Meanwhile, back in his room, the real Big Deke was feeling pretty upset over the disappearance of his favorite body double, his nearly identical twin, Little Deke. The two had been so identical through their childhoods, even their mother couldn’t tell them apart, but, after puberty hit, well, lets just say, none of their girlfriends ever had a problem knowing if she was with Big Deke or Little Deke. Big Deke had Always been the ‘brains’ of the operation, but Little Deke was a lot rougher, tougher and meaner than his “big” brother, so they divided the jobs accordingly, and built Quite a reputation for themselves. Big Deke was smart enough to always send his “little” brother out on the dangerous or physical parts, while he stayed in their apartment, relaxing and planning out their next caper. Right now, he was distracted from his plans for the World Championship of Poker, wondering if his “little” brother had run off on him, or if he was just out drunk somewhere. Somehow, Big Deke had the very real feeling that something had gone Very Very wrong for his “little” brother.
When James opened the door he realized too late that it was a mistake.
Slim, Everet and Evelyn froze when they heard the loud commotion downstairs. But Lee Mai Siang sensed the danger, so he quickly got out from underneath the bed and bolted out of the bedroom and down the stairs.
“Who the hell was that?!” exclaimed Slim, Everet and Evelyn in unison.
Lou and his boys had pushed James aside and forced their way into the manor, ignoring the butler’s protests.
“Big Deke! Where are you?!” shouted Lou. He turned to James who had been knocked down to the floor. “Where’s Big Deke? And don’t pretend you don’t know who I’m talking about!”
I think the problem with this story is that it became too surreal. Given this thread has been dead for nearly three months, I don’t think anyone minds I do this…
Slim was startled by a hand on his shoulder. He looked around while gathering his wits. No oddly-dressed man in a battered derby and no female impersonator. Just him and Sheriff Cunningham. What a weird dream! Remebering the hand on his shoulder Everet?, he looked up and focused on the face that the hand belonged too.
“Abner? You okay?” asked a familiar voice.
Slim took a moment or two to recognize the face, then relaxed. “Girl, you know I don’t like that name!”
“Oh, you’re fine all right,” the voice chuckled. “Sorry I startled you.”
Sheriff Cunningham cleared his throat.
“Where are my manners?” asked Slim. “Sheriff Tom Cunningham, Ellie McLeod, my little sister.”
The sheriff took Ellie’s hand. “Charmed. Won’t you join us?”
Ellie smiled at the sheriff. “Thank you sir, I’d be pleased. Especially since my wayward brother is here. I thought I was dreaming, when I heard him talking in his sleep and recognized his voice.”
Slim shook off the last of the the dreams vapors. “Ellie, just what are you doing alone on a train to San Francisco, of all places? I thought I was the wanderer in the family, and the last I heard you were going to college. Although why you needed that to be a teacher I don’t know.” Slim was a free spirit himself but had old-fashioned notions where his little sister was concerned.
Ellie gave a little snort of laughter. “Well, Slim, there may be fifteen years between us but your “prim and proper” baby sister always looked up to and admired her big brother, even if Mother did think he was a rascal. And, oh, I don’t know, just once I wanted to travel a little before taking a position somewhere. After all, even college was just one county over from home.”
“But why San Francisco of all places? It can be wild, and not fit for a lady who is alone.”
“Well, dear brother, what little I have been unable to unearth about your whereabouts and wanderings says that’s exactly the place where you might be. Or at least find word of you.”
Sheriff Cunningham had been watching this exchange with amusement. Ellie McLeod was as outwardly “prim and proper” as she had described herself. But it seemed there was a larger measure of spunk in her than her brother realized or remembered, and so now he spoke up again. “Miss McLeod, I’d be pleased if you would allow me to advise you on finding suitable lodging in San Francisco. And I would be further pleased to act as your escort until you find your feet in our city.”
Slim started to cloud up but before he could say anything Ellie smiled and replied(after a lightning glance at her brother) “Why thank you sir, that would be delightful!”
“How’s Father these days?”
“Not bad, considering he’s in jail.”
“I always knew he’d end up in one eventually. He’s probably safer behind bars.” Ellie nodded in agreement.
“That’s an odd thing to say,” commented the sheriff.
Slim explained, “He’s a card sharp and con artist. Mother tried to get him to go straight, with mixed success. He taught me to play when she wasn’t looking but wouldn’t dare involve me in one of his schemes. Being in jail keeps him out of trouble and protects him in case one of his old marks shows up.”
Ellie quickly changed the subject. “You were having another one of ‘those’ dreams, weren’t you?”
Slim flashed a wry smile. “My dear sister, always the more perceptive one.” Slim told them of the female impersonator and the oddly-dressed, nervous man with the battered derby.
“That must have been one odd dream,” remarked the sheriff.
Ellie thought out loud, “Nervous…oddly-dressed…battered derby… I saw a man like that when I was boarding. He kept glancing in your direction, Sheriff.”
Cunningham grunted in an irritated fashion, and asked “I don’t suppose you noticed if he had a fancy watch, did you?”
Ellie gave a slight start of surprise “Now that you mention it, he did! It looked like gold. I remember because when he kept looking at you he would also keep glancing at the watch. He acted very nervous. Oh!, and he wore a ring that looked like silver, with a big red stone.”
The sheriff realized Ellie had good powers of observation. Well, they would probably stand her in good stead when she had to ride herd on a classrom. He sighed, “It must be Max. Just my luck, when I have a bank investigation going.”
Slim noticed that they wouldn’t have much time before arriving at their destination, and this sounded like a story he could appreciate. “Who’s Max?”
“Max is a problem,” Cunningham said with a frown, “and other than his name, nobody seems to know a thing about him. It’s as if he blew in with some tumbleweeds a few years ago! Ever since then, wherever he goes, trouble is sure to follow.”
“Sounds familiar,” remarked Slim.
“Then he disappears before anyone can ask questions!”
“You think he’s causing the trouble?”
“No way of knowing until someone in authority can rein him in long enough to get his story. I just hope he won’t get himself mixed up in the bank case I’ve been working on.”
“Bank case? You mentioned that before.” said Ellie
“Well, not so much a bank case as a money case, I guess you could call it. Someone really clever has been robbing Wells Fargo stages. Always alone too, and so far I haven’t been able to catch the thief, or even find a suitable clue. Banks are getting nervous too, you never know when a stage robber will start setting their sights higher.” explained the sheriff.
“But sounds to me like you really don’t think Max is involved with the robberies,” offered Slim.
Sheriff Cunningham sighed. “It’s just that he appeared about the same time the stages started being robbed.”
But before the sheriff could expound further the conducter came through their car. “Saaan Fraaaan-cis-co! Next stop. One half hour. end of the line!” , and the three travelers began preparing for their arrival.
The oddly-dressed, nervous man with the battered derby had slipped into the club car of the train. He approached the crew member working behind the counter.
“A sarsaparilla, please,” he ordered.
“Sorry, sir,” said the crew member. “I just sold the last one a few minutes ago.”
“What?! No! But sarsaparilla is the only thing that calms me! I need one! Are you sure that was the last bottle?”
“Yes, sir. How about something stronger? A libation?”
“No! Damn!”
The oddly-dressed, nervous man with the battered derby stormed off.
In the next car was seated the fellow who had purchased the last bottle of sarsaparilla.
“Ahhh!” sighed Wyatt as he sipped his drink and enjoyed the scenery outside the window. “What a rush!”
Now, let’s not go getting surreal again. 
The Poker Tournament was to be held in the ballroom at the Palace Hotel, which is where Slim was headed to check in. Until a small hand caught his arm. “Shine, mister?”
The boy appeared to be about seven years old and seemed very insistent. Slim decided it was in his best interests to oblige, considering shoeshine boys could be useful sources of information.
The boy glanced up from his work and inquired, “Headed for the poker games?”
Slim nodded. “Guess you’ve seen lots of players pass by here.”
“Sure have, that’s why I stopped you. The tournament’s been moved to the Bohemia.”
“Anybody hurt in the explosion?”
“A few…” was all the boy could get out before he realized what had happened. He dropped his rag in shock and looked Slim in the eye. “How’d you know about the explosion? You just got off the train!”
With a wave of his hand, Slim said, “It’s a gift…and a curse.” He could see the boy wasn’t about to be satisifed with that so he continued. “Sometimes I go too long without sleep and when I finally do sleep, I have these dreams.” While the boy picked up his rag to go back to work, he cocked an eyebrow at Slim. “Some of those dreams have wonderous things, some are downright disturbing.”
“Like the explosion in the Palace?”
Slim nodded. “Not only that but passenger liners sinking. I don’t really like to talk about those.”
The boy was finishing up when he asked, “You must have some good dreams, too.”
“Indeed I do. Locomotives that run without steam.” Slim saw that he had got the boy’s imagination with that one. "I believe we will see horseless carriages in my lifetime…"Slim bent down to whisper in the boy’s ear “…and man will fly!” He stood up. “How much do I owe you?”
The boy didn’t quite know what to make of his customer now and was barely able to get out, “a nickel.” Slim gave him a dollar. “Wow! Thanks, mister!” He pointed Slim toward the Bohemia and called, “If you ever need anything, the name is Jack! Jack London!”