The man looked around at the group. "Now, remember, the business includes the routes, several swing stations along the way. And even after the train comes in, folks are still going to have to get from here to there!"
"Yes, yes" Colonel Buller waved his hand dismissively at this this attempt to 'puff' the goods on sale, by some feller who seemed to have a vested interest in getting a good price for it in the auction.
"Now, to get, I say to get back to this here business of freight... presumably some small time operator round these parts takes care of that, but he can soon be undercut: couple of wagons, charge a pittance, bust the opposition, take over. It's a monopoly I'm aiming for gents, a good old fashioned American monopoly! HA HA HA!"
The Colonel had no idea that the 'He' was a 'She' - but that fact would have only cheered him, knowing it was a mere woman he'd have to break.
@[Everybody]
A town is only as good as the timbers that form its buildings.
Like Mason Aldridge, Christoph knew very well that the Millegan line was only a passenger line at the moment, but there was no reason it couldn't be expanded to include a freight line. Only he didn't want to go about it the same way Colonel Buller was suggesting. Undercutting the existing freight was diametrically opposed to everything he'd done to help Kalispell grow.
He glanced sideways at Aldridge. Making a split second decision, he leaned closer, speaking quietly. "Mr. Aldridge, we've not had extensive interaction yet, but I know that will change as the hospital construction continues, and hopefully as Miss Steelgrave turns her focus to building the orphanage she's been planning. I believe it would be in our mutual interests, and in the interest of Kalispell, to band together for the purposes of this auction. We can discuss the freight aspect of the business later, but right now my wish is to keep the stage line in local hands."
And to keep Elias Steelgrave from gaining another foothold in the town, he thought silently.
He paused. "I realize this is quite sudden. Do take a moment to consider, if you need to."
Now Buller was talking about Addy's freight business. Addy Chapple, she was tough as nails, a regular salt of the earth person, bear killing woman who had done more for this town than just about anybody, and even a mean, dirty SOB like Elias Steelgrave recognized that, and respected it. He was no where near going soft, but if anyone wanted to tangle with Miss Chapple, he would answer to the whole town, as well as Elias Steelgrave
"The man has his eyes set on Addy Chapple's freight business! Damn his black soul to Hades and back again!" Elias hissed under his breath.
"That's a hornet's nest he needs to avoid. They'll ride him out of town on a rail he tries to run over Miss Chapple!" Latham stated. "God have mercy on his soul 'cause this town sure won't!"
That made Elias smile. "Best we stay on, but at the moment I've no intention of joining any consortium. I'd build that saloon first! Now Anders and Aldridge are alright doing what they do, but trying to run a stage line with four, even three men, trying to each call the shots, no sir. That's our poison." Elias said, "But if they do try this, we'll be here to pick up the pieces!"
"Hadn't thought of it like that, Elias, it could make for an ugly ending. And turn those men on each other." Cole remarked, seeing the wisdom in what Elias had said. If men had never been a part of any kind of partnership, trouble would arrive before they knew it, especially with a man like Buller who saw himself at the helm of this thing.
He paused. "I realize this is quite sudden. Do take a moment to consider, if you need to."
Alders was right...it was quite sudden but, in a way, not unexpected. He needed more than a moment to consider but time was short, and the sale would be starting soon. The only option was to make some sort of quick deal and talk about the details later.
The stage line was a good buy but there was only so much he had come prepared to pay for it. Anything above that amount and he was going to pull out of the bidding. However, with Alders as a prospective partner, he might be able to get the line for much less.
Looking over at Alders, he nodded, "All right...we go fifty-fifty up to the amount of $10,000. If the bidding goes higher than that we will have to talk about it a bit more."
At this point in time, Mason didn't want to give away all of his cards, "If you agree, then all we have to do is to decide which one of us will do the bidding."
@ [Bailey
A town is only as good as the timbers that form its buildings.
Christoph watched Aldridge's face as he considered the proposition, and was relieved when the man nodded. The construction company owner had thought of a decent way of proceeding in that short time, and it seemed perfectly reasonable to go 50/50.
"Agreed," Christoph said, holding out his hand to seal the deal. "I am perfectly happy to do the bidding if you'd like." Truth be told, he was just as content to sit back and let Aldridge bid. But the very act of bidding, although not a risk in itself, felt risky especially under the circumstances, and Aldridge was already taking some risk by going in with him. But, Christoph reflected, he was also taking a risk partnering with Aldridge.
It was a calculated risk, but one that he hoped would pay off.
Colonel Buller couldn't help but notice Alders and Aldridge deep in conference in the corner of the room and gave a deep sigh as he turned to Elias.
"Well, Steelgrave, looks like all bets are off! Those two, I say, those seem to be in cahoots!"
The obscure man with the beard and spectacles overheard this and darted his weasel eyes over to Christoph and Mason, and then immediately ran over to them.
"Say fellers, don't suppose I could come in with you two if'n you're gonna bid on this together. I got a $1000 I can put into this today, and could raise more in the future, probably. Even just a small share in a sure-fire company like this'd do it for me!"
@[Everybody]
"Well, Steelgrave, looks like all bets are off! Those two, I say, those seem to be in cahoots!"
"Indeed, Colonel. But that is always something one needs to consider. Pairing up." Elias said, eyes narrowed watching the pair. "The idea you presented was not a bad one, not bad at all, but the profit percentages were too small, and they're two local men looking to expand their investments. Can't say as I blame them."
"Say fellers, don't suppose I could come in with you two if'n you're gonna bid on this together. I got a $1000 I can put into this today, and could raise more in the future, probably. Even just a small share in a sure-fire company like this'd do it for me!"
"I'm sure that it would. And you are, sir?" Elias asked as Latham looked the man over.
@Everybody
"Say fellers, don't suppose I could come in with you two if'n you're gonna bid on this together. I got a $1000 I can put into this today, and could raise more in the future, probably. Even just a small share in a sure-fire company like this'd do it for me!"
"I'm sure that it would. And you are, sir?" Elias asked as Latham looked the man over.
"I suggest you don't have anything to do with this man, Mister Steelgrave! He's a no-good Injun lover! Move along Sir, move along. Go and peddle your measly $1000 with the other small-fry!!" the Colonel bellowed with no little choler pointing toward Alders and Aldridge.
The other man's beard bristled with indignation and his spectacles nearly steamed up with rage.
"I'll get you for that, you little fat bastard!!" he spat, shaking his fist at Buller, but although he stood a foot taller than the Kentucky man, did nothing worse than to stalk off to talk to the similarly named confederates.
"Ho Ho Ho! A nonentity, Mister Steelgrave, an utter nonentity. Married to a redskin, too, by God. A crooked Indian Agent named Frank Baur. I would have nothing to do with such a rat!" the Colonel informed Elias with some vehemence.
The man Baur was now talking to Alders and Aldridge. He made them the same proposition: his $1000 toward their bid, to become a sleeping partner with shares.
@[Bailey]
"Say fellers, don't suppose I could come in with you two if'n you're gonna bid on this together. I got a $1000 I can put into this today, and could raise more in the future, probably. Even just a small share in a sure-fire company like this'd do it for me!"
"I'm sure that it would. And you are, sir?" Elias asked as Latham looked the man over.
"I suggest you don't have anything to do with this man, Mister Steelgrave! He's a no-good Injun lover! Move along Sir, move along. Go and peddle your measly $1000 with the other small-fry!!" the Colonel bellowed with no little choler pointing toward Alders and Aldridge.
The other man's beard bristled with indignation and his spectacles nearly steamed up with rage.
"I'll get you for that, you little fat bastard!!" he spat, shaking his fist at Buller, but although he stood a foot taller than the Kentucky man, did nothing worse than to stalk off to talk to the similarly named confederates.
"Ho Ho Ho! A nonentity, Mister Steelgrave, an utter nonentity. Married to a redskin, too, by God. A crooked Indian Agent named Frank Baur. I would have nothing to do with such a rat!" the Colonel informed Elias with some vehemence.
The man Baur was now talking to Alders and Aldridge. He made them the same proposition: his $1000 toward their bid, to become a sleeping partner with shares.
Steelgrave watched the man as he walked over to the newly minted business partners to present his case, then looked away. So, the Colonel's plan failed. It was to take the four of them, not that Elias liked partnerships, it was kind of like the old pirate's theory that four may keep a secret if three of them are dead.
What use would there be in investing with other men in a business, especially a stage line. There were the stations that had to be maintained, men that would need to be hired, horses that also needed maintaining as well as the coaches.
"Well, someone needs to love them." He said, referring to Buller's statement about the man being an Indian lover. "Looks to me like this plan of yours has come to an abrupt end. I've no taste for a partnership in an endeavor such as this one. However I am anxious to see hoe this turns out. My interest in this has warned."