Tales of the Texas Rangers - The White Elephant

At about 6:30 P.M., a freight train, just outside of a west Texas town, gains speed and rolls through the gathering dusk. Inside a gondola car a hobo crouches in the corner as the brakeman comes toward him. The brakeman says "Alright, Paul, this is where you get off". Paul says "Now listen pal, just let me get to the next town". The brakeman says "I just said this is where you get off". Paul says "But, we are moving". Brakeman says "You got on when we were moving, now you can get off. Now, come on or I'll dust the top of your head". Brakeman grabs Paul and a fight starts. Paul hits the brakeman and jumps off the train. At about 3:00 A.M. of the morning following the freight train incident, a rancher named Banker notices a small coupe with Oklahoma license plates, parked on the shoulder of the road. Banker turns his spotlight on the car. He sees a man slumped down on the driver's seat. Banker notifies Sheriff Caldwell, and about 30 minutes later Caldwell begins his investigation of the murder. He calls the Texas Rangers, and Ranger Jace Pearson is assigned to the case. Within a few hours, Caldwell, Pearson, and Banker are at the scene.