Storyteller / Shared NPC
Mature Content: No
With: Jack Asher, Speed Guyer, Hannah Cory
Time of Day: Evening
Jack left the Stardust and walked straight over to the town marshal's office, hoping to catch the marshal or his deputy still at work or at least still awake. Government lawmen had a variety of reactions to Pinkerton Detectives operating in their jurisdiction. Some took no issue, some were reluctant, and some were downright obstructive. Wells Fargo Bank and the Pinkerton National Detective Agency had provided him with letters of introduction, politely requesting that federal and local law provide Jack with whatever assistance they could, or at least that they give him room to work. There was also one from the governor of Texas and one from Major John B. Jones, commander of the Texas Rangers. Jack always did his best to operate in concert with local law when he could, only working in secret when necessary. Unfortunately, it was necessary more frequently than Jack liked. But it wasn't this time, so here he was.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Speed was in the office idly going over a packet of circulars of wanted persons. He was sometimes surprised that there were women fugitives out there, but then, life in the west was not always kind to the fairer sex.
His day had been slow, and confined to making his rounds and waiting. Hannah hadn’t been in all afternoon, but that was not all that unusual now that the work load did not rest on her shoulders.
He got up hand poured a cup of coffee from the pot on the stove and returned to his desk thinking he may well have an ally in Pike, and that would be better than the other alternative.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Posted by Guest - Chistery
Jack peered through the glass of the door and saw that the Marshal in fact did appear to be in, so he rapped his knuckles on the door and waited for a response.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
The rap on the door drew Speeds attention. "c-min." He said loudly as he reshuffled the circulars, looking toward the door. It was getting on dinner time for him, but he was a public servant, and he guessed that a member of the public was just walking in, when he saw the badge.
"Well, evening. You must be new in town." Speed observed as he rose to his feet and extended his hand. "Guyer, Speed Guyer. Haven't see that badge since I was last in Washington in sixty-five. How can I help?"
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Jack entered and when greeted shook the marshal's hand.
Posted by Guest - Chistery
"Jonathan Jacob Asher," he said. "Call me Jack. You've seen the badge. I'm with Pinkerton."
Jack reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out four letters.
"I'd be obliged if you took a moment to look at these. One's from the Pinkerton office in Austin, Texas, one is from Wells Fargo bank, one is from the Governor of Texas, and that last one there is from Major John B. Jones of the Texas Rangers. Surprisingly, they're all fairly brief. The long and the short of all that is that these folks request that you render me what assistance you're able in the apprehension of one or more of several train robbers that may have come up this way, all members of the late Baker Gang. Bounty Hunters caught One-Eyed Bob and the law set him to swinging. Paul "Smitty" Smith, Charley Goller, Freddy "Flinch" Linch, and one Dorothy "Dotty" Parsons AKA Angel, all got away and were headed north. They were traveling together, but I was able to catch up to Charlie alone. From him I learned that the others were headed this way. They seem to have split up, and I've been following Parsons, her being so easy to track. An attractive, if dusty, young woman in pants toting two big Smith & Wesson Schofield revolvers on her hips tends to stand out. The others might be in the area, too. Not sure. But I do believe that if Miss Parsons ain't already in the area, near Kalispell here, or in our around Whitefish somewhere, she will be soon. These are their particulars as we know them." Jack pulled out a wanted poster with pictures of all four of the wanted members of the Baker Gang. Charley Goller's picture had an X drawn over it.
"Now, I work for Pinkerton on behalf of Wells Fargo. Texas wants to hang these folks. Wells Fargo just wants as much of their money back as they can get. If Miss Parsons can point me in the direction of that money, or in the direction of Flinch and Smitty, I might be open to asking the Pinkerton office in Austin and the bank to speak to the Attorney General and the Governor of Texas about dropping the charges against her. Way I see it, she's young, she was in a bad situation, she had to make hard choices to survive, and one of those choices led her to fall in with a bad crowd. Namely One-Eyed Bob Baker and his gang."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
“Just did see a circular on most of them. Didn’t see one on her, this Dorthy Parsons, but you know, the mail and such, being what it is out here. Doesn’t mean I won’t see it next time the mail comes in, and as far as I’m concerned, you do what you need to.” Speed said.
“Now, as I said, you’ve free reign here, Whitefish, whole ‘nother animal, I’m afraid. Thought it is a part of Flathead County, they have their own law up there, man name of Case Steelgrave. He has a standing posse of hard cases and there’s a direct connection with the Evergreen Ranch. Things might not be so friendly up there, and that Pinkerton badge, well, not so sure they’ll be as excepting as we are here in Kalispell.”
He took a sip of his coffee and looked at the man. “Need anything, give a holler, glad to be of service.” As a Union soldier he was well aware of the Pinkerton's and their efforts during the late war. He, like most, had a great deal of respect for the Scot and his force.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Posted by Guest - Chistery
Jack nodded. "Thank you," he said.
"And what you just said fits with what I've heard said by the scarce amount of people I've run into up here, including during a stop at the fort. I'd consider not wearing the badge when I go calling on Marshal Steelgrave, but I do believe I may have run into a couple of Evergreen hands over in the Stardust. So I don't think I'll be surprising any Steelgraves. No, I think I'll ask around town tomorrow, see if anyone's seen or heard anything that might interest me, then head on to Whitefish day after, maybe reconnoiter Evergreen ranch and the surrounding area. Any chance you or your deputy could come with me to call on folks? Maybe help put them at ease and more of a mind to talk candidly with me? And do you by chance have a good maps of the area? Maybe a surveyor's maps? Kalispell, Whitefish, or any with Evergreen Ranch on them? I can make my own, but it would best if I had something to start from."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
“I’m just the town Marshal here, we have no County Sheriff as yet, so my going along wouldn’t be in any official capacity, and the general relationship with either the Steelgraves or Whitefish which are one in the same, are not particularly good.” Speed said. “If those are the folks you mean, I and my deputy are obliged to remain in town, as we’ve no jurisdiction outside the town limits.”
Speed stood up and walked to the stove to refill his cup. “Now, as to the maps, maybe in the recorders office after nine in the morning. They can steer you in the right direction for maps, and I’d be for certain they either have them or know where one can be gotten.”
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Posted by Guest - Chistery
"I'll be sure to stop in to see the recorder," Jack said. "And I meant would you mind showing me through your own town, Marshal, assuming that wouldn't put you out too much. I presume your not universally reviled in Kalispell? Unless they hate you here, too, you or your deputy might be able to help me start polite conversation where insult and rudeness might otherwise be found."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Speed returned to his chair and sat down, setting the cup on his desk. “Well Mister Asher, so far as I know, most folks here abouts have yet to display their feeling one way or another. Fact is, when I was appointed to replace Marshal Cory, who retired, I heard no complaints. Folks in Kalispell are far from rude and insulting. Most are quite welcoming.”
“If you’d like to come by, say nine, nine -thirty in the morning I’d be happy to take you around and introduce you to whomever you’d like to speak with. That’s not a problem at all. If Hannah, Deputy Cory, is in and cares to come along that would be a bonus, I’d think.”