We'd be happy to go to the Land Office with you. We'll just need a moment to get ourselves fixed up." She darted away and came back with her green dress just in time to hear Elias's proposed name for the brothel.
"Certainly, certainly, and yes, we need to get over there and finish this portion of the things we need to get done around here." He agreed.
Getting another eyeful, Elias Steelgrave was convinced that he was going to really enjoy this new business venture with these two women.
"The Palace. Hm, yes, I think that will do nicely. Who wouldn't want to spend the night in a palace?" She smoothed her dress and extended her arm to Elias. "Mr. Steelgrave, would you do me the honor of escorting me back down the stairs?"
"Certainly, and you're right, who wouldn't want to spend a night here in the Palace, once we get it finished," He said, beaming. "Of course, getting in the things that will make this place the opulent palace it can be, will take time, and adding on where necessary. It will take some time, not a lot, but more than I'd like. We'll not be running this place on a shoestring, that's for sure!"
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Waltzing down the boardwalk with a voluptuous woman on either arm, Elias did appear to be some sort of perverse royalty, as the girls had proclaimed him to be. They made their way along toward the Land Office, where he would have the deed recorded into his name, all the while getting odd looks from anyone who happened to see the trio, and that was a hole tot of Kalispell's citizenryI
They reached their destination, and Elias opened the door for his two partners to sahay in ahead of him, following close behind, but closing the door first before stepping up to and between the ladies, if they could be called that.
"Hello!" Hettie greeted the efficient and urbane looking man behind the desk as she hung onto Steelgrave's arm.
Before the man could respond, Elias staid "You might close your mouth before you catch a fly. I'm Elias Steelgrave, and I have come to transfer this deed into my name as its new owner. These are my partners, Hettie and Tilly, and you are?"
@JulieS
@Javia
"I was born the day after Valentine's, but I don't guess I'll ever find a valentine of my own."
Tilly had only felt so splendid two other times in her life: both times when trying on new dresses by Mr. Pettigrew. But this feeling, this was something else! Not only was she wearing one of Pettigrew's genius creations, but she was parading the town with Elias Steelgrave.
The feeling made her impervious to any glares or stares from the common folk, as she'd already started to refer to them in her head, and by the time they entered the land office, she was flying high on her feelings of elation. She let out a laugh at Hettie's cheery greeting and Elias's straight-to-the-point introduction to the clerk, who'd probably never seen such a sight and would probably never see one like it again.
"I'm Tilly, she's Hettie," she clarified, just in case the clerk ever wanted to stop by The Palace. He probably didn't make enough money to indulge himself that way, but one never knew.
@ [JulieS]
@ [Javia]
@ [Flip
The Kalispell Land Office had been established at the bequest of the Governor and Dawson Farley was the man appointed to run it. Even though there wouldn't be much business in the beginning, it was envisioned that would change once the news (and a starting date) for the railroad was announced.
The building was situated a few doors down from the courthouse. It was a standalone two-storey building with the office in the front on the bottom floor and kitchen in the back. On the top floor was the living quarters with a bedroom and parlour. His wife, Laura had made the rooms upstairs and the kitchen downstairs feel like a home despite it also being a place of business.
The office had officially opened at the end of January. Most of the time, Dawson was busy keeping up with the few visitors that came in and contrary to what some people thought, he had plenty to do with the mess that some of the records were in due to the incompetence of the previous land clerk, George Bell. When Judge Townsend had arrived in town, he found the man's work to be inadequate and had suggested a replacement was needed. At the same time, the Judge also decided to move the office into its own dedicated building.
The dismissal of Bell and Dawson's appointment had been so seamless that a lot of people confused him with the man he had replaced. Bell had some odd work practices, including something he had called patents which made the land records even more confusing. There was also some of his mannerisms that Dawson didn't share but telling that to other people who had no idea was another story.
Most weeks were quiet and uneventful until now...
"Hello!" Hettie greeted the efficient and urbane looking man behind the desk as she hung onto Steelgrave's arm.
Before the man could respond, Elias staid "You might close your mouth before you catch a fly. I'm Elias Steelgrave, and I have come to transfer this deed into my name as its new owner. These are my partners, Hettie and Tilly, and you are?"
"Dawson Farley..."
The name Elias Steelgrave was well-known even to someone who had only been in Kalispell a few months. The man's reputation proceeded him, but this was something new and Dawson hoped that Laura wouldn't return any time soon as she would have something to say to the two women who accompany him.
A smile came to his face as he thought about Laura giving a piece of her mind to the women standing in front of him, but it quickly disappeared when he remembered the man was here on business. "Sorry, I'm not used to such an unexpected, err...visit. If you don't mind handing over the deed, I can get started on filling out the paperwork."
@ [Javia]
@ [Flip
Steelgrave produced the deed and handed it to this new man in town. "Having a land office is a step up for Kalispell. Taked a terrible burden off of the clerk up in the Municipal Building. Although I have no idea what the clerk does. But, you are a welcome addition to our little community, isn't he, ladies?"
He smiled with a whore on either arm, making him the center of attention, something he likes being. "Once we get this deed changed over and recorded, then we can begin the renovation we have planned. How long will we be waiting on the process, or will it be completed while we wait?" He asked.
@Javia
@JulieS
"... But, you are a welcome addition to our little community, isn't he, ladies?"
"Suuuure" cooed Hettie "Much more handsome than Georgie Bell. Mind you, old George put a big tip in my hand on more than one occasion" Hettie remembered happily. "Say, I wonder what ever happened to him?" she murmurer, more to herself than anyone else.
Steelgrave smiled with a whore on either arm, making him the center of attention, something he liked being.
Hettie snuggled up to the old boss-man; she knew which side her bread was buttered.
"Once we get this deed changed over and recorded, then we can begin the renovation we have planned. How long will we be waiting on the process, or will it be completed while we wait?" He asked.
"Oh, I'm sure Mr Farley can do it quick for special, extra important people like you, Steely-weely." purred Mrs Rosenkrantz.
@[Bailey]
"Suuuure" cooed Hettie "Much more handsome than Georgie Bell. Mind you, old George put a big tip in my hand on more than one occasion" Hettie remembered happily. "Say, I wonder what ever happened to him?" she murmurer, more to herself than anyone else.
Dawson didn't care one iota what Bell did. In fact, he wasn't interested in following in Bell's steps in any way. The man was fired for his incompetence, and he had no intentions of being disloyal to his wife.
"Once we get this deed changed over and recorded, then we can begin the renovation we have planned. How long will we be waiting on the process, or will it be completed while we wait?" He asked.
"Oh, I'm sure Mr Farley can do it quick for special, extra important people like you, Steely-weely." purred Mrs Rosenkrantz.
A raised eyebrow was Dawson's only reaction to the woman's comment. Looking at the deed he had just been handed, he nodded, "This will take an hour or so as I need to make up a necessary forms with the information relevant to your property. Once you've signed that, I can record it. I will also have to check if there are no taxes or any other outstanding issues. As far as I can see, it should be straight-forward but due to errors made by my predecessor, I have to make sure that everything is done correctly. I'm sorry if this inconveniences you."
@ [Flip]
@ [Javia
Elias looked at the man as he explained what needed to be done and to check for errors left behind by his predecessor, which he had little use for. Elias had remembered George Bell, and he had little use for the man as well when hje had found it necessary to use him.
"Of course I understand, completely, Bell was an incompetent, but he was all we had, save for the city clerk, who did what she could to right any wrongs." Elias agreed, "Though it was not her job, it was appreciated. I take it then, perhaps an hour or so? We can come back, it is not any trouble, no trouble at all. I am sure that Bell has left quite a lot of work for you to straighten out."
The ladies had perhaps thought Elias would act differently, but this was business, and this man held certain power that he did not. Taxes, though not a lot by any stretch of the imagination, but would still be due and payable, likely right then, though he doubted the man was also the tax collector. That was generally the Town Marshal's duty.
@Bailey
@JulieS
@Javia