February 6, 1902, New Hanover State Journal, No. 83:

Headlines

Three days ago, a fire broke out at Fort Brenand, southwest of Van Horn Trade Port, killing twenty people. Due to the size of the fire, the scene was severely damaged, and the cause of the fire could not be determined. According to the news that 20 people disappeared in Van Horn on the same day, the police believe that the townspeople of Van Horn, who had set fire to the town, accidentally knocked over wine barrels, causing the tragedy.

"John, you see, the police have characterized this as an accident." Miller holds the newspaper he just bought from the newsboy.

"Hmm......," John replied perfunctorily, his face very unsightly.

"John, why are you so depressed, Sheriff Malloy said you did a good job, Mr. Fowler doesn't have to hide anymore."

"I don't think it's easy, the Van Horne shouldn't be burned alive."

"It's not your fault, I'm sure Mr. Fowler will know how to enlighten you."

In the afternoon, Malloy took John and Miller to meet Mr. Fowler at the town's tavern. Pushing open a door and stepping over the threshold, John looked at the familiar and unfamiliar backs of the four-man table, Mr. Fowler had shaved his beard clean, and his hair was short, oiled, and neatly combed back.

Mr. Fowler, too, sensed John's approach, and he took John's right hand and invited him to sit down with the eyes of an elder who cherishes his juniors.

"You're back." Mr. Fowler spoke, his voice much hoarse, "Look, it's been two years since I last lost you, and I'm so irresponsible, and I don't take your father's advice to heart at all. ”

"You were here for my safety, Mr. Fowler." John said that while he had faced many threats since leaving the police, he did not blame Mr. Fowler in the slightest, "at least we got together again." ”

Mr. Fowler looked at Sheriff Malloy, and the entire tavern was very reserved about his presence.

"I would like to thank Mr. Sheriff, who has always been the patron saint of the town, my patron saint, and even more so my brother." Mr. Fowler raised his glass.

Sergeant Malloy smiled innocently, exuding the arrogant air of a Valentine, poured himself a glass of wine and drank it all.

"And Miller, this kid hasn't come to see me for five years, and he's forgotten me in the Great Valley, so you only remember your partner." Fowler laughed.

"Mr. Fowler, I'm in the same situation as John, how can I forget my brother, I just can't get out." Miller looked at Mr. Fowler and said with a smile.

"In any case, our period of displacement has come to an end, and we must be optimistic about the new day."

The four of them got drunk and chatted about the past at the tavern until the sun went down, Sergeant Malloy returned to the police station to handle the police, and Miller went back to the hotel to rest, leaving John and Mr. Fowler to wander under the stars. There were only John and Fowler in Valentine's empty suburbs, and John knew that this was the time to mention the thing that was bothering him.

"Mr. Fowler, what the hell is going on at Fort Brenand?"

Instead of answering, Liam Fowler asked John rhetorically.

"Did you take the gold?"

John was so surprised that he involuntarily clutched his satchel.

"How do you know?"

"I naturally know that the nugget has been the fuse for the whole thing." Mr. Fowler smiled mysteriously, "The nugget is not owned by the Van Horns, it has other origins. ”

Seeing John nodding in confusion, Fowler went on to explain, "The enemy has made a move, John. Detective Pinkerton keenly sniffed out the Valentine police station and learned who I was as a police officer, so he decided to go after me. ”

"A month ago, the nuggets were supposed to be used by the state government in exchange for New Austin railroad bonds, but Detective Pinkerton manipulated and caused it to be transferred on the exchange, and they hid the nuggets in Fort Brenand, and the character of the Van Horn Gang, who had a strategic base at Fort Brenand, would certainly not hand over the ill-gotten gains. Sadly, Detective Pinkerton left clues for the police and pressured the police to take care of the matter, while the Anissberg General Police Department handed over the matter to the Valentine Police Department. ”

"Miller and I could tell from the dossier that Sheriff Malloy had a headache about it."

"Yes, at that time, Malloy was entangled in government affairs, and there was a period of frequent robberies, and this matter fell into the hands of the deputy sheriff."

"It's a coincidence, like Detective Pinkerton has calculated." John couldn't help but sigh.

"Not only that, but my name started appearing in the newspapers, people anonymously sent me threatening letters, and the police station was panicked all day, so I went out to take refuge for a while." "But I didn't want my departure to implicate Sheriff Malloy, so I went incognito to Fort Brenand to see if I could settle the matter peacefully, and it was clear that the Van Horn guys didn't listen to anything, and I finally escaped by showing my identity as a policeman." ”

"It can be seen that Detective Pinkerton wants to borrow the power of the Van Horne Gang to kill you."

"Well, the Van Horn Gang has also caused a lot of trouble for Detective Pinkerton before, maybe Detective Pinkerton planned to make us lose both, and he didn't want to pay money to bribe one side, so he thought of this despicable way."

"So, this piece of gold is indeed a complete trap."

"John, I really didn't expect you to get involved in this and put you in such a dangerous situation, maybe I should have fought for my life."

"Isn't that what Detective Pinkerton is doing? It's up to me and Miller, and I'm not getting nothing, I've got this. John patted the nugget in his satchel, "and...... I feel like I've discovered one of my abilities, I can stay focused...... It's that kind of very focused state, and I can't grasp it very well yet. ”

"Oh, really?"

"I'll keep watching, and if there's a doctor, I'll take a look, after all, I can't figure out if it's a talent or a disease at the moment."

"John, what are you going to do next?" Mr. Fowler asked suddenly.

"I think we're going to have to get our revenge on Owen Smith, and I don't want to see our will and resolve consumed by the pleasures of comfort." John stated his purpose for seeking Mr. Fowler, and at the same time his heart.

"I can't continue to do this job as a policeman, I'm joining you, it's time to regain my original creed, I heard you have a gang, right?" Mr. Fowler said.

"The Van der Linde Gang, a group of suffering people, their boss turned his back on them, and I chose to take that responsibility."

"I really didn't misread you, John, you have a strong sense of responsibility for flowers and cats and dogs since you were a child, and now you are responsible for the family, for the gang, and even for your father, you always don't care about the return. John, whatever decision you have to make in the future, I will be responsible for you. ”

John looked at Mr. Fowler in front of him gratefully, he was really a respectable elder, who understood John like a companion in John's life, helped John, so to speak, Mr. Fowler filled the position of a father and confidant in John's heart, and now such a person has joined his gang.