"Hector," Alice replied, "Hopefully this is good news based on your exuberance, we could certainly use some."

Speed held it for a long moment before opening it and reading the message's words. He reread it then looked up,

"Well, Speed? What does it say?" Alice asked impatiently. "You were all excited about doing this thing, but now you look stunned, so read it!"

"Oh, right. So, 'Marshal Guyer, 'We will be in your area stop. The date you want is available, stop. The cost would be roughly eight hundred fifty dollars, stop. If you wish to have us for three days, Friday through Sunday, the cost would be eleven hundred dollars, stop. We have several shows in the territory, stop. Awaiting your reply, The Harry Orman Traveling Menagerie, Caravan, and Circus. Baraboo, Wisconsin. '

"I believe we can swing that, all three days, and that would be sensational!" Speed said, "Eleven hundred dollars should be no problem to raise."

"Are you serious Speed? Over a thousand dollars? Alice wanted to know. "That would be a lot of money in anyone's budget. And I know that you're thinking that you have the money, or that Pike has the money. The answer is yes, you both have the money, but do you want to splurge like this? On a circus? Really?"

"I do. I think it will be worth the investment in the long run. Yes, there's the outlay to do this, but there is also money for the town to make off of it. Rooms, meals, that sort of thing. And, maybe some community pride in having this here because it will draw a lot of folks from all around."

Alice smiled and said, "Hector, you wire this Harry Orman, and you tell him to send his contract. We'll do the three days! Now, I'm riding out to the Pike's and see what the baby Wheeler is up to, and if you're nice, I may mention this circus business to Em."

"It's sure a lot of money" Hector said, his enthusiasm slightly dented, now he'd heard the amount spoken out loud. In his mind he wondered if that was just what they called a 'starting point for negotiation' but Miss Fletcher seemed to think that they should agree to the amount straight up.

Alice smiled and said, "Hector, you wire this Harry Orman, and you tell him to send his contract. We'll do the three days! Now, I'm riding out to the Pike's and see what the baby Wheeler is up to, and if you're nice, I may mention this circus business to Em."

Heck knew Miss Fletcher and Marshall Guyer were mixed up in a copper mine, which he'd always thought must be small fry, compared to say a gold mine or even a silver mine , but now he might have to revise his opinions, if they could splash that sort of cash around!

"I'll get right on it!" yelped Hector and hared off at top speed.

If he had stopped one second to think about the logistical nightmare that would be getting a circus to a remote town in a railroad-less Territory, the sum of $1100 would have seemed cheap to the point of insanity - it was a task that might defeat a modern Hannibal!

Nevertheless, in a far off section of the continent, Orman was wiring that Hannibal.

"Fireworks would be better later in the evening, when it's much darker and would  be much more spectacular," Alice suggested, emphasizing the word spectacular. "I mean that you have everyone in this great mood from the dance, too much food and beer, or whatever, and then boom! The sky lights up with fireworks! Can't you just see it, Speed?"

"I can, and I believe that you're right about the timing of the fireworks." He agreed as he visualized the display lighting up the heavens, it would be spectacular! "We need to get a contact there and see what can be done. I mean, I see where it would be something very special, and, something the town's not seen before. Fireworks overhead!"

"So then my husband top be, I am on my way to see Missus Pike as I had said. And yes, I will relate our plans about this 'Founders Day' celebration, if they offer, I'm taking it. Oh, and whole you're about here in town you might open a bank account for this event as we will certainly require one."

Speed smiled. "I had thought about getting that done, and I will right after I leave here."

"Maybe you put five hundred in to kick things off. It will be way more than the eleven hundred this Ormond quoted, with food, beer, whiskey and the fire works, especially if they want to send their own men to set off the display. I doubt there's anyone here capable of doing it the way it should be done."

"Right. Say, where's your father? I haven't seen him for a while," Speed asked.

"Out scouting around I suppose, he left a couple of days ago, so he should be back any time now." Was her reply. "I'll find you later." She kissed him and headed out, Speed right behind her.