Longarm and the Colorado gundown

_{“Yeah, I know. Everybody’s been told there’s a line in. But it was only scheduled to be in by now. Wasn't never actually completed, see. The bosses kinda run outta money ’fore they got this far. They keep this office open for}

_{when the rails do come through.” He winked. “And for the investors. If you see what I mean.”}

_{“I’m afraid I do,” Longarm said.}

_{“If it helps you any, they did get part of the tracks laid. Tipson all the way t’ Glory. An’ a couple miles this side o’ Glory too.”}

_{“What about Snowshoe?” Longarm asked.}

_{“Pardon me?”}

_{“I thought the road was supposed to connect with Snow- shoe too.”}

_{The fellow laughed. “Lordy, mister, you have heard everything wrong, haven’t you.”}

_{“Have I?”}

_{“I’m afeered so. This line ain’t supposed to go anywheres near Snowshoe. There’s another narrow-gauge supposed to do that. The Bitterroot and Brightwater.”}

_{“The Bitterroot and Brightwater,” Longarm repeated dully, not at all sure that this fellow wasn’t pulling his leg now.}

_{‘That’s right, mister. That line is the one supposed to run through Snowshoe. Our railroad never was intended t’ get up there, not even when it’s all the way done.”}

_{“But I thought—”}

_{“Oh, I know. Easy enough mistake for a body t’ make, our rights o’ way bein’ so close together. Why, I daresay on a map you could get mixed up which road was which. Except o’ course they go different places. But for a piece there, they run right close together, the Bitterroot an’ Brightwater being up high an’ our grade down lower t’ follow the streambeds, see. They figure to save miles by bridging, see, an’ we figure t' save costs by wiggling around some. Does that make sense t’ you, mister?”}

_{“No,” Longarm admitted.}

_{“Well, don’t let that bother you none. Fact is, their line ain’t any closer to completion than ours is. But they got them some track laid same as we do. It’s really Snowshoe you want to get to?”}

_{“Yes, sir, it is.”}

_{“Then I expect I can help you, mister. We got a string o’ wagons we run from Silver Creek t’ our track-end. I can put you on a wagon if you’re of a mind t’ go. Carry you to the tracks, then on t’ Glory. From there you can get a ride over top o' Twin Towers Mountain. That carries you over to the Bitterroot and Brightwater right of way, see, and you can get to Snowshoe easy from there.”}

_{The man was smiling.}

_{Longarm felt like he was fixing to get a headache. And if he didn’t, well, he was entitled to one anyhow.}

_{“I would appreciate a ride on your wagon to Glory, friend.”}