Posted May 15, 2022 / Ralph Flandry
"Set em up, Ralph, two whiskies," ordered Fortner.
Ralph heard of course and simply nodded, "You got it."
He then reached for a bottle and two shot glasses then filled them to the brim.
If they wanted them, they'd have to go up to the bar and take them, he was the bartender, he did not deliver drinks to the tables. Now Caroline would do that but she had already gone upstairs and did not come back down. Ralph knew why too. He might not be much of a talker but there wasn't much that Ralph missed if it went on in the bar room.
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Posted May 16, 2022 / Arabella Mudd
"That's a better attitude," Priest said with a smile. "Much better."
Arabella shuddered: the 'nicer' Priest became, the more chilling she found him, and the more threatened she felt.
He rummaged in his vest pocket, and as he was rummaging, he said, "I know how this tragedy hurt you, Miss. You are too young and innocent to worry 'bout such things." Out came a shiny, newly minted Silver Dollar which he set on the piano, on the wooden edge just to the right of the 8th octave of "C" -- the last key of the keyboard.
"Oooh, whats that for?" she asked with an unconvincing smile.
"This is for you. And every time you see it, and hold it, think of that sweet Mrs. Potee and how you loved her. And also think of our friendly chat about her."
She managed a desultory "Thanks" and then breathed a thankful sigh of relief when he finally ambled over to the bar where Fortner and Hannaberry were drinking.
Arabella finished the tune and took a deep breath. She held out her hands in front of her, they were trembling slightly. She would have to take the dollar, but she decided that she would put it in the church collection box on Sunday. Meanwhile, she used her apron as an 'oven mitt' to scoop the Silver Shekel into her pocket, not wanting to contaminate her skin with the thing.
She looked over to where Priest was saying something to Fortner and, wait, was that Hannaberry? Hannaberry!? Fortner drinking with Hannaberry. The sooner she got out of this place the better!
Posted May 18, 2022 / Franklin Fortner
Fortner and Hannaberry stayed leaning against the bar.
"Thanks," he said to Ralph when he set the whiskey's down on the bar.
With glass in hand, he turned to Lukas.
"That must have been an awful sight," he confessed to Lukas. "No one deserves to leave this Earth that way."
Lukas took a quick swig then answered. "Awful. I'm glad you sent some of the fellas out there to cut her down. That husband of hers is as useless as tits on bacon. And I guess we'll get the sheriff involved in it. He's gotta write up some kind of report. Don't he?" Another sip.
Frank nodded. "I guess so, but I don't know where the Hell he is."
"Hey Ralph," he called. "Do you know where the Sheriff keeps himself? I mean where would he be if not at the jailhouse? Any guesses?"
Posted May 18, 2022 / Ralph Flandry
The boss talked with the customer while Ralph dried some glasses with a towel, minding his own business.
"Hey Ralph," Fortner asked, "Do you know where the Sheriff keeps himself? I mean where would he be if not at the jailhouse? Any guesses?"
"Sheriff Pike? No one has seen him for a long time now. He and his wife left for California or someplace after gettin' married. Ain't been back since. You want law in this town, yer gonna have to go the Marshal, he's got a place, down the street."
Posted May 19, 2022 / Franklin Fortner
"Sheriff Pike? No one has seen him for a long time now. He and his wife left for California or someplace after gettin' married. Ain't been back since. You want law in this town, yer gonna have to go the Marshal, he's got a place, down the street."
"Thanks, Ralph." Fortner began to appreciate his bartender's reticence. It was good to know that the man could keep his mouth shut.
He raised his voice. "Arabella!" She was still tickling the ivories, but he could put her to better use. "Come here. Will you?"
Hannaberry, wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Just what I needed," he said, setting his empty glass on the bar.
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Posted May 20, 2022 / Arabella Mudd
He raised his voice. "Arabella!" She was still tickling the ivories, but he could put her to better use. "Come here. Will you?"
The terrified girl jumped at the summons, but she was an actress, or so she told herself, and she pulled herself together, played a quick coda to the tune and plastered the biggest smile imaginable on her face. She actually skipped over to the saloon owner.
"What can I do for you, Mr Fortner?" she asked, smiling brightly and fluttering her eyelashes.
Hannaberry, wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Just what I needed," he said, setting his empty glass on the bar.
"Ooooh, do you want me to fetch you another one, Mister Hannaberry?" Arabella asked proactively.
She deliberately avoided the subject that had brought the odd looking man in here.
Posted May 22, 2022 / Franklin Fortner
What can I do for you, Mr Fortner?" she asked, smiling brightly and fluttering her eyelashes.
Hannaberry, wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Just what I needed," he said, setting his empty glass on the bar.
"Ooooh, do you want me to fetch you another one, Mister Hannaberry?" Arabella asked proactively.
She deliberately avoided the subject that had brought the odd looking man in here.
"No no," Fortner said. "You seem to know your way around town. And, I'm wondering if you'd run down to the Marshall's office for us and tell him to hustle over here 'cause we got some news for him. I'd go down there myself but ... Well, I've already sent some of the boys out to Potee's place, and I've got a business to run."
He smiled at her. "Whaddya say?"
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Posted May 22, 2022 / Arabella Mudd
Fortner said. "You seem to know your way around town. And, I'm wondering if you'd run down to the Marshall's office for us and tell him to hustle over here 'cause we got some news for him. I'd go down there myself but ... Well, I've already sent some of the boys out to Potee's place, and I've got a business to run."
Arabella frowned, but only because 'some news' sounded a bit vague and the Marshall, who could be a little crusty sometimes, might not answer such a summons.
He smiled at her. "Whaddya say?"
"Sure!" she beamed a smile that would have made her cheeks ache if she had been forced to keep it up too long. It would do her good to get out of the atmosphere of the place. Unlike Caroline, who always said what she meant when angered, Arabella was getting good at dissembling. "I'll just grab my hat and shawl!" she yelped and disappeared into the back.
As she left the raucous, though now music-less, noises of the Saloon behind, a million thoughts and fears and hopes and dreams swirled through her head: the catalyst of the evening's awful and tragic drama had brought home to her just how precarious life out here was. Who knew, this time next week , maybe she would be hanging from a rafter, or begging on the street: like poor Mr Potee must do now with no livelihood and a little girl to support. Or maybe her dreams would start to come true, she would be able to start saving money in earnest for New York: maybe Mrs Wentworth would even get her theatre group started.
Reaching the Marshall's office, she knocked and went inside "Mister Guyer? Charlie? Anybody home?"
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted May 22, 2022 / Henry S. Guyer
Speed came in behind her from the cell block in the County Sheriff's office where old Barney Eldridge was still sleeping one off. "Why Arabella. What brings you in today, I doubt I've ever seen you in here before." he greeted.
This was strange, as she had never had occasion to be in the office before,In fact, he rarely ever saw her outside the saloon, though he was sure she made forays from the Stardust from time to time. He didn't think for a moment that she was holed up in there day in day out.
"So, let's have it girl." He prodded. "What's this historic visit all about?"
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Posted May 23, 2022 / Arabella Mudd
Arabella couldn't see anybody at first, but as she nosed further in, she saw someone locked in a cell - how exciting! She went over to see who it was: Cole Younger? Jessie James? Maybe her favourite, the noted road agent Thomas Gage Love! She peered in, but keeping away from the bars, in case he did something desperate.
"Oh! Hello Mr. Eldridge!" she said when she recognised one of the saloon's best customers "We wondered what happened to you last night: Mrs Adams was right disappointed, she said you never turned up for a romantic assignation." The slumbering man just grunted and the familiar smell of stale whiskey breath hit her.
"Oh well, 'The Course of True Love Ne'er Did Run Smooth'" she quoted as she fished out one of her secret stash of Temperance leaflets, folded it in four to make it more aerodynamic, and chucked it through the bars so it landed on the bunk where he'd find when he woke from his booze induced coma.
When Speed came in behind her, she nearly jumped six feet into the air.
"Oh! I thought you was outlaws come to rescue Mr Eldridge!" she panted, holding her heart.
"Why Arabella. What brings you in today, I doubt I've ever seen you in here before." he greeted.
"That's 'cause I'm a good girl, Mr Guyer." she informed him, polishing her halo.
"So, let's have it girl." He prodded. "What's this historic visit all about?"
"Oh, that feller Fortner sent me over to tell you to... I dunno, he's got some news for you or something..." she said unenthusiastically and showing scant respect for her employer. "Have you heard about poor Mrs Potee - Fortner won all her husband's money and his whole farm and everything and now they say she's hunged herself. Oh ain't it awful Mr Guyer. And that poor little girl of their's - dear little Abigail. What's gonna become of her?"
She started to get quite emotional on the subject.
"I... I tried to stop him Marshall, honest I did! He was so dog-gone drunk he didn't know what he was doin' and then all the cards got spilt on the floor and... oh, it's just so horrible and unfair." she bawled, tears running down her cheeks. She didn't dare say any more of her suspicions of cheating, lest her friend Caroline be implicated.
"Shut up will ya? I'm trying to sleep here!" came Barney's voice from the cell.