"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Mature Content: None
With: Speed, Oskar Winter, Others?
Time of Day: Afternoon
Speed had tucked the Colt into his waistband as he stepped out of the saloon and then into the street, looking for an opening to cross, the afternoons always seeming to be the busiest time of day for traffic on Main Street. He managed to cross without much difficulty, and made it to the door of Winters place of business. This might well be interesting.
Speed stepped through the door, and closed it behind him, seemed that every business had a bell to announce the presence of a potential customer. Of course, Winter probably had work in the back, repairing guns and such, and a bell made perfect sense based on his wares. No sense allowing some miscreant to come in and steal a gun, though the rifles were chained in their rack behind the counter, pistols were laid in his display case, easily removed.
He pulled Grimes' pistol from his waistband and looked it over again, pulled the hammer back two clicks, and gave the cylinder a spin. Smooth, work had been done on it.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
It was an airy afternoon, and to be entirely fair; Oskar was not feeling all in the mood for work. Slouched in a chair out back, he took idle sips from a little glass of something-or-other (horrible stuff that, not at all like Austrian brandy), and watched the clouds go by. Since the beginning of the Centennial States' fair he'd been receiving word by the day of new advances in the field of personal defense, and it had all become rather exhausting. That wasn't to say he was bored by any means - why, who could be bored of the grandest and boldest instruments ever designed?! His capacity for that excitement was simply experiencing somewhat of an overload.
That was why when the little bell trilled its greeting from the inner room, he responded with a sigh rather than springing to his feet. The little wooden bandit sitting at the opposite end of his gun range seemed to sneer, pointing his painted gun at the prone gunsmith, as though he was being goaded into motion by an inanimate object.
He set down the glass and pushed himself out of the chair, stretching, straightening his suit jacket and giving his arms a little stretch, before he wandered back into the store where who awaited him but Henry Guyer himself.
"Marshal!" Oskar greeted, taking in the pistol at his hand and the look on his face. Even from this distance, the click of the rotating cylinder was audible to Oskar's trained ears, and he knew that the weapon that Speed held was no stock-standard firearm.
"How can I help you this fine afternoon?" he continued, moving behind his counter to take up position.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"Well sir, got a pistol here, actually a fairly new Colt." He said, laying the gun on the counter. "It belonged to Frank Grimes and hard as it may be to believe, it appears to be well taken care of. Since Frank experienced another case of slow, I'd like to see what I can get for it, he has a blind sister, Frances, about town who'll need any cash that can be raised."
What Speed knew was Frank's horse and a fine looking range saddle that would fetch a good price, either separately or together. Far more than the pistol, and with any luck, Frank had a rifle which could be sold as well. Speed's real concern was how Frances would manage without the support of her brother, worthless as he might have been, he did see to her.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"Oh, the poor girl." Oskar remarked, though already his mind was on the weapon in front of him. He craned over the counter, sizing the machine up and already disassembling it in his mind. Modern colts had gotten remarkably more robust over the last few years what with the advent of centrefire cartridges, but even a good gun could run foul in the hands of a poor owner.
"Let's see here..." he mused, as he worked the hammer and began to disassemble the weapon. "Not much rust or corrosion in the barrel... cylinder action is smooth... can't speak for its longevity..."
He gave the hammer a squeeze and held the weapon up to his ear, listening for the click. The mechanism sounded like it was in good shape, even if it was clear by the weapon's assembly pins that it had been disassembled several times already. The problem with an aftermarket weapon like this though, is that customers were generally more wary of them, even if they were empirically better firearms.
"Well, I can't say I see anything wrong with it." Oskar thought out loud. "In light of the smoothing on the mechanism-and of course the circumstances of poor Mr. Grimes and his sister, I am presently willing to offer fifteen dollars for this piece."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Speed smiled. "Fine, I appreciate that, Mister Winter. The funds of course will go to a good cause. That girl will need all the help she can get." The plight of Frances Grimes was not one he was able to fully grasp. With no sight, without her brother's assistance and support, her situation appeared to be grave. Yet, what did he actually know of her circumstance? Nothing. She must have a place to live, that all but go without saying.
"I've several guns over at the jail that belonged to the men that robbed the bank. They won't be needing them, I can bring them over to be repaired where necessary, and perhaps you would take them on consignment once the town pays you for the repair work. Sound like something that you might be willing to do? That money can go to her as well." He would head over and see Matt Wentworth about the plan.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Oskar listened to the Marshal's offer and gave a moment to think it over. Outlaws weren't known for their acumen in firearm maintenance, but as Speed said, he was being paid for the repair work regardless. He could at least distract himself from keeping up with the centennial for a time.
"Yes, that seems most agreeable. I'd be entirely happy to." Oskar declared, sweeping the pistol below his counter and depositing it in one of the numerous slots and boxes housed therein. "Would you like the cash directly? I could hold off until the repairs are complete and then offer a lump sum in alternative?"
He hovered his finger over the ejector on his till, as an accentuation of his question.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Speed smiled, "I think that would be fine, Mister Winter. Just fine. I'll present her with what cash I've accumulated so far, and when we've got all this settled, I'll see that she gets the balance." A lump sum offer for guns that he could turn a profit on for himself was a more than fair offer, in fact, it was a most generous offer. More good coming out of the bank robbery tragedy.
"I'll head over and gather up what I have. Maybe the gun leather is in acceptable condition as well, I really hadn't paid much attention, except for one outfit, the two gun rig that had belonged to Kid Carlisle. A pair of nickle plated, ivory handled, Colt peacemakers in four and three quarters inch barrel lengths. Well cared for."
They would fetch a pretty penny separately or together. Then the rig itself polished black leather. The right man could wear it with either of the Mexican loop holsters if he chose to. Or, buy the whole lot. Perhaps an auction for them, that was food for thought.
"Well, I'll be back, need to stop by and see Gunther about Grimes' horse. I'll have those guns here before days end." Speed announced.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"A pair of nickle plated, ivory handled, Colt peacemakers in four and three quarters inch barrel lengths. Well cared for."
"Ivory, you say?" Oskar repeated. "Well I'll certainly take a look."
Ivory's price had been rising ever since the routes to Africa no longer ferried slaves, and such trips had become less profitable ventures for merchantmen.
"Well, I'll be back, need to stop by and see Gunther about Grimes' horse. I'll have those guns here before days end."
"Absolutely. Best of luck Marshal." Oskar offered, circling around to the door so that he could show Speed out.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"Well sir, I'll be back with those pistols as I said, and the nickle Colts. See you then." He found it refreshing to have the door opened for him as he stepped out onto the boardwalk. "Good day, sir."
Across the street at the Stardust stood Grimes horse and what had been an idea earlier now was a quandary. The animal would now belong to Frances, it would be her decision as to what happened to the horse and saddle. That left him holding thirty-five dollars and wondering just where he could find Frances Grimes to give it to her, and find out what she wanted to do with the horse.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Leaving his business office, Miss Grimes and Young James Vaughn, he made his way to the Marshal's office where he encountered both McNue and Cook, lounging in the chairs on the porch.
"About as dull a place as you could have landed." He greeted and took up a spot on the nearest support beam which held up the overhang-porch of the second floor. "Not sure why you were left here in the first place, not that I mind at all."
"We get paid whether we're here or back at the capitol." Cook said.
"We're planning a ride over to Creston then up to Columbia Falls and back. Sorta get the lay of the land twixt here an' there." Cook offered.
"We're here in the likely event Case Steelgrave returns, with or without his gang of dregs." McNue stated. "The Governor wants this place to prosper and it's got a real chance."
"Damn sure does Marshal," Cook cut in, "What with the hospital, the railroad coming and I noted you run a mining business, so anything found around here will bring in the miners, and them that follow along. We could be here a while."
"Speed laughed, "Fine point. Yes all this is possible, and don't think I don't appreciate you boys bein' here as I surely do." Speed responded. "As far as Steelgrave goes, I've considered that, and I too believe he'll head this way. But me, I need to get some guns without owners to Winter's gun shop. You boys take it easy."
He went inside, to the safe which he rarely had need to use and opened it, taking out half a dozen unclaimed pistols, including the nickle plated pistols and holsters. There was a flour sack inside as well, so he placed the guns inside it and then hefted the bag as he stood, then out the door he went. "You boys enjoy!"
He reached the shop and opened the door, stepped inside, closing the door behind him. Then to the counter and setting the bag on it. "Oskar? It's Speed.Guyer."