Storyteller / Shared NPC
Oskar was stooped behind the counter, already scrabbling about in the organs of the weapon. A firing pin here, a cylinder there, the parts from this one could be used to make many more sing. When the Marshal came through his door a second time, it was with relish, rather than indifference that he responded to the call.
"Ho, Marshal!" he greeted, raising a grease-smeared hand in welcome. When the rest of his body followed and he took in the returning customer, it was the flour sack at Speed's side that Oskar's eyes were immediately drawn to.
"I suppose that's the rest of the items in there?" he asked, indicating the bag. "I have to say Marshal, I'm glad of this opportunity you've brought me. Working with unique guns is always interesting." he smiled for a moment, but then so as not to seem indelicate, he added; "...and of course, to provide a service to the community."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"Yes sir, that's the lot." He reached into the bag and removed to rig with the two nickle plated pistols. "I'd be willing to say that these will bring a a nice price, with or without the holsters." He smiled as he laid the black leather two gun rig on the counter, the pistols filling the holsters, and evident as to what they were. "Now Mister Winter, we need to come to an agreement on how we might split any profits on these guns. Of course the town will pay for any labor from repairs or refurbishing them before they are sold."
Speed Guyer only hoped to bring in a bit more cash for Frances Grimes. There was no hint that he wanted to cheat Oskar Winter out of anything. He was willing to hear what he would be willing to offer for the weapons and go from there. After all, they were not his and he certainly was not out anything.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"Now Mister Winter, we need to come to an agreement on how we might split any profits on these guns. Of course the town will pay for any labor from repairs or refurbishing them before they are sold."
"Hmm, yes." Oskar mused, eyes watching the ivory-handled weapons. "Well, I'll have to check them over, but six pistols, two fine pistols, and leather... I could suggest to pay you a hundred dollars upfront for the lot? Oh, and consider the cost of the repair work waived. I'll do fine enough from these."
It was true; he would do fine from these. The parts would allow him to sell several more guns which would have been otherwise rendered worthless, and the ivory handles would fetch a very good price, even if they were sold separate from the gun.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Speed smiled. One hundred dollars would make a good nest egg for young Frances Grimes, that was for sure.
"Mister Winter, that is a very generous offer and it is much appreciated. I would gladly take it and see that Miss Grimes gets it. She's with my associate, James Vaughn who has some legal background and I'm hoping that he will win her confidence and be able to help her going forward."
Should James be able to win her confidence, then he hoped that he could guide her along a financial path, insuring that she was not taken advantage of, yet that would really depend on Miss Grimes and her willingness to trust.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"Mister Winter, that is a very generous offer and it is much appreciated. I would gladly take it and see that Miss Grimes gets it. She's with my associate, James Vaughn who has some legal background and I'm hoping that he will win her confidence and be able to help her going forward."
"My pleasure." Oskar replied, gathering the proffered weapons and depositing them behind the counter. "I... hope you'll forgive the bundle of notes." he continued, as he turned to access the safe behind him. "I don't believe I have anything larger than a few tens."
Even some years after the treasury's new notes had come into circulation, they were few and far between all this way out west. Oskar knelt down to his safe and spun the lock three times, counting the clicks until the heavy iron door swung wide. From within he drew those valuable sheaves of paper - six tens, six fives, and ten ones. Standing back up at the counter, he licked his finger and thumbed through the notes, checking them twice, before cordially handing them over to the Marshal.
"I believe I have a band around here somewhere, if you'd like..." he offered, glancing around as he searched for it.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Speed looked at the "greenbacks" he had just received. It occured to him that without sight, paper money would be impossible for Frances Grimes to deal with, and easily abused by the unscrupulous. But, it was cash money.
"Excellent, sir. And I see that these are backed by gold, so I can take them to the bank and perhaps convert them to coin. Miss Grimes is blind, and I'm afraid that paper would be a further hindrance for her." He smiled. "This will be just fine Mister Winter. And this should last her quite sometime, I would think."
Coin of course, came in different sizes for the different denominations, that should make it much easier for her to deal with.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"Yes, I, well, I'm sorry I can't directly offer coin. All that metal... you know." Oskar rambled absentmindedly. "Aha!" he suddenly cried, picking out the elusive little counter drawer where he stored his bands. "Here we are."
With that, he selected one denoting '$100' and reached over the counter to wrap it around the sheave he had just handed to Speed. "That should keep it all together." he commented happily. "Do give my well-wishes to that poor girl. Wie unglücklich."
He rounded the counter once more to show the Marshal out, stumbling only slightly on an errant nail, which provoked a string of profanities spared from Speed's ears only by virtue of them being entirely in German. "Oh, this store is going to ruin... er... thanks again for the guns." he continued, opening the door. "I wish you well, Marshal."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"You are too kind Oskar. I will pass along your well wishes to Miss Grimes." Speed said, offering his hand as they reached the door. "Best drive that nail back into the floor board. Dang things have a habit of working their way out just enough to catch on everything or trip you." He grinned.
Board floors had that habit, But square nails of the day were better in most respects to the wooden pegs that had been used.
The next stop would be the bank, and that meant figuring out the best breakdown for the coinage. But then he paused. Perhaps that was best left to Frances Grimes and how she would prefer to have it done. Either he or James could escort her to the bank where she could make those decisions for herself.