The Tall Target Page #6

Not one of the 20 knows

who the other 19 are.

They timed it right to the minute.

Abe Lincoln would be a sitting pigeon

to those sharpshooters.

And Mr. Lance has a rifle

with a new telescopic sight.

Here's his ticket.

I found it in his greatcoat.

He wasn't telling Miss Ginny the truth.

He isn't going home to Tall Trees.

Then I was right.

He is getting off at Baltimore.

Good night.

Miss Beaufort?

Paper.

Yes, Mr. Lance?

Are you and Miss Ginny all right?

Yes, Mr. Lance.

She's sleeping.

Well, you get some sleep yourself.

Good night.

I'm afraid for him.

You should be.

Anyone who fires at Lincoln tomorrow

won't live five minutes.

What will you do to him?

You'll put him in jail?

I wish I could.

I don't have the authority.

I need one of his guns, Rachel.

Promise me you won't hurt Mr. Lance.

I can't promise that.

Look, Rachel.

I'm no Republican or abolitionist.

But I guided Mr. Lincoln while

he was campaigning in New York.

I helped him open a window.

He held a door for me.

I found a parcel for him.

Some nightshirts in the laundry.

I was only with him for 48 hours.

But when he left, he shook

my hand and thanked me.

He wished me well.

I was never so taken with a human man.

You gave him a gun to use on Mr. Lance?

Tell Mr. Lance to step in here.

No, Miss Ginny.

Get over him now, Rachel.

We'll be in the South soon. Tell him.

Very soon.

Lance. Lance!

I can't believe this is happening,

Rachel.

You and I grew up like sisters.

Lance has been your brother

as much as mine.

- I know that, Miss Ginny.

- Like sisters?

Only you're free and she's a slave.

Rachel is as free as I am.

You know that.

That's why you never thought

to ask for your freedom.

And why I never thought

of giving it to you.

Freedom isn't it thing you should

be able to give me, Miss Ginny.

Freedom is something

I should've been born with.

Thanks anyway, Rachel.

What is he doing here?

He wanted this.

Turn around and face the wall!

Lance!

Lance, you're going to kill him!

Stay away from him!

I need to speak to the conductor!

Wait, Ginny. Don't ring him.

Why not?

Because Mr. Kennedy knows

he's getting off in Baltimore.

That's why.

That's a lie.

No it isn't. Tell her, Mr. Lance.

I am getting off at Baltimore.

But you said you were coming

to Tall Trees with us.

I'll come to Tall Trees

when it's safe again.

When a man can live

in peace and in honor.

You must have business in Baltimore.

Yes, when I finish

my business in Baltimore.

Lance.

You wouldn't murder!

Not murder.

There's a difference between

a political assassination and murder.

What could happen

if that war monger is inaugurated?

That would be murder.

It would take only one bullet

to save thousands of lives

of Southerns and Northern troops.

I hope it's mine.

Next stop, Wilmington.

Wilmington, next stop.

Wilmington!

Next stop, Wilmington.

Wilmington.

What are you going to do with him?

I'll turn him over

to the police in Wilmington.

You're lying.

Just like you lied about

going home to Tall Trees.

Go back to bed, Ginny.

You wouldn't turn him

over to the conductor.

And you're not going to turn

him over to the police.

They'll hang you!

Ginny's right, Mr. Lance.

Listen to what she's saying.

Now both of you. Get back to bed.

Your friend, Mr. Kennedy.

Can he sleep it off it here?

Of course. Bring him in.

Here. Put that away.

We've got to get rid of him.

Are you insane?

The Philadelphia police heard him accuse

me of making an attempt on his life.

I can't afford to have anything

happen to him in here.

What'll we do with him?

He's wanted by the law, isn't he?

Well?

Tie him up.

And let the law find him

when the Flyer pulls into Washington.

Hot java!

Coffee! Hot java!

Anybody want hot java?

Coffee!

Paper!

Boy! Boy, I want a paper!

Paper! Paper!

Is it war?

No, ma'am. It's Baltimore.

Anyone want a hot chocolate?

What are they doing

to our train, conductor?

Nothing to be upset about, ma'am.

You can't run a locomotive

through the middle of Baltimore.

The engine smoke dirties the laundry.

So the women passed a law.

Now we do it this way.

It's perfectly ridiculous.

And I mean to bring it

to the attention of Mr. Lincoln.

Who is it?

Fernandina.

- You weren't followed?

- No.

You met Mr. Kennedy here.

Good morning, Mr. Kennedy.

Is Mr. Kennedy waiting for a shave?

No. But the police

may be waiting for him.

He's wanted

in New York and Philadelphia.

They must've telegraphed ahead.

No need to worry about that.

The magnetic telegraph service

between New York and Baltimore

has been suspended since midnight.

Suspended? Why?

Telegraph lines down.

Lantern signals all night.

Something's up.

It's normal precautions.

Mr. Lincoln's train is due in

from Harrisburg at noon as scheduled.

- Many federal troops in town?

- Oh, naturally.

Well, Mr. Kennedy had me

guessing for a time last night.

But now everything's all right.

You say Mr. Kennedy turned

in his full report on me?

And I thought he was a friend of mine.

He's a friend of Mr. Lincoln.

A personal friend.

Well.

As I always say, it's a small world

How does the razor feel to you, Colonel?

- Mighty fine. Mighty soothing..

- Good.

Ah, the decorations are very effecting.

I didn't know the people around here

would be so glad to see Abe Lincoln.

Most of them are not.

The banners were

the reception committee's idea.

Did they build a speaker's stand?

Not necessary.

He speaks from the rear platform

of a private car.

It will stop across the square.

Good. Is everything ready?

At that building

over there by the harness shop,

fifty men have been selected.

And they will start a riot

three minutes

after Lincoln's speech begins.

Three minutes after two.

That should draw the police

away from him at least.

It might surprise some people to find

their common barber has it in him, huh?

You've done yourself proud, I'd say.

I only hope that all of our friends

are as well pleased.

Look at that uh...

upstairs window in the hotel.

- The open one.

- Yes.

That window is where Lt. Beaufort

will sit with his rifle

until the proper moment comes.

He will have Mr. Lincoln

in his telescope sight.

I saw to it there was a chair for him.

He will be quite comfortable.

There you are, Colonel.

A new face.

Lobsters! Crabs!

Lobsters! Crabs!

Lobsters, ladies.

There you are.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you. Thank you.

Crabs! Lobsters!

Crabs! Crabs here.

Boy! Over here!

Extra. Read all about it.

Who is there?

Beaufort. Let me in.

Did you see this?

Lincoln's speech in Baltimore canceled!?

Well, that can't be true.

My men are disposed and waiting.

It's true, all right.

"News of Mr. Lincoln's movements

"ceased abruptly after his departure

from Harrisburg last night.

"It is not likely

that telegraphic service

"will be resumed

until he reaches Washington."

So they'll be war.

Don't be too down in the mouth, son.

Mr. Lincoln is a tall target.

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