Posted November 29, 2021 | Franklin Fortner
:: Early Morning ::
Frank Fortner came down the stairway into the heart of the saloon. It had been a week since he'd bought the place, and all seemed to be going well. They opened at 10am, less than an hour away, and staff was busy sweeping the floor, polishing the tables, and polishing the glassware.
He made a mental note to go over the invoices and manifests with Ralph -- making sure they were well stocked and to see what the barkeeper had on his mind.
The piano was silent for now, but before too long Arabella would be pounding out some ditty of the ivories. She was a big asset to the place -- the girl had talent plus she was a regular town crier of gossip.
There was now a table set up in the corner of the room, the one that was reserved for the Hon. Hiram Priest. Now THERE was as person who had an ear to the ground.
Fortner took in a long breath and let it out slowing.
Who knew what would happen between then and the close of business at 2am?
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Posted November 30, 2021 | Arabella Mudd
Of course, as she never tired of telling people, Arabella had been up ages before everybody else: lighting the stove, fetching water, scrubbing floors - she thought back to that grim morning she'd had to scrub a bloodstain off the planked flooring. That seemed like a lifetime ago now. Mrs Devereau had left them, without undue ceremony, and the still unknown quantity of Frank Fortner had moved in. It seemed odd to think he had lodged last night in Mrs D.'s old room. For some reason, she felt sort of glad that Caroline's room was in between her room and his.
Next up had been Cookie, then Ralph straight behind. The busy girl wondered if Caroline would make a special effort this morning, what with it being Mr. Fortner's first day, and fetch herself up before eleven. La Mundee reckoned she needed her beauty sleep, despite Arabella telling her many, many times that she was already beautiful enough without it. Oh well. She remembered the reception she'd gotten when the singer had first arrived and Arabella had jumped on her bed around 9 O'Clock and shouted "Wake up, lazy bones!" It was an experiment not to be repeated.
Well, Mr. Fortner had been spending his morning so far to good effect, he looked immaculate, as per usual, a fact which Arabella acknowledged in her cheery greeting.
"Morning Mr. Fortner Sir, now ain't nice and smart and good-lookin' this mornin', and here's me lookin' like Alice off the Pickle Boat!" she grinned. Indeed, she did look pretty rumpled in her workaday smock, stained pinny, hair all escaping from her doodad and one be-holed stocking starting to droop and wrinkle at the ankle. There was also a dirty black smudge of soot on her face from where she'd cleaned out the grate of the stove and then wiped her nose with the back of her hand. The very sight of her looked enough to mess up Frank's fancy clean duds.
"You want us to do anything special all on up here, or should we just carry on with ur normal ol' doin's?" she asked.
Posted December 3, 2021 | Frank Fortner
The proprietor of The Star Dust Saloon stepped, finally, on the planked flooring. It was with some satisfaction that he saw that everyone knew their work assignments and were hustling and bustling for their pay. That was as it should be.
It seemed to him that the hardest worker was Arabella. She had an indefatigable energy and, what struck Fortner as, an endearing eagerness for life.
In her telepathic way, she buzzed over to him.
"Morning Mr. Fortner Sir, now ain't nice and smart and good-lookin' this mornin', and here's me lookin' like Alice off the Pickle Boat!" she grinned. Indeed, she did look pretty rumpled in her workaday smock, stained pinny, hair all escaping from her doodad and one be-holed stocking starting to droop and wrinkle at the ankle. There was also a dirty black smudge of soot on her face from where she'd cleaned out the grate of the stove and then wiped her nose with the back of her hand. The very sight of her looked enough to mess up Frank's fancy clean duds.
"Nothing wrong with looking like you're earning your pay," he answered.
In some ways, Franklin Fortner could be the perfect boss, the perfect citizen, the perfect friend, the perfect teacher. If only the greed that consumed him could be put at bay, he could be all those things. He was never improper with women, especially young women. He was never lewd or nasty.
On this morning, Franklin felt balanced and good.
"You want us to do anything special all on up here, or should we just carry on with ur normal ol' doin's?" she asked.
"I have all the confidence that you know what to do and when and how to do it. Hell! don't let me get in your way." He chuckled. Then he thought of something. "Do you know any Stephen Foster songs? I was thinking it might be nice to devote some of your talent on "Camptown Races, Old Folks at Home, .. that sort of song. Do you know those?"
While he waited for her answer, he looked around to see how busy Ralph was. He wanted to talk to him about the supply of liquor, quality and cost.
Posted December 3, 2021 | Ralph Flandry
Ralph was at his station behind the bar, checking to see there were plenty of freshly washed, well rinsed at least, shot glasses and beer mugs. Earlier he had brought up some more bottles of liquor to replace emptied ones on the shelf behind him, just below the large mirror. It felt strange to not have Matilda in his life anymore but it didn't mean that he felt he had made a mistake in not accompanying her to San Francisco. Rather he believed she was the one who had made the error, chasing more money and ...yeah, probably happiness in that bigger city.
Her only good argument with him that time when they discussed him going with her was the weather was better out there. Matilda had hated the Montana winters. Being a born New Yorker, the weather didn't bother him as such. He liked the size of the town and - frankly - he liked many of the people especially his fellow female co-workers. Bubbly crazy Arabella, the very jolly negro cook who was truly good at her trade, and then Caroline, who despite her youth, was every bit the perfect saloon gal and a sweetheart to boot. Yes, he felt in a way they needed him here - to protect them from harm. Saloons could be dangerous places.
Those who might think they could take advantage of the women here, well they would soon find out they would have to deal with him. Since his early years as a member of a street gang in New York City to his bloody experiences in the war to his saloon work, Ralph was no stranger to violence. He'd killed people and if it came to it again, he would not hesitate to add to that total without remorse.
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Posted December 3, 2021 | Arabella Mudd
"I have all the confidence that you know what to do and when and how to do it. Hell! don't let me get in your way." He chuckled. Then he thought of something. "Do you know any Stephen Foster songs? I was thinking it might be nice to devote some of your talent on "Camptown Races, Old Folks at Home, .. that sort of song. Do you know those?"
Arabella just laughed and rolled her eyes "Course I know Mr Foster's songs: why, he even wrote one about me: Virginia Belle!" Well, the girl in that song had left Virginia all right, but for Heaven rather than Montana. Then something else occurred to her.
"Oh, and he wrote one about you too, Mr. Fortner!" she cried and then burst into song:
🎵 Your head may be thick as a block,
And empty as any foot-ball,
Oh! your eyes may be green as the grass
Your heart just as hard as a wall.
Yet take the advice that I give,
You'll soon gain affection and cash,
And will be all the rage with the girls,
If you've only got a moustache,
A moustache, a moustache,
If you've only got a moustache.🎵
She cackled with laughter, for Mr. Fortner had just the kind of moustache that looked like it had been grown to attract the ladies.
She looked over to Ralph and her smile faded: he was carrying on as normal, but she felt sad every time she saw him since Mrs Devereau left, projecting an emotion on him that was probably a product of her imagination. She made her way to the piano and sat down. "I know what song Mr. Flandry likes best." she said quietly, and played it softly.
Posted December 3, 2021 | Franklin Fortner
Arabella just laughed and rolled her eyes "Course I know Mr Foster's songs: why, he even wrote one about me: Virginia Belle!" Well, the girl in that song had left Virginia all right, but for Heaven rather than Montana. Then something else occurred to her.
Franklin smiled. "Fairer than the golden morning, Gentle as the tongue can tell, Was our little laughing darling; Sweet Virginia Belle." He recited the lines like a poem and didn't try to add any tune. It was a sad song, especially to him, because it reminded him of his dearly departed kid sister.
Arabella's sharp voice shook him out of his reverie.
"Oh, and he wrote one about you too, Mr. Fortner!" she cried and then burst into song:
🎵 Your head may be thick as a block,
And empty as any foot-ball,
Oh! your eyes may be green as the grass
Your heart just as hard as a wall.
Yet take the advice that I give,
You'll soon gain affection and cash,
And will be all the rage with the girls,
If you've only got a moustache,
A moustache, a moustache,
If you've only got a moustache.🎵
He laughed a little, and then stroked his moustache in the manner of the villains seen so often on the stage.
She looked over to Ralph and her smile faded: he was carrying on as normal, but she felt sad every time she saw him since Mrs Devereau left, projecting an emotion on him that was probably a product of her imagination. She made her way to the piano and sat down. "I know what song Mr. Flandry likes best." she said quietly, and played it softly.
This gave Fortner the opportunity to visit with his barkeep, a pleasure he'd long sought.
"Well, Mr. Flandry," he began, once he reached the bar. "How are things looking for us? Any problems with supply or quality?"
Posted December 6, 2021 | Ralph Flandry
Ralph was listening to the conversation between his new employer and the youngest employee and then the music of course, he liked the girl's talent on the piano. But generally he stayed out of conversations unless specifically addressed. However now Fortner approached the bar.
"Well, Mr. Flandry," he began, once he reached the bar. "How are things looking for us? Any problems with supply or quality?"
"Nobody calls me that...it's Ralph," he softly pointed out before answering the pertinent question, "Supplies are good. Tildy always did a fine job of procuring the necessary amounts. She dealt with the Zimmern Brothers out of Helena, reliable distributors."
"I'm sure she left the books and correspondence up in her office," he added.
Posted December 7, 2021 | Franklin Fortner
"Well, Mr. Flandry," he began, once he reached the bar. "How are things looking for us? Any problems with supply or quality?"
"Nobody calls me that...it's Ralph," he softly pointed out before answering the pertinent question, "Supplies are good. Tildy always did a fine job of procuring the necessary amounts. She dealt with the Zimmern Brothers out of Helena, reliable distributors."
"I'm sure she left the books and correspondence up in her office," he added.
"Why thanks,.... Ralph," Frank began. It was his practice to start off in a formal manner until advised otherwise. "Sounds like you have everything under control." He slapped his hands down on the polished bar and smiled. "I'm not about to reinvent the wheel. So why don't you just keep on with what you have in the past. When I get a chance, I'll go over the books --- maybe this weekend. What I want you to know is that if you need any roadblocks cleared or help with problems, feel free to see me about 'em."
He lowered his voice. "What's your pay?" he asked.
Posted December 7, 2021 | Ralph Flandry
His employer then commented that it seemed things were under control. No argument there.
"Yep," Ralph thought so too, not much to add to it.
"I'm not about to reinvent the wheel. So why don't you just keep on with what you have in the past. When I get a chance, I'll go over the books --- maybe this weekend. What I want you to know is that if you need any roadblocks cleared or help with problems, feel free to see me about 'em."
"Sure, I'll let ya know," the taciturn bartender nodded.
"What's your pay?" was the next question.
Ralph told him then, Matilda paid typical salaries in line with other saloons in the territory. And also...
"I get free room and board too, food and drinks on the house," he added. He lived upstairs after all.
Posted December 8, 2021 | Franklin Fortner
Ralph was a tough nut to crack, in Fortner's estimation. But, then again, it's better to have someone who is tight-lipped working for you rather than someone who is a blabber mouth.
Then he asked him what is pay was, and Ralph told him that his pay was comparable to others who kept bar. To Fortner, that meant about $1.70 per hour.
But Ralph went on. "I get free room and board too, food and drinks on the house."
Franklin nodded then stood back and crossed his arms.
"Whatdya say to $2 an hour? Let's call it $20 a day. And, yes .. room and board is thrown in too. AND drinks on the house."
It was a generous offer.