Aside from the treasure map's creator, George Lockhart was probably the first to know the map's secrets.

A few months ago, he was on the streets of Denver and died in an assassination attempt.

Before he died, he left behind a bag, which Chen Jianqiu guessed should be a backup of the human skin map and a notebook that recorded his understanding of the map.

And the bag fell into the hands of Pinkerton's hooknose Lynch.

As for the notebook that appeared in this carriage, whether it was the one that Lynch got it, Chen Jianqiu was not sure.

After all, as a full-featured professor of archaeology at the University of Denver, Lockhart must have more than one private notebook, and Master Aster, as one of the richest people in the United States, is not difficult to get a copy of the professor's private notebook.

But if this notebook is really the one in Lynch's hand, then the situation is really difficult to say.

Chen Jianqiu had never seen this man who had been with him from the beginning until now, but he could always feel his presence.

What is this Young Master Astor doing in New Mexico? Are you also here to find treasure? What is the relationship between him and that man?

Chen Jianqiu did not trap himself in a question mark, and his way of solving problems never relied on meditation.

So he looked away for another clue.

But Mark Twain's fan meeting has come to an end.

As a writer and writer, he is full of praise for the opening part of Master Astor's book:

"Very good, Mr. Astor, you are not only quite business-minded, but also very spiritual, and this thing is very imaginative, I think you must be a keen adventurous person, right?"

Astor IV's eyes lit up, and what could be more exciting for a man of his age than to be admired by his idol?

"Huh? Is what you're saying true? Mr. Astor jumped for joy, "Yes, sir, I am very adventurous, and since reading your book, I have been interested in the unknown. ”

He walked over to another ornate low cabinet, opened the door, and took out a bottle of wine and two glasses, which he poured and half a glass, and handed one of them to the writer.

"Drinking? Mr? J&B, this is the best Scotch whisky. ”

Mark Twain took the glass.

The young man didn't seem to realize that there was still Chen Jianqiu in the carriage, and he continued: "Sir, move to the back carriage, I have paid for your fare, and from here onwards it will be my carriage, and we can discuss more about literature." ”

The writer chuckled in his heart, his heart agreed, but his mouth had not yet figured out how to respond in a more gentlemanly way.

But what didn't make him expect was that Chen Jianqiu, who he didn't know a few hours ago, answered for him:

"And where are we staying?"

Astor then remembered that there was another person in the carriage, and Russell told him that this person was Mark Twain's bodyguard.

"You're free to move around." Astor pointed to the Pinkerton detectives outside the door, "We have a very professional security team. ”

"But we haven't escorted Mr. Mark Twain to his destination yet!" Chen Jianqiu said very seriously.

Astor thought for a while, and suddenly realized, he beckoned to the servant: "Go, pay this gentleman for the security of Mr. Mark Twain's journey, they will give as much as they want." ”

Chen Jianqiu suppressed his urge to quote $10,000, he shook his head, and his expression became more serious: "Sir, you are insulting our professionalism. ”

The wine in Astor's mouth almost squirted out in one gulp.

Professionalism? Are these New Mexico hillbillies still professional? What's more, he's still a yellow Asian! You just want more, right?

The white-haired old man gently stabbed Chen Jianqiu's waist from behind, and he said softly, "I'll add some more to you, it's almost there." ”

Only then did Chen Jianqiu realize that this old man might not be a servant, but a housekeeper.

But Chen Jianqiu still shook his head and said righteously: "Protecting Mr. Mark Twain along the way is a commitment of us as protectors, and I just want to fulfill our duties!" ”

Mark Twain looked at Chen Jianqiu's serious appearance, and was in a trance for a while, almost taking this person as his bodyguard, and was moved to tears.

He put down the wine glass in his hand and looked at Aster: "Or, look?" ”

Astor patted his head: "Okay, let's come over a few people, you don't have a lot of luggage, right?" Let's go to the Pinkerton car. ”

"Yes, your Excellency."

The writer and Astor IV continued to discuss literature in the luxurious carriage, while Chen Jianqiu withdrew.

He saw Russell again at the door.

The conversation in the carriage Russell was standing in the doorway and heard it all, and he now regretted that he had mentioned the dead star in front of him when he reported to Astor at that time.

"Although we are peers, there is no competition between us." Chen Jianqiu still had that expression, he stretched out his hand to Russell, Russell hated it so much, not to mention that there was still a yellow Asian on the other side, so he turned his head and left.

Chen Jianqiu returned to his carriage.

"How?" Sean asked.

"Let's go, improve your life, return the carriage!"

He handed the denim bag with the dollar bills to the Dannies and told them to take care of Holmes in the carriage.

He called Asuka, Sean, and Adam and returned to the luxury car.

When they return there, they find that the writer and Astor are gone.

The carriage was not Astor's bedroom, but a place for him to meet and occasionally write books.

Behind, there was a sleeper carriage, with an aisle and several rooms, the doors of which were all closed, and it seemed that there were people living in them, and Chen Jianqiu guessed that Mark Twain should have lived in one of the bedrooms.

Further back, there was the carriage where the Pinkertons were, and there were only seats, but even so, the environment was much more luxurious than the most high-end dining cars on most trains at the time.

The Pinkertons lined up, so there were usually only two or three people in the carriage, and most of them took the time to sleep on their desks.

Now that the train is lying on its stomach, their manpower is even more stretched.

Further inside, there is a forbidden area, there are two people guarding the entrance of the carriage, holding guns in their hands, in their words, Chen Jianqiu They don't need to know what is behind, they just need to take care of the carriage in front.

Chen Jianqiu and the others sat in their positions and took a nap until sunset.

The butler pushed over a trolley and handed them their dinner: cream soup and stewed potatoes.

"I'm sorry, but in the car, I can only provide you with these simple meals."

Chen Jianqiu picked up a piece of potato and stuffed it into his mouth: "How are the people in the front carriage?" ”

"Some of them are still waiting, and some of them have already gotten off the train to find other modes of transportation." After the butler finished speaking, he pushed the car out of the carriage.

Pinkerton's detectives also quickly finished their dinner and returned to their respective posts.

Night fell, the moonlight shone on the wasteland of the State of Mexico, and most of the train's carriages were plunged into darkness, except for Pinkerton's detectives, carrying kerosene lamps, patrolling back and forth between the carriages.

Sean, who had just eaten and drunk, was lying in a chair, counting the stars in the sky through the car window.

But his hat was slapped off.

Chen Jianqiu's voice sounded in his ears:

"Don't be lazy, get up and get to work!"

Two more

(End of chapter)