Linked Server Query - Timeout Error Under Load

Hello,

I am researching alternatives to a stored procedure that uses a linked server query that my ASP page uses to retrieve records to the page.

Should I:

Use replication (Data is constantly updated, so a snapshot won't do. Merge replication?)

Break up the stored procedure into subqueries?

Use a view on the remote server instead of the actual tables?

I am trying to reduce the amount of table scans, what is the best way to do this?

Here is the stored procedure I am trying to tune:
(@startDate and @endDate are parameters passed from the web page):

CREATE PROCEDURE dbo.spELRMCcardXtionByDate @dcid nvarchar(255), @startDate datetime, @endDate datetime
AS
SELECT Store.[Str#], Store.[Dcid#], E.card_number, E.program_number
, E.start_date, E.end_date, E.card_number, E.event_number
, E.status, E.budget, E.scheduled_date, P.tx_time, P.purchase_amount
, L.merchant_name
FROM (Store INNER JOIN Event E ON Store.[DemoID#] = E.event_number)
LEFT JOIN (Location L RIGHT JOIN POS_TX P ON L.location_number = P.location_number)
ON E.event_number = P.event_number
WHERE (((Store.[Dcid#])= @dcid)) AND E.scheduled_date BETWEEN @startDate AND @endDate
ORDER BY Store.[Str#]
GO

Any suggestions on my sp or anything else that can implement would be greatly appreciated.

TIA,

Bruce Johnston
Programmer/Analyst