"Every town needs a newspaper."
Change was a dreaded word, one most folks shied away from. They liked it just the way it was, but that was never how things worked. Prices had crept up at the Mercantile, as well as the general store, and sooner or later at the Stardust Saloon, and the Lickskillet as well.
Change had slipped into town quietly almost without notice. Marginal changes all but overlooked. Time was marching on as was usual, and there was the barest hint of fall in the air. Changing of the seasons would soon bring the snow and winter would set in. Travel would be slow once the snow hit and the trails were covered. The streets in town would be hampered by the white stuff, and men would be out with shovels to clear the boardwalks so people could get to their businesses.
And the paper, winter would slow the production, though he would see to getting the news out. He would leave a stack at most businesses in town, he didn't see much profit over the winter months, but that was to be expected as Kalispell waited on the arrival of spring and the welcomed change that would bring.
There was that word again. Change. He smiled. It was coming.
"Every town needs a newspaper."
Word of the arrival of two men from Helena got to Phin near sun down. Word was it was Elias Steelgrave's lawyer, but the other fella was unknown to the person who relayed the message to the newspaper man. Now that could well be a story. A lawyer out of Helena, Elias had called in the big guns for whatever reason, but most likely the hospital contract. 'A mite late.' He thought.
Whether or not that had any truth in it did not matter, that they were here was all that counted in the newspaper world. He would see what could be gotten from them, or maybe just surmise why they were in town.
His money was on the contract, and he was well aware that Latham and Ashworth were both trying to reverse the approval, and thus halt any construction before it even began. To his way of thinking, that was going to be a very difficult task.
Another thing that was brought to his attention, two more men were forted up across from Miss Steelgrave's house, now there were five, and why was that, he wondered. Why two more men had left the Evergreen to seemingly join forces with the others in looking out for her struck him as odd. Had they heard something? Suddenly there was news afoot where an hour before it was Missus Sodergren's preserves, or Harley O'Brien's new colt that was the news.
With pad and pencil in had, Phin took up his hat and coat. Time to see what he could garner.
(Continued in 'Montana Territory, Carson Tyndall.')
"Every town needs a newspaper."
(After meeting with Tyndall and Fairchild)
Stepping through the door of the Union office he was still shaking his head. "Never heard such a load, but he's an attorney? What was I to expect, anyway?" "He complained. "Sarah, I'd say this unequivocally, never, ever trust no damned lawyer!" He marched to his desk. "I mean to sit there, straight-faced, and say that Elias Steelgrave was in favor of Leah building that hospital? The nerve, as if this town didn't know the kind of snake Elias Steelgrave is, no wonder his wife left him! Not to mention his sons, save for Case."
He was up again, cup in hand, headed to the coffee pot for a cup. While he was there he opened the door, checked the fire, and tossed in another piece of wood, then closed the door, picked up his cup, then turned back toward Sarah. "Lumber and men to use it should be arriving any day now, and then we'll see just how Elias feels then."
@JulieS
Stepping through the door of the Union office he was still shaking his head. "Never heard such a load, but he's an attorney? What was I to expect, anyway?" "He complained. "Sarah, I'd say this unequivocally, never, ever trust no damned lawyer!" He marched to his desk. "I mean to sit there, straight-faced, and say that Elias Steelgrave was in favor of Leah building that hospital? The nerve, as if this town didn't know the kind of snake Elias Steelgrave is, no wonder his wife left him! Not to mention his sons, save for Case."
Sarah smiled, "Sometimes I think I would rather deal with a lawyer, even one employed by Elias Steelgrave, than with the politics of the Kalispell Ladies Society and as for Case Steelgrave, the longer he stays of Kalispell the better for both him and the town."
The rumours that were circulating around town about all of the Steelgraves, was both good and bad. At times it was hard to tell what was truth and what wasn't...something this lawyer, Phin was going on about was probably counting on.
He was up again, cup in hand, headed to the coffee pot for a cup. While he was there he opened the door, checked the fire, and tossed in another piece of wood, then closed the door, picked up his cup, then turned back toward Sarah. "Lumber and men to use it should be arriving any day now, and then we'll see just how Elias feels then."
"Yes, it was good that the town council got around to signing that contract the other day. Hopefully, things will go better for Miss Steelgrave and she won't have any more problems. There's about a month to go before we have the election for mayor and a new town council is appointed, so I wouldn't be surprised if Elias tries something before then."
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"Try something, yes, but what? I mean without the supplies here and the work started, well, it will be shortly, and work will be started." Phinn stated a bit on edge, yes, Elias may well try something.
He continued, "There is a rumor that the Army may well intervene. Something was said about Guyer's trip to the fort asking for a patrol, which sounds a whole lot like Marshal Law, then again, without Pike, he's down a man, so there are the four of them, Charlie Wentworth, the two Helena Marshals and himself. Maybe that was a smart move, having the Army send cavalry patrols through town. A show of force. Might be a deterrent."
"Much as I hate the thought of marshal law being imposed, which I doubt Guyer would do, well I hope he would not impose it. I suppose time will tell, and that just might be the end of his career and welcome in Kalispell, too reminiscent of the late war for some folks around here."
Julie