The Tall Target Page #2

- You'll be more than sorry.

Good thing I found it.

Hey, Ginny. What's going on here?

This man took your ticket.

Ginny, I have my own ticket.

I'm old enough now

to take care of myself you know.

Must all you New Yorkers

be so insufferably boorish?

I'm sorry, mister.

But this is police business.

I don't believe you're

a policeman at all.

Show me your badge.

Next time try the one about

your dying grandmother!

Take your place. Let me in line.

Your money, "Inspector."

Hey, you!

Giddy-up there.

Whoa! Whoa!

Giddy-up there. Whoa, whoa!

Whoa!

Lady, are you sure you didn't see

the man who was holding my seat for me?

Quite sure.

- He was about 50. Wore glasses.

- I'm sorry.

You mean the man who left that bag?

I saw him.

Where did he go?

- What will you give me if I tell you?

- Winfield!

How about a nice three cent piece?

- The man went away.

- Where?

I don't know. Just away.

Giddy-up there. Whoa, whoa!

Come on. Giddy-up there.

Have the accommodations

for Evans. F and G.

There'll be three of us.

My husband is getting aboard

at Philadelphia with his doctor.

He's very ill.

He had a seizure this morning.

We must get him home to Charleston.

Oh, yes. I have a letter

from the president of the railroad.

Excuse me.

Just a minute.

We'll appreciate as much quiet

as possible at this end of the car.

Oh.

I'll see to it personally, Mrs. Gibbons.

Ticket, mister.

It's back in the Car 42.

Yes. I'll catch you in a few minutes.

Fire tilt.

Sgt. Kennedy, New York police.

Did you see or hear a struggle, madame?

I seen or heard nothing.

There must've been at least two men.

One was around 50. Wore glasses.

Had florid face.

I left specific instructions.

I was not to be disturbed!

Good night.

"When the South Carolina militia

captured the federal post,

"they tore down your Stars & Stripes.

"And ran up their own Palmetto flag.

"Re-dress this indignity if you dare.

"But no. You have submitted

to it for two months.

"And you will submit forever."

Why it's outrageous!

The man should be horsewhipped!

George Kelvin is a windbag

What is he doing in the Senate anyways?

I thought Texas had

seceded from the Union.

You mean the Union

has succeeded from Texas, ma'am.

Well!

I see you had your way.

You didn't say you're going

to be on this train, Colonel.

Well, there's only one train south

at night, son.

You look as if you need a drink!

- Come on in.

- No, thank you. . Maybe later.

Well, you're welcome anytime.

We got the longest bar in the world

New York to Baltimore!

Baltimore? Youre going to Baltimore?

Yes. Didn't you see my Zouaves?

We're in they procession tomorrow.

And if there's going to be any shooting,

let's hope they wait until we pass.

Woo-wo-woo woo!

Woo-wo-woo woo!

Woo woo woo!

Madame, were being driven mad.

Will you have the kindness

to make that child of yours shut up?

Wo-wo-wo-woo woo!

Woo-wo-woo!

Winfield!

Want something?

My coat and my seat

if you're through with them.

Are you sure you have the right car?

That's my coat. Take it off!

Your coat? What coat?

We got a fight going on here?

I don't know.

My name is John Kennedy.

This is Berth 7 Car 42, isn't it?

That's my ticket and my coat.

Berth 7 Car 42.

John Kennedy.

- Well, let me see your ticket.

- That's my ticket.

This galute's crazy.

I'm John Kennedy.

You got some identification, Mr. Kennedy?

That's my letter and my gun.

You got some identification too?

Certainly.

"To my son John Kennedy

from his loving father,

"on this occasion of his graduation from

"Saint Anthony school. June 25, 1845."

It's not such a rare name.

I'll concede there could

be two John Kennedys.

There's only one ticket.

And it's mine.

Look, conductor. You remember me.

I came through the gate asking

for a man by the name of Reilly.

And you didn't have a ticket. You said

You two argue this out between you.

All I know is that

I'm sleeping here tonight.

Will you see that

the berth is made up?

I'm going out for a smoke.

Now, look, mister. I am a conductor.

My business is to collect tickets.

And if you haven't got one,

you get off this train in New Brunswick.

There's an army officer

in the other car.

Col. Jeffers. He'll identify me.

All right.

If he doesn't, you've got a long walk.

Come in.

Well, this is a happy surprise.

I was afraid it was gonna

have to drink alone.

Sorry to bother you, Colonel.

But this man claims that

you can identify him.

Of course! He's Sgt. Kennedy

at the New York police.

Well, now that were acquainted,

let's have a drink.

There still no space left.

And he still hasn't got a ticket.

Here! Hold this.

The quartermaster had me

buy two tickets for this cabin.

I'm traveling alone.

He might as well use the extra one.

- I owe you an apology, Sergeant.

- Forget it.

And let that smooth-talking rascal

sleep in Berth 7 Car 42?

Not on my train!

Let him sleep where he is.

Not while I'm conductor.

I'll handle this.

This is police business.

Mister, have a drink.

Not while I'm on duty.

Oh, come on. Come on.

This is a tonic.

Here. I'll get you some water.

Not dilute its medicinal value.

Thanks, Colonel.

It's working.

Fortune like they say?

There's a fickle game.

Until this morning,

I was plain Mr. Caleb Jeffers.

Delivered my state precinct.

Traded a few votes for a few favors,

give or take.

Tonight I'm Col. Jeffers

of the Poughkeepsie Zouaves.

You heard what I said

in Stroud's office.

You're a straight ticket man.

The same is he is.

Why are you helping me?

Mind you. I don't say that

Simon Stroud was wrong.

But he could be.

I'll admit that old Abe is the last man

I ever wanted to see in the White House.

But I don't hold with violence.

Why not?

It's the only way the Democrats

can get another election.

You don't know voters.

Killing Lincoln would

make a martyr out of him.

Then they'd put the Republicans

in for the next 20 years

to salve their consciences.

Incidentally, uh

What's in this business for you?

You don't have to tell me, son.

A man has a right to his ambition.

And it's a good gamble.

Mr. Lincoln puts more value

on his life than a sergeant's pay.

It's more than a gamble.

A friend of mine named Reilly

was murdered aboard this train tonight.

The man who killed him thought

he was getting rid of me.

Somebody doesn't want

me to get to Baltimore.

The party who took over your berth?

Or whoever is paying him.

Right now, I need a gun.

Can I borrow yours?

I don't know. With a person's firearms,

a man could get hurt.

You never can tell when you need a shot.

No more.

I've still got to find a gun.

Be careful.

It's loaded.

Oh, I'm interested in guns.

Lance is very proud of those pieces.

They were his father's.

I see he hunts too.

Why, yes.

Lance is a mighty good shot.

Tell me. Is he going to get off

in Baltimore or going on through?

Oh, he's going all the way

to Atlanta with us.

What is it, Rachel?

This man's interested in your guns,

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