Reborn in 1878: America's Number One Bandit

Chapter 28 Who is the fox, and who is the hunter?

Graves and his agents,

The search began in the surrounding areas, centered on Sonoma County.

They are not as incompetent as the local police.

The detectives are more systematic and insidious.

They ventured deep into pubs, construction sites, and cheap shacks frequented by Irish people.

They investigated all outsiders who had come to this land in the last three months.

If there is even the slightest suspicious point in anyone's resume,

They will all record these things and become key suspects.

Lawson wasn't too worried about this.

His Irish assassins,
Whether it's wolves, hyenas, or the newly formed "Sassy Dogs,"

They all lurk in the vast wilderness.

The assassins he planted in various towns were mostly white people of British descent.

They are now all legal American citizens and have legitimate jobs.

Even if Pinkerton were to go blind from all that research,
They can't be traced back to them either.

But, letting these guys fly around like flies...
This will inevitably affect Lawson's subsequent deployments and expansion of power.

Lawson has come to regard this land as his ranch.

He disliked having uncontrolled hunting dogs sniffing around his ranch.

"An uncontrolled hunting dog is just a stray dog; just kill it."

Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the Southern Pacific Railway Company,

He was also enraged by this robbery.

The loss of $25,000 and the tragic deaths of more than 20 guards,
It was like a resounding slap across the face of this railway giant.

The enraged higher-ups issued a death order to the Pinkerton Detective Agency—

Regardless of cost, in the shortest possible time,
Bring those damned thugs to justice and send them to the gallows!
Anger is anger,
But the practical problems are more pressing.

Thousands of workers on dozens of construction sites in California
They're still waiting for their salaries to live on.

If the next batch of salaries cannot be paid on time
That's almost certain.
A massive strike by workers along the entire Northern California railroad line is inevitable.

then.

The Southern Pacific Railway Company decided to send another pay train.

This time, the escorts were no longer ordinary armed guards.

It will be handled by Pinkerton Detective Agency.

He personally selected an elite task force from Chicago and San Francisco to provide full armed escort throughout the journey.

Pinkerton's action team is the detective agency's sharpest fangs.

Their members are all veterans of the Civil War and bounty hunters on the frontier.

And a cold-blooded killing machine handpicked from among the former federal marshals.

They were equipped with the latest rifles and Colt revolvers.
Familiar with tracking, infiltration, demolition, and close combat.

They are the capitalists' private army, the shadow of the law.

His hands were stained with the blood of striking workers and outlaws.

When this news reached Lawson's ears through the intelligence network.

He was sitting on his porch.
Peeling an apple with a sharp knife.

"Ah."

He let out a cold laugh that was hard to decipher.

This is clearly a trap.

The guys at the Southern Pacific Railroad wanted to use cash as bait.

Lure him out of the cave again.
Then let Pinkerton's squad tear him and his horse to shreds.

"Trying to use a sting operation?"

Lawson tossed a piece of apple into his mouth.
The crisp chewing sounds were particularly clear in the quiet air.

"Fine, as you wish." A flash of malice appeared in his eyes.

I can steal your first time,
Naturally, they can then steal from you a second time.

Meanwhile, in Strawberry Town.

Sheriff Barnes, accompanied by two officers,

They broke into Jack and Isabel's manor once again.

"Mr. Anderson."

Barnes said with a forced smile, "There are some things that I find increasingly unsettling, and I need to talk to you about them again."

Isabel immediately stepped in front of Jack like a lioness whose territory had been invaded:

"Sheriff Barnes! What exactly are you trying to do? Isn't this all over?"

"The end? Not a long way off, madam."

Barnes walked around her and stared intently at Jack.

"Let me help you recall. Those robbers broke Mr. Parker's leg twice and kidnapped you in order to steal his money."

This shows how cruel they were. But later, because Mr. Parker didn't pay the ransom, they killed him. Is that right?

“So what if it is?” Isabel retorted.

"How about that?" Barnes sneered.

“That’s the strange thing! They’d kill for money, but you, Mr. Anderson, rescued their hostage, this beautiful lady, from them and cut off their last source of income.”

"Logically, they should have torn you to pieces. But what happened? They just disappeared without a trace?"

He stepped forward and said aggressively:
"This is completely illogical!"

"The only explanation is that you, Jack Anderson, are in cahoots with those robbers! This was all a staged act!"

In response to these accusations.

Jack just looked at him calmly.

"Sheriff, your imagination is good enough to write a third-rate novel."

"Why didn't those robbers come after me for revenge? How would I know? Maybe they thought my wife was worthless and it wasn't worth fighting a nobody like me."

Perhaps they have a bigger target. In any case, I haven't colluded with any robbers. If you want to arrest me, fine, produce the evidence.

"Evidence? I'll find it!"

"Please leave my house until you find it."

Jack told them to drive them away.

"You!" Barnes was so choked up that his face turned red.

Isabel rebuked her without any restraint:

"Sheriff Barnes! Jack is my savior! And now my husband! I won't allow you to slander him like this! Please leave immediately!"

"Hey, don't think I can't do anything to you just because you don't admit it."

Barnes lost his patience and a sinister smile appeared on his face.

“I’m telling you, the Pinkerton Detective Agency agents are currently investigating all suspicious outsiders in various towns. I will report your situation to them.”

He leaned closer to Jack and whispered menacingly:

"Those guys don't have my good temper."

"If you fall into their hands, even if you are innocent, you will be severely punished."

"You'd better watch yourself, hero."

After saying that, Sheriff Barnes snorted coldly.
They left with the police officers.

He wasn't joking.

After leaving the estate, he immediately sent someone to the temporary office set up by Pinkerton agents in Sonoma County.

All suspicious points regarding Jack Anderson were reported to Agent Graves.

So, on the afternoon of the second day...

Three men dressed in black trench coats and top hats appeared on horseback at the end of the long driveway in Strawberry Town.

(End of this chapter)