"Work is fine for killin' time, but it's a shaky way to make a living."
Posted December 15, 2021 | Ben Simons
Seeing that the Stardust was open, Ben made his way inside. After hearing the news that the saloon had been sold to one, Franklin Fortner, Ben was doubly surprised. First that Matilda Devereau sold the saloon when everybody in town thought she would be there for the rest of her life and secondly, the name of the new owner was one that was not unknown to him.
He had been to the saloon frequently to play poker since his arrival in Kalispell a few months ago. These were usually friendly games and he had never been kicked out of the place. His relationship with Ralph and Miss Devereau was good but it was more of an acquaintance than an actual friendship. The last couple of weeks he had spent working on getting his theatre ready for its first performance that he hadn't had the time to play cards. Also, the fact, that he wanted to avoid Arabella and her propensity to audition every time he saw her.
As he continued, he hoped that Arabella was out the back somewhere washing dishes or something that would keep her out there but to his dismay he could see her at the bar with Sally, a whore he only knew in passing, Miss Mundee, Ralph, and a man, he presumed was Fortner.
Posted December 18, 2021 | Franklin Fortner
Things seem to run like a well oiled machine, or so Franklin sensed. Everyone seemed to have a part that they played, and played well. For instance, there was Ralph. He was an old hand at the saloon -- like a foreman on a ranch. He would be a good candidate to step in as Manager if Franklin had to be away for whatever reason. There was Arabella. She played an important part too. She seemed loved by all, if annoying, and was like a glue that held things together. Then there was Caroline, young but like Mother Earth to the staff. They seemed to put a lot of stock in her.
All this was good for one Franklin Fortner. The smoother the Star Dust ran, the more time he could devote to his sidelight. It stood to make him a rich man if things fell into place like he was hoping and planning.
Everything hinged on Horace Potee ... now there was a character he needed to meet and "work on".
Absently, he stared over to the table where Hiram Priest would hold court. It was reserved for the old Mayor, Judge, and roué. Maybe roué was a bit harsh. There was nothing debauched about the sly, honorable Mr. Priest. What he had besides a brilliant, calculating, mind was a rapacious heart. He, most certainly, was a player in his wider drama.
Fortner's attention snapped back to the moment when Caroline descended the stairs, and Arabella rushed to the piano and played a sort of rolling welcoming fanfare and announced excitedly "Ladies and Gentlemen, here she is, The Chicago Songthrush, Miss Caroliiiiiine Mundeeeeeee!" In fact, Arabella was always quite put out when the songstress actually did get up early enough to join the rest of them at the early morning breakfast table. It broke family tradition, see.
"Morning, folks! Gonna be another hot one I'll bet," she flashed one of her light up the room smiles.
"It's always a hot one with La Mundee in town!" Arabella concurred, before slurping the rest of her sarsaparilla.
Hot time, thought Fortner. They don't know the half of it, he mused.
"Hey, it's that girl who sings!" slurred Sal, who had now put on her seein' glasses. "...Caroline." Boy, this place sure looked funny in the morning when it was empty and the light was streaming in through the windows.
Arabella jumped up from the piano stool, bashed her empty glass down on the bar like the cowboys did after they'd downed a beer in one and threw her arms affectionately around the old bawd.
"Look Caro', Aunt sally's come in to see us!" she beamed, as if some luminary like President Grant or Queen Victoria had dropped by.
A shadow fell across the floor as someone, newly entered, blocked the slant of the morning sun. Frank turned and saw a well turned-out man. It was unusual for him to see anyone as nicely dressed as he was, and it put him on alert. So, to show the newcomer who ran the place, he called over to Arabella. "Play Buffalo Gals".
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Posted December 18, 2021 | Arabella Mudd
Mr. Fortner was boss now, so Arabella played Buffalo Girls, well, she knew it as Lubly Fan will you cum out tonight An dance by de light ob de Moon, but it was the same old tune. In fact, it was such a hoary old tune that Arabella was bored of playing it, so she messed about doing a jaunty syncopated version of the tune, which tinkled in the background while the two slick gentlemen had their conversation.
Posted December 19, 2021 | Caroline Mundee
Caroline remained nonplussed while Arabella did her usual overly dramatic and hyped up routine of her arrival onto the saloon floor. She used to that gushing and knew there was little she could do to stop it. Arabella was a force onto herself.
Caroline went up to the bar and spoke to Ralph in hushed tones, he smiled and nodded which apparently was all the answer the saloon girl expected so she turned then to observe the rest of the goings on.
Arabella wrapped her arm around the whore, but spoke to Caroline, "Look Caro', Aunt sally's come in to see us!" she beamed.
"Ain't that grand," Caroline replied, without enthusiasm.
Then Fortner asked Arabella to play a song, an old song. While the girl did that, performing solo, Caroline felt the girl didn't need the help - the man approached their shiny new boss. Again Caroline just watched. Wait, a second look and she knew the gentleman, it was Ben.
Oh she had once upon a time been introduced to Ben's full name but she forgot it. Caroline wasn't much on formalities in the saloon (actually anywhere else either). Ben was a gambler who played cards on occasion at the Star Dust. He knew his trade well too. But if he ever cheated, she never noticed and no one else called him out for it. She had stood at his table for a few games and watched the cards being played, she flirted with him, and of course she got him to buy her a few drinks too. He had never caused any trouble and seemed a true gentleman.
Posted December 21, 2021 | Franklin Fortner
Then Fortner asked Arabella to play a song, an old song. While the girl did that, performing solo, Caroline felt the girl didn't need the help - the man approached their shiny new boss. Again Caroline just watched. Wait, a second look and she knew the gentleman, it was Ben.
Oh she had once upon a time been introduced to Ben's full name but she forgot it. Caroline wasn't much on formalities in the saloon (actually anywhere else either). Ben was a gambler who played cards on occasion at the Star Dust. He knew his trade well too. But if he ever cheated, she never noticed and no one else called him out for it. She had stood at his table for a few games and watched the cards being played, she flirted with him, and of course she got him to buy her a few drinks too. He had never caused any trouble and seemed a true gentleman.
Franklin, each hand clasping a side of his open suit coat, turned and appraised the new comer -- well, at least new to him. The man was turned out nicely, and his shoes were varnished. Shoes were important to Franklin's mind. One could dress up like a one-hundred dollar funeral, but if his shoes were dirty and scuffed, he looked like a bum.
He felt he should know the man, or know of him.
"You know this fella?" he asked Caroline.
Posted December 21, 2021 | Caroline Mundee
"You know this fella?" Fortner asked her.
"Yeah, he is Ben...S something. I've only used his first name. He's a local gambler and sort of a business promoter. He comes in to play poker on occasion, " Caroline replied then greeted the man as he came up to them.
"Hullo hon, warm one out there ain't it?" she smiled for Ben.
"Hey! Got news for ya. Meet the new owner of the Star Dust, Mr. Frank Fortner," she decided to handle the introduction.
"Work is fine for killin' time, but it's a shaky way to make a living."
Posted December 23, 2021 | Ben Simons
"Hullo hon, warm one out there ain't it?" she smiled for Ben.
Ben smiled as he tipped his hat, "Good day, Miss Mundee...and yes it is a warm one today."
He didn't mind that Caroline couldn't remember his full name as the lady probably had a lot of names to remember. Knowing the names of the men who came here often was a part of the job for her since it probably made it easier for her to make them buy a few drinks. Besides, he was all for keeping a low profile here and if people didn't remember his name, then all the better.
"Hey! Got news for ya. Meet the new owner of the Star Dust, Mr. Frank Fortner," she decided to handle the introduction.
"So, I heard," he answered before turning to Fortner. Holding out his hand, he said, "Nice to meet you, the name's Ben Simons."
Address me as Hon. Hiram Priest, esq.
Posted December 28, 2021 | Hiram Priest
Frank stood back and appraised the stranger, head to toe.
"Hey! Got news for ya. Meet the new owner of the Star Dust, Mr. Frank Fortner," she decided to handle the introduction.
Fortner smiled, confident and sure.
"So, I heard," he answered before turning to Fortner. Holding out his hand, he said, "Nice to meet you, the name's Ben Simons."
Frank reached out with his right hand and took the offered one. Simons' grip was strong and the hand was warm. The name sounded vaguely familiar but he couldn't place it exactly.
"Mr. Simons," Frank said. "A pleasure, I'm sure. We hope you find the Star Dust your home away from home. I aim to keep what's good about it, and make improvements around the edges. If you like games of chance, we are planning some card rooms in the back, and away from the distractions." He eyed Arabella.
"Ralph," he said to the barkeep. "Set one up for Mr. Simons, will you? On the house."
A figure moved into his peripheral vision. It was aging but sure footed Judge Priest.
"Wait a minute," Frank called to the older man, stopping him on his way to his reserved table. "I want you to meet someone." He nodded toward Simons. "This is Ben Simons. Ben, I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Hiram Priest, some time Judge, some time Mayor."
Priest rolled a wad of tobacco from one cheek to the other. "Well, how do you do, Mr. Simons?" He asked cordially. "In town for long?"
Posted December 28, 2021 | Ralph Flandry
Ralph watched and of course listened in on the conversation, introductions and all. He knew Ben of course, he'd served the man drinks before. He knew most of the customers unless they were new.
"Ralph," Fortner said to the barkeep. "Set one up for Mr. Simons, will you? On the house."
"Sure," Ralph nodded and poured a whiskey for the man, he even remembered what brand was Simon's usual order.
"Work is fine for killin' time, but it's a shaky way to make a living."
Posted December 29, 2021 | Ben Simons
"Mr. Simons," Frank said. "A pleasure, I'm sure. We hope you find the Star Dust your home away from home. I aim to keep what's good about it, and make improvements around the edges. If you like games of chance, we are planning some card rooms in the back, and away from the distractions."
"Well, the Star Dust is a nice place and it's good to know that there will be changes, especially the prospect of somewhere a bit more quieter to play a game of cards. It can be a noisy here at times considering this is the only establishment that most of the local ranch hands come to. Most of them can't afford the bar at the hotel."
"Ralph," he said to the barkeep. "Set one up for Mr. Simons, will you? On the house."
"Sure," Ralph nodded and poured a whiskey for the man, he even remembered what brand was Simon's usual order.
"Thanks," Ben replied. He didn't get much of a chance to say anything else to the bartender as Fortner grabbed his attention again.
"Wait a minute," Frank called to the older man, stopping him on his way to his reserved table. "I want you to meet someone." He nodded toward Simons. "This is Ben Simons. Ben, I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Hiram Priest, some time Judge, some time Mayor.
Some time Mayor? That introduction in itself was one to make you wonder. Did this Priest fellow have plans to run in the upcoming election?
Priest rolled a wad of tobacco from one cheek to the other. "Well, how do you do, Mr. Simons?" He asked cordially. "In town for long?"
"Long enough," Ben said with a smile. He decided to do some fishing and find out if Priest was really interested in running or it was just an off the cuff remark, "From what your friend, Mr. Fortner said you've been both a judge and a mayor. This town is pretty covered where judges are concerned with Judge Robertson looking after any civil matters and circuit Judge Bryant looking after the criminal ones, so that leaves mayor."
After taking a sip of his whiskey, that had been left on the bar by Ralph, he continued, "What I mean to say, is that you're probably already aware that we have a mayoral election happening soon. So, if you're planning to try your luck here, you best get a move on. Nominations close at five o'clock today."