Rodman Keell US Marshal Special Services Series I

By JR Stokes

US Marshal Rodman Keell investigates crime against elected officials, ordinary citizens performing work for federal and state authorities and murder. Kidnapping for ransom is on the rise in the west and Rod Keell aims to put a stop to this new game. If he can't, it turns to murder.
Based in Denver, Keell's adventures take him into Wyoming, Utah and Arizona, and, in the story, the kidnapping of a Federal Circuit Judge in Cheyenne leads Rod north. Then, when returning to Denver aboard a southbound train, Keel finds a Denver Banker dead, a pearl handled knife buried in his chest. Investigating a possible suspect in Fort Collins, Keel is pulled back into Cheyenne with the death of a second banker and another pearl handled knife becomes the culprit for Rod's second and third story.
In his fourth adventure, and time off to fish, he stumbles into the murder of an old friend; story five sends Rod on to a small town bank robbery and abduction of its Mayor without financial demands for his return; and finally, a Colorado Congressional House Representative is found hanging near the Utah, Colorado Territories - naked.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JR Stokes
• Release date: Oct 28, 2013
• ISBN: 9780989862103

JR Stokes

JR Stokes is a retired teacher, professor and a life-long history student of south-western culture. He and his wife live in Chandler, AZ. They have two grown daughters – one living in Seattle and one living in the San Francisco Bay Area and two grandchildren – Gianna, a recent graduate of University of Arizona and Anthony now a sophomore residing at the University of Arizona.

Book preview

Rodman Keell

US Marshal

Special Services

Six Short Stories

Series I

JR Stokes

JR Book Group Press @ Smashwords.com

This book is a work of fiction based on stories told. Names, characters, places, and incidents

are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Any resemblance to actual events, locals, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Smashwords Edition 2013

Copyright © 2013 by JR Stokes

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Western Territory – Fiction 2. Mystery – Fiction 3. Western Law – Fiction 4. Gunplay

In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without permission of the author or publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. If you would like to use material from the book [other than for review purposes], prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the author at [e-mail] thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

JR Book Group Press @ Smashwords.com

Chandler, AZ 85248

First Edition: September 2013

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Cover:

Original Photograph by Jorge Martinez

A very special ‘Thanks’ to Mister Martinez for another outstanding photo.

Jorge is one of the more professional photographers I have had the pleasure of working with.

Bibliographic Data:

Stokes, JR, 1938 November 27

Life Twice Stolen / JR Stokes. – 1st ed.

ISBN: 978-0-9898621-0-3 EPUB

10-989862100

Southwest-Mystery-History-Gun play-Fiction

Times New Roman 12 point

for Maureen

. . . thanks for your support, your critique and your Sangrias.

Our golf cart rides at sunset are so much more aren't they!

JR Stokes

**₰**

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without

permission in writing from the author or publisher

"Out where the world is in the making,

where fewer hearts in despair are aching,

that’s where the West begins."

Arthur Chapman,

Out Where the West Begins And Other Western Verses

Rodman Keell

US Deputy Marshal

Denver, Colorado Territory

The west was expanding faster than Washington thought possible and law enforcement, such as it was, struggled to find good men able to cope with a Territorial law’s internal problems. Fast guns, men with dubious backgrounds were hired in hopes of giving the good town folk and merchants a sense of calm and well being. Along the way, there were men who took that lawman job knowing the difference between right and wrong and who possessed a strong sense of morality that guided their actions. Rodman Keell was one of those men.

At the beginning of our Republic, a new Federal Agency was formed through the Judiciary Act of 1789*. The Act was designed to protect Federal Assets. The new Marshals were authorized to swear in a posse for assistance in manhunts and other duties ad hoc and given extensive authority to support the federal courts within their judicial districts, and to carry out all lawful orders issued by Federal Judges, Congress, or the President. The US Marshal Service changed the image of the western lawman.

US Marshals were appointed for each territory or State within our country’s borders. Each Marshal given the authority to protect and defend the federal government’s revenue and judicial system within that territory. The Agency – or service - is located within the District of Columbia. The office of JR Morris is in the stone and wood structure at the corner of Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues. It was replaced in the early 1900’s.

*Judiciary Act of 1789

**In chapters 2, 4, are footnotes related to the history used in story descriptions

Ref_Table of Contents

Series I

Chapter 1 Judge Hiram Bond

Chapter 2 Dead Say Little – part one

Chapter 3 Dead Say Little – part two

Chapter 4 To Maine With Love

Chapter 5 Gunshot

Chapter 6 Olen Winthrop

Ref_Afterthoughts

Ref_About the Author

Ref_Connect on Line

Ref_Excerpt from upcoming Novel

Ref_Also by JR Stokes

Ref_ENDNOTES

Judge Hiram Bond

____________________________________________

Chapter 1

Law Office of Hiram Bond

Wyoming Territory

Monday evening

20 April 1874

Hands up Judge we need ya coming with us. Two men, one just over six feet, burst through the office door of the Territorial Judge Hiram Bond. Bond nearing fifty in a month was up burning the late night oil involving the murder of Adam Wagner a young wrangler working for an area rancher named Hugh Gregory. The trial was due to start at ten Wednesday morning. What better way to be distracted on a murder case that to be staring down barrel of two .44 Colt revolvers handled by the alleged killer, Jesse Uggla and his moose of a brother - Mule.

"Mule, get some personals for the Judge and be quick. Judge, listen up here, you best plan on a few cold days of outdoor living. We’re gona going trail camp’n awhile. Get up ‘an get your coat on. We’re outa time.

__________

Denver Federal Office Building

Following morning

Rodman Keell sat back, his left boot crossing over his right, with that the sound of another desk scar now added to his ten-year-old desk. Rod was rereading his freshly written report on the killing of the assistant territorial representative for Colorado before submitting the report to his supervising Marshall in DC. The killing was gruesome - one of his more unpleasant cases. At twenty-seven, Marshal Rod Keell’s job was to handle high profile cases where elected officials or foreign dignitaries’ were kidnapped, killed or ransomed because of their politics.

His partner, Bob Taisey, handled those same problems east and south of Denver, Keell’s west and north. Rod Keell was a tall man with long brown hair and deep-seated brown eyes, an inch over six feet, broad shoulders, long arms with big hands, his hair fell short of his shoulders. His brown walrus-like mustachio was always well trimmed. He’d been with the Service four years.

Oh Mister Marshal this just came for you. It's marked urgent like they all are. Rod Keell held out his hand for the wire continuing to read his report, twitching the same brown walrus-shaped mustache in frustration at the office scribe.

There’s always something twist’n somebody’s BVD’s isn’t there Missus Nettles?

Probably is Mister Marshal but it’s the business you’re in huh Mister. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He tossed his report across the desk ‘an tore open the envelope, pulling the wire before tossing the thin yellow onionskin envelope in the direction of a boot tip.

6:15 MORNING 21 APRIL 1874 STOP

MARSHAL KEELL STOP

MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHEYENNE BY TOMORROW STOP

JUDGE HIRAM BOND ABDUCTED BY UGGLA BROTHERS STOP

JESSE UGGLA HELD FOR THE KILLING OF ADAM WAGNER STOP

TRIAL WAS TO START TOMORROW IN CHEYENNE STOP

NORTH BOUND LEAVES 5 PM TONIGHT GOOD LUCK STOP

JR MORRIS

CHIEF FEDERAL MARSHAL STOP

DC STOP

Aw JR. For crying aloud, I just got back in from one of your ‘little trips’ yesterday. Was hoping to catch some trout! Rod dropped his feet, stood grabbing his tan flat-brim from his desk corner and ambled his six-one frame toward the train station.

Yor looking like ya need a ticket Marshal. Where to this time?

Cheyenne Ben. Tomorrow or day after. Like to take old Buck. Got a horse car coupled.

Nope. Outa luck. Cheyenne run tonight. You buy’n the ticket now?

Best do it now. Two dollars or did Denver Pacific Raise the price again?

Still two dollars this week. Rod collected his ticket and headed off to his small apartment to check on the possibility he might still have clean laundry. Within the hour, he’d ordered two beers at the Gilded Lilly Saloon around the corner from where he slept . . . when he was lucky enough to be in town.

Two beers at one time Rod? Must be heading out huh.

Yep and give me a whisky to back ‘em up will ya Barney.

Cheyenne

Keell pushed through the door to Sheriff Taisey’s little office. Figured you be coming ‘fore long Keell. By yorself?

The way I work Barry. When the Judge get plucked? Barry chuckled at Keell’s words.

Get right to it don’t ya. Okay, okay. If I didn’t know you well I’d think you were in a hurry to powder yor nose. Well, okay. If yor ask’n I’d say Hiram’s dead knowing the boys who ‘plucked ‘em. Judge was upstairs in his office, over the Doc Gibb’s place, when he was grabbed him. That was two days ago. That’s all I know Keell, sorry.

Describe those boys to me, can ya?

Sure. Mule’s over six feet, ‘an nearing two hundred. Kind’a round face with a bent nose. Looks to be near twenty-five. His brother Jesse’s a couple of inches shorter, maybe ‘a hundred seventy ‘an looks older. Somebody notched me when I was slipping Jesse his supper. Didn’t see my notcher but you guessed already who I’m think’n it was.

What time were you feed’n him?

Near five I believe. Why’s that important?

Anyone in town friendly with those two?

Just the usual at Momma Grizzlies.

That where the two usually drink or they spread their wealth around?

Just Momma’s I think.

You suspect which way they took the Judge?

Hell no! I was notched, remember?

Keell took a room at the Stallion Hotel. He signed in as ‘Joe Cotton’, an alias when he felt the need to remain anonymous. Once upstairs, he dropped his bag and left by the back stairs to an alley then threaded his way a block to the livery. Taisey would be worthless in all of this. Rough country west ‘an north as I remember.

Howdy, names Cotton, Joe Cotton. Need to look over your rent a nag ‘an some rigg’n. Cotton was one of five names used until figuring out who all the players were. Saved his bacon a time or two.

Cotton huh? Well, ain’t got no nags here just outstanding horseflesh out back. Fine stock they are. You’d be happy with any of ‘em. Where ya headed Cotton?

Don’t need the sales pitch. Show me the stock then I’ll make my choice if they look decent.

Sure . . . this way. Name’s Diggers by the way. Keell choose the buckskin.

Look’n for some work. Hear of any rancher hiring? Keell asked.

Hugh Gregory might be. Rough bunch out there. Best mind yor P’s ‘an Q’s if ya get on with ‘em.

Thanks. I’ll get the buckskin in the morning. Be sure he’s grained. I’m ride’n out a ways.

__________

At Moma Grizzly’s Keell sat near the stairs leading up to the girl’s rooms. Grizzly’s was a ranch hands saloon. He had the stew. Ordering steak might stand out with this rowdy group but his two beers wouldn’t. He watched the bar, the new arrivals and the one man who quickly left. Finishing his stew, a lean fellow moved toward Keell, beer in hand.

Howdy, names Bryce, Will Bryce. Mind if I sit? Keell’s boot pushed a chair out toward the man. The fella looked to be near sixty if a day. When he spoke, it was now in a whisper. You sure remind me of this fella down Denver way. Maybe a twin of yor if’n yor name’s Keell. Keell looked at him, studying his eyes, looking to see where this might be going. Being the loaner he was, he was savvy enough to see through men’s motives and held to his earlier plan.

Names Joe Cotton. Don’t know any Keell from Denver, Bryce. What can I do for ya?

Well sir, heard somewhere somebody might come look’n for that Judge those boys disappeared with. Bond was his name.

Why would anybody go ‘an do that for?

Jesse Uggla ‘being held for trial. Due to start tomorrow at the courthouse. Was his brother Mule, which sprung ‘em. Saw them boys with another older fella while I was fishing at May’s pond.

"Why you tell’n me all