He started to head down Sixteenth, then changed his mind.
He couldn’t go home yet. He had to try to figure out where each of the men on his list lived.
Without giving it any other thought, he turned toward Capitol Avenue and headed toward the train station.
Maybe he’d have an idea of what to do once he reached the depot.