"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Mature Content: Nope
Time of Day: Time of Day Morning
The day had started for Marshal Henry 'Speed" Guyer just before daylight, as it generally did. He had a good bit of work to do in his capacity as town Marshal, and as owner-operator of Wood and Guyer Mineral Company, Kalispell office. There were applications to have a look at for positions from office staff to field operators. All that without a sacrifice to his duties for the town. That had been the agreement with the Town Council when his request to operate a business in town limits had been submitted.
Of course he would seek reelection,confident he could mange both positions without conflict of interest. The job of County Sheriff would of course, be on the ballot, but he had no desire to be all over the county whenever the need arose, and it would, more often than not. Even though there was little to no trouble in Kalispell, with the coming presentation of the plans for the hospital and later, the orphanage, he wanted to be on hand to see just how that would unfold.
The current edition of the Union was sparse on names or details, he was well aware of Miss Steelgrave and her plans. Also there were two medical men involved, both prominent in their own right, Doc Boone a bit more well known, and Jonah Danforth with an established practice and reputation. but it was clear that Leah Steelgrave would be a different problem. Yet, had she not presented the town with the deeds for the right of way for the railroad? had her efforts not exemplified honesty and good will? And then there were the grants she had secured. With those, all she need to do was sign the grants over, but, would it be that simple?
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
As he thought of Miss Steelgrave's dilemma, if it was in fact a dilemma, he began to see that things really were changing for Kalispell. Of course the proposed railroad had not started because of the winter, and might not reach Kalispell for a couple of years, given the heavy winters construction would encounter.
The Council meeting would sole all of this, or set the stage for a fight, in court or otherwise as there would be several players involved, both for and against.
"Boss," Pronto's voice broke Speeds train of thought. "Be ridin' out to the property with Em fer a bit."
Speed looked up to the ma on his roan horse, "Take your time, I'm headed to the bank then rounds and back to the office. Should be a quiet day, so take your time, knowing she wants to see what's been done."
"Thanks, see ya when I git back." With that he wheeled his mount and headed to the livery to meet Emily.
Speed smiled, it had been some turnaround for the former ranger to find a place in the community, a woman to share life with, and relatively no problems to speak of. Of course he was headed into what Speed considered dangerous ground siding with Leah Steelgrave, but then, wasn't he as well?
He arrived at the bank, knowing there had been some changes in management . He turned the white porcelain knob and stepped inside.
No one is as important enough to walk wherever he wants. He's bound to run into something that will stop him.
Charles had just stepped out his office at the same time, the marshal came into the bank. He motioned to Luke that he would take care of it. It had been a few days since he had taken over the bank and the transition had been smooth. Luke Johnson, the bank's main teller was proving to be as good as Croft said he would be. Maybe in a year or two when the town was a little bigger, and when Luke had more experience, he would like at promoting the young man. To what position, he wasn't quite sure yet but it would definitely be a step up from the job of teller.
As for the rest of the staff which consisted of two part-time tellers who worked at one or two days per week depending how busy things got. At the moment, Charles was content to leave things the way Croft had them but later on when he understood more about the town, the bank and its customers, he would be making changes. For now that was in the future, and at present, he had the marshal to meet.
Walking over to the marshal, they met halfway across the bank lobby. "Good morning, marshal. Allow me to introduce myself. Charles Wentworth Sr."
He held out his hand and waited for the marshal to respond.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Walking over to the marshal, they met halfway across the bank lobby. "Good morning, marshal. Allow me to introduce myself. Charles Wentworth Sr."
He held out his hand and waited for the marshal to respond.
“Guyer, Henry Guyer, folks call me Speed.” Speed announced gripping the man’s hand. “Heard there’d be a change. Welcome to the community Mister Wentworth. I’ve come to open a business account in addition to my regular account.”
No one is as important enough to walk wherever he wants. He's bound to run into something that will stop him.
Charles nodded, "Yes, the change was very unexpected, even for me. Let's go to my office and we can discuss your new account."
Upon entering the manager's office, Charles showed the marshal to his seat and then he took his own on the other side of the desk. "I've been going through the files of the local businesses around so that I can get familiar with what's what and who's who. I have your file right here."
Rifling through the stack of files on his desk, Charles soon found the one he was looking for. Opening it, he briefly perused it before looking at the marshal, "The former owner, Mr. Croft spoke highly of you and your business. From what I've read so far, it looks very promising."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"Well I'd say that at the moment, promise is about all it's got." Speed said with a smile. "Got to get some employees on board to get things rolling. Glad to hear that Mister Croft though so highly of the idea." People were aware that the Marshal had connections with his firm in New York, but the truth was, Speed was a tad slow on the uptake for the business.
"Wood and Guyer Mineral Company. Sometimes called Mining Company, depends on the locale. We locate mineral deposits and begin the process of ownership. We also are on the lookout for other minerals, timber is a part of the business, though we don't actually get involved with developing the mines, or logging, we get things going and then sell." He smiled, "So we need an account that will handle not just wages, but expenses as well."
No one is as important enough to walk wherever he wants. He's bound to run into something that will stop him.
"Sounds good. We can open an account now." Charles leaned over to another stack of papers, found the relevant form and then handed it over to the marshal.
"It's a good thing, I'm going through all the bank's paperwork to make sure everything is up to scratch, " he said with a smile.
As he waited for Guyer to fill out the form, he leaned back in his chair a little. There were a number of things he wanted to know about the town and in particular Leah Steelgrave. Even though, he now owned the bank, the town council still wanted to look into the possibility of building the hospital without her input. If that wasn't possible then they needed to work out some sort of proposition that would allow the town council to takeover the project in the event of Miss Steelgrave reconciling with her father. There were many options to consider and he had promised to help find the one most suitable.
"Marshal, when you've finished with that, there are a couple of questions I would like to ask you about the town and some of its residents. I hope you won't mind answering them."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"Marshal, when you've finished with that, there are a couple of questions I would like to ask you about the town and some of its residents. I hope you don't mind answering them."
“Questions? Not at all.” He replied, “There, finished. Now, what can I do for you. Mind, I’m no busy body but I know folks around here well enough.” To Speed the man’s interest in his new community was a real plus. Especially when he ran the bank and everyone’s financial situation who had money in the bank.
“You’ve picked a fairly peaceable community to call home. Not too many problems where the law has been called, and that’s a good sign for anyone wanting to re-locate here. Of course the area has it’s problems, as all towns do, but nothing that can’t be overcome."
No one is as important enough to walk wherever he wants. He's bound to run into something that will stop him.
Charles nodded, "As a banker, you have to know the difference between a good and a bad risk. So, I like to find out as much as can about those I may have to deal with. I'm after is a general opinion of what the law in town thinks. All I ask is that you be honest in your opinion and hold nothing back."
Picking up the form, Guyer had just filled out, Charles went over to the office door and opened it. He called for Luke to come over and gave him the form. After asking him to take care of the formalities, he closed the door and returned to his chair.
Leaning slightly forward, he looked straight at the marshal's face, "What can you tell me about the Steelgraves?"
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Charles nodded, "As a banker, you have to know the difference between a good and a bad risk. So, I like to find out as much as can about those I may have to deal with. I'm after is a general opinion of what the law in town thinks. All I ask is that you be honest in your opinion and hold nothing back."
“Of the town? That won’t be too difficult.” Speed replied. And it would not. Kalispell was pretty much a quiet town, filled with hard working folks, which included the immigrants from Whitefish. They had made themselves right at home and a valued part of the community.
Picking up the form, Guyer had just filled out, Charles went over to the office door and opened it. He called for Luke to come over and gave him the form. After asking him to take care of the formalities, he closed the door and returned to his chair.
Leaning slightly forward, he looked straight at the marshal's face, "What can you tell me about the Steelgraves?"
‘Ah right to the crux of the matter.’ He thought to himself. “Of the whole family, not a great deal. I do know that Missus Steelgrave left the country, supposedly for Saint Louis, but that’s hearsay. She did leave however. Of his boys very little, except for Case Steelgrave who was Marshal up to Whitefish before it was destroyed in a storm last winter. Fire actually.” He paused a moment, “Which leaves us with Elias and his daughter Leah.”