Posted October 15, 2021 / Caroline Mundee
Caroline left the man and her employer to their privacy, none of her damn business really Before she even got down to the main floor, there was an excited (what else) Arabella waylaying her.
"Caro! What's goin' on? Why's that feller goin' to see the Missus?!!" she asked breathlessly.
"They're talking business and it ain't none of our affair either," Caroline replied, "And don't you dare go eavesdropping. If she would catch you..."
The girl spied on her many times and Caroline was far easier going than Miss Devereau.
Posted October 16, 2021 / Franklin Fortner
The owner, this Miss Devereau, was a cool customer. Franklin admired her for that. She did not seem sentimental in the least, and he figured they could do business together.
"Sit down, Mr. Fortner, I'd offer you a drink but what I would like to do is engage in a very serious conversation about business. I'd like you sober afterall I don't know how many drinks you've had already," Matilda gestured toward the sturdy wooden chair opposite her desk.
Fortner sat quietly and crossed his left leg over his right knee. "Caroline plied me with one, maybe two drinks. That's it. In business, as in cards, liquor is the worst enemy."
The woman across from him spoke clearly and cogently.
"Now, I don't want to insult your intelligence because you look like quite the competent fellow but you realize the purchase of a saloon, especially a successful one like mine is would cost a lot of money? And you can afford it? I'm not talking promises - I will want the money upfront and it would be up to do to deal with a bank then regarding such things as loans."
Frank nodded as she made sense.
He'd sold the Silver Lady for $800 and some mining stocks. He'd preferred $1,000 but he had been in a hurry to leave town. There were saloons and there were saloons. Some were not much more than a large tent, especially in mining camps. But a saloon like the Star Dust, while still in a small backwater town, was anything but a tent with some whiskey barrels. Okay .. he thought quickly. A contract consisted of an offer, an acceptance (with details and clauses) ... and a cost.
"I don't want to insult your intelligence, Miss Devereau. Why don't you throw an number at me, and we can work around it?
Posted October 18, 2021 / Matilda Devereau
He remained nonplussed as Matilda went about her brusque style of business talk. She was a woman who knew what she wanted and always felt she had to be hard and clear about it, too many men were dismissive of women in careers especially something like saloons.
"I don't want to insult your intelligence, Miss Devereau. Why don't you throw an number at me, and we can work around it? "
She nodded, "Very well as long as 'work around it' doesn't mean try to bargain down the price to something I will not agree to. I know what I bought this place for and I know I've made it more profitable than the previous owner did. I will not be low balled," she asserted.
Matilda seemed to think for a moment as if tossing figures about in her head then suddenly came up with a lump sum number. As prices go it was a fair one, while she would not be cheated she also was not out to take advantage of Fortner either.
"Oh and that is only marginally higher than what I paid for it - just so you know," she added.
Posted October 19, 2021 / Franklin Fortner
She nodded, "Very well as long as 'work around it' doesn't mean try to bargain down the price to something I will not agree to. I know what I bought this place for and I know I've made it more profitable than the previous owner did. I will not be low balled," she asserted.
Franklin shook his head as if to say, "I believe in plain dealing."
Matilda seemed to think for a moment as if tossing figures about in her head then suddenly came up with a lump sum number. As prices go it was a fair one, while she would not be cheated she also was not out to take advantage of Fortner either.
"Oh and that is only marginally higher than what I paid for it - just so you know," she added.
Fortner remained calm, resisting the urge to swallow. The figure was a bit higher than he'd hoped for. Also, this was happening a bit sooner than he'd figured on, which was good but he'd have to figure out the logistics.
Did the nearest bank have the ability to get telegraphic transfers? Such transfers were beginning to be used by Western Union. There was a bank at Fort Benton, but his money was in a bank at Carson City. It could be done, he was certain, but he didn't want to let this opportunity slip by because of dithering with the money issue.
Franklin believed her when she said she preferred a done deal - money on the barrel head, and not to be caught in an fetid swamp of I.O.U.s and promissory notes.
His mind was made up. There was only one choice for him. He would get the money from Hiram Priest, then repay Priest with the wired funds.
"I agree to your amount and terms. I will have the funds by midnight tonight. To hold this deal solid, I will pay you $300 now, and the balance later this evening. If that is satisfactory with you, we can sign a preliminary document right now. I would think that we can make the transfer date a couple of weeks out because you will probably want to settle matters and tie up loose ends.
"Do you want a lawyer to write this up? I understand that the old gent downstairs is a lawyer. Or we can scratch out the deal between the two of us.
What do you say?"
Posted October 21, 2021 / Matilda Devereau
Well her blunt delivery had not scared the man off at least, he barely hesitated.
"I agree to your amount and terms. I will have the funds by midnight tonight. To hold this deal solid, I will pay you $300 now, and the balance later this evening. If that is satisfactory with you, we can sign a preliminary document right now. I would think that we can make the transfer date a couple of weeks out because you will probably want to settle matters and tie up loose ends. "
Matilda was surprised, that was fast. The fact he could come up with the money within 24 hours, even she had not expected that.
"This evening? I mean ............sure, you got a deal then. In fact I can give you a longer time than that to come up with the funds though if you need it, " she responded.
"Do you want a lawyer to write this up? I understand that the old gent downstairs is a lawyer. Or we can scratch out the deal between the two of us. "
"What do you say?"
Matilda did not know that so called old gent from Adam so no, that would not do.
"I am not a big believer in lawyers, if you come up with the money, I will sign a bill of sale we can write up ourselves. However, if you'd rather have a lawyer involved, I can get a local one for the documentation though, one that is well known in town."
"And yes I am hardly prepared to leave in the next couple of days, I'd like some time to settle things on my end and make preparations to go elsewhere. I do have a destination in mind, this is no sudden flight of fancy on my part," she added.
"Speaking of details, there is one other thing I want agreed to on your part. My employees, I want them to keep their jobs if they agree to stay. My bartender is a long time associate and friend of mine, he likes it here. He's good at what he does and he can handle himself in the event of trouble, you know what I mean."
"Then there is Miss Mundee, you'd be a fool to let her go. You've already met her so you must know what I mean. I also have a cook, she does laundry too. Negro woman, that shouldn't matter because she is a hard worker. And the piano player is young but Caroline needs the musical accompaniment."
"Now I realize you have every right to bring in your own people but it would be to your benefit to retain these folks."
Posted October 21, 2021 / Franklin Fortner
It was cinched and, inwardly, Franklin Fortner felt triumphant. It wasn't that he'd snookered this saloon owner (which he knew he had not). It was that, after having arrived in Kalispell only shortly, he'd planted himself in a position of some moment.
Miss Devereau continued on with some provisions that he wholeheartedly agreed with. Why upset the dominoes by pushing town folk around? No. He wanted to befriend them and gain their support.
So, as he listened, he nodded about the bartender, the "hostess", the piano player and the cook. These were essential to the operation of a saloon like the Stardust.
"Now, I realize you have every right to bring in your own people but it would be to your benefit to retain these folks."
"Absolutely, Miss Devereau," he answered. "They've done good by you, and I can only hope that they will feel the same loyalty to me, in time."
They set about penning the transaction on a sheet of paper. When it was completed, it was brief and to the point. After Franklin read it, he reached into this pocket and slipped out some greenback. He counted the fifties .. six of them.
"Three Hundred," he said. "And, if you'll excuse me, I will secure the balance."
He rose and held out his hand.
"Let's shake on a job well done."
Address me as Hon. Hiram Priest, esq.
Posted October 24, 2021 / Hiram Priest
Plans come into focus...
While Franklin Fortner was upstairs, The Honorable Hiram Priest esq., continued to play his games of Solitaire. He enjoyed the card game very much because he could muse about other topics while his hands arranged the cards perfectly, as if they had a mind of their own.
Red Queen on Black King, --- Black Deuce on Red Three It was all very mechanical.
Hiram turned over in his mind his current situation. In his pocket was an assayer's report on some gold nuggets found in the waters of the South Fork of the Flathead River. The verdict? Pure gold. This was the document that Franklin Fortner had been so anxious to ask him about. Even the killing of a loudmouth troublemaker didn't upset the urgency Fortner held, hence his whispered query to Hiram even as gunsmoke still filled the air.
Hiram recalled the man who owned those nuggets; Lester McAndrews. How he had the misfortune to blab his good fortune to Franklin Fortner as the two consumed a goodly amount of Red Eye in the barroom of the Bunkhouse Hotel in Bozeman. Old Lester was flushed with sugared thoughts and plied Franklin for a grubstake. It was a sure deal. There would be enough money for all partners --- and why not? He had the assay report to show him.
But good times never came to Lester McAndrews. He was last seen stumbling upstairs to his room at the hotel. Later, someone reported that he thought he'd heard McAndrews weaving down the hallway and out the rear entrance. Hotel Management was angry because left without paying his bill. They were pleased, however, when Franklin Fortner, feeling guilty because he'd liquored up the man, paid the outstanding debt.
"Now there goes a fine man," the hotel owner said to the desk clerk after Fortner left.
That was a few months back.
The assay report was now safely in Priest's pocket, but there was only one hitch remaining that blocked he and Fortner from their chance at a big strike. The land where the river ran was a homestead belonging to one Horace Potee.
"Game!" muttered Hiram after placing the final card.
Posted October 25, 2021 / Matilda Devereau
The fellow was fine with her request about the employees. Granted she knew he could change his mind about that once she left town but she was doing all she could for them.
"Absolutely, Miss Devereau," he answered. "They've done good by you, and I can only hope that they will feel the same loyalty to me, in time."
It didn't take the two long to draw up a short but clear document putting on paper their business agreement, she would hand over the actual deed to the property upon receipt of the remaining money. He then produced the down payment he had promised.
"Three Hundred," he said. "And, if you'll excuse me, I will secure the balance."
"Thank you," she slid the cash into a desk drawer, she'd deposit it in the safe shortly.
He rose and held out his hand.
Matilda shook it as she now stood up to see him out the door, "A pleasure doing business with you. If you run this place right, it should certainly turn a fine profit. I like dealing with a decisive man."
Posted October 27, 2021 / Franklin Fortner
Franklin liked Matilda. She was plain speaking -- no ring around the rosy, but all woman none the less. He would be sorry to see her leave town.
Matilda shook it as she now stood up to see him out the door, "A pleasure doing business with you. If you run this place right, it should certainly turn a fine profit. I like dealing with a decisive man."
"My pleasure," he assured her.
The deal was done.
Franklin left her office and made his way down the dark hallway to where it led to a railing that outlined the second story parapet where one could observe all the activity in the saloon below. Here, he stopped and let his hand grip the sturdy wood while enjoying the aroma of liquor, tobacco, leather and horses. He also exalted in the sense of ownership.
He saw Hiram Priest as he hovered over his cards, carefully setting one after another on the colorful schematic before him. Down the solid staircase he went and over to the older man's table.
"I want to thank you, Mister, for backing me up earlier," Frank said for all to hear. My name is Franklin Fortner," he continued before putting out his hand.
Priest looked up at him as though seeing him for the first time. "Howdya do? I'm Hiram Priest, lawyer by trade." He reached out, his long fingers wrapping around Fortner's hand. "Sit down and set a spell."
Frank took him up on it, then voiced the following in hushed, conspiratorial tones. "Is the bank open today? You're looking at the new owner of the Stardust Saloon. But I need some money to close the deal."
Hiram was nonplussed and moved a wad of tobacco to the other cheek with his tongue. "It is. How much you looking to withdraw?"
The old rogue didn't flinch at the amount. "Let's step out back in a while and I'll give you the funds." There was no sense in making a scene by displaying his fat pocketbook.
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Posted October 27, 2021 / Arabella Mudd
With Mr. Grimes' body carried away and in the tender care of old Mr. Jolly, it fell to Arabella, as chief scrubber and pot washer, to tidy up. No chance of doing a proper job now, with the hustle and bustle returning to the place. She had to content herself with fetching a bucket of sawdust and sand from the kitchen - she always had a bucket handy to help soak up vomit - and liberally sprinkle it on the patch of blood and, quite frankly, gore where the dead man had fallen.
Least folks wouldn't slip on it.
She would attack the mess properly first thing in the morning with cold water. Cold rather than warm, of course, for blood. Not that she would be able to completely eradicate the evidence of yet another fatal shooting. The stains dotted the wooden planked floor, some more faded than others, depending upon their age.
That done, she returned to the bar room and attacked the piano: banging out a jolly tune of the day, Carve Dat Possum, with a sort of mad passion, shooting looks at Priest and Fortner as they chatted so happily. Death. Another death. She thought of Billy. She thought of her Pa, Mother, brother. All the people who had gone too soon. Grimes was forgotten already; men laughed and joked.
Suddenly Arabella found herself coaxing a tune out of the battered piano, one she'd thought she didn't like: a sad, melancholy thing that Mr. Pettigrew sometimes flipped her a nickel to play: Tristesse. Miserable thing it was, but she needed to play it right now.