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Show 31 "Besides," I stammered. "She should not be up for s a l e . She was stolen." The man smiled. "You got gold?" "Sure." I reached into my pocket. " I ' l l t e l l you what," he said. "Since she was stolen, as you claim, I ' l l talk to the boss. Then w e ' l l make a deal. Come back in an hour." " I ' l l stay." "Boss doesn't like kids hanging around the horses. Besides, if she's stolen, you might want to notify her owner-perhaps send a telegram. He'd appreciate it, I'm sure." I thought that was a good idea. I'd send a telegram to Almo. He would know Rexy was alive. And he would also know I had not stolen her. It would clear me with him. "There's a telegraph office just off Broadway," the man said, "Come back in an hour." The telegram cost five dollars, but it was worth it: Almo. Found Rexy in Skagway, Alaska. Stolen for packhorse. Will return her, somehow. James Erickson, hack driver. "Somehow" meant I had not yet had time to make my plans. I felt I could return her on the steamship with Captain Hillis, or |