Paladin - Have Gun, Will Travel

[jemmus]

Paladin inquires little by little around town about the cotton, shipping, and rail magnate Christian Cummins. "Never heard of em." "Ain't that Houston mucker's whose in the papers sometimes? Runnin fer somethin or other?" "That son of a gun? He owns half of Austin. And has the other half under deed loans. Owns the Waco and Northwest train and train track." "Well sir, that's quite an interesting question. Most people askin it probably already would know the answer. Please join me in my office. Gentlemen." The man tips his short-brimmed Western-style hat. To both Paladin, and rougher dressed men who come striding up from behind. Two pistol hammers are pulled back and click into place. A voice from behind says, Don't look, slicker. If ya do-- you drawed first, slicker. Go ahead if ya want. Try it.

The gentleman in front again nods and tips his hat. I'm very sorry sir. We have many robbers, extortionists, kidnapers, murderers, and common thieves move along the Waco and Northwest Railroad. Wild Comanches as well, in the more remote points. He sighs. Of which there are quite a lot.

[Grognardsw]

Just to make sure I’m following this, I take it I mis-remembered Christian Cummins location as Austin instead of Houston?

What location does this happen? It’s some office? Would Paladin notice rough types hanging out in whatever nice venue this is? I’m not sure Paladin would walk into a situation like this. The first clue being someone hasn’t heard of Cummins, which would cause me as player to check back in the notes, and therefore judge in the game if subsequent talk seemed fishy.

I guess this is what happens when I’m not specific enough in action/location/questions.

[jemmus]

You were right, Christian Cummins has been telegraphing from Austin. I guess I moved the action forward too fast, and without enough explanation. The action here happens on the street. The henchmen don't walk with the gentleman, they follow discretely behind. Maybe I should have given Paladin an Observation roll, but I wanted to keep the action while in the city moving.

Now that we've established a secure situation, I can say that I'm the Christian Cummins you're inquiring about, the gentleman says. And you are, sir? I note that you don't have the look of a common cowhand or gambler, and you don't have a local accent.

This scene happens during the afternoon of the first day in Austin, before dinner at the hotel.

[jemmus]

Oops, post was in the wrong thread. Deleted.

[Grognardsw]

Paladin tensed at the sudden turn of events, his mind turning on the odds of drawing and taking hostage the man against his henchman. Then he sighed in relief upon hearing the man was Cummins.

“I’m Paladin, Mr. Cummins, your agent in San Marcos who looked in on your daughter. Given the corruption I’ve seen in my day here in Austin, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised at your... hospitable greeting.”

“I thought it worth checking in with you, where our a conversation won’t be charged by word. Between the competing interest of Dennis and the sheriff, Virginia isn’t safe in San Marcos. It’s only a matter of time before violence breaks out around her, and one day she’ll get hurt. She’s too much a woman for a small town like that.”

[jemmus]

The man looks at the man in black appraisingly, then rudely looks him over from head to toe. He has the demeanor of man who has makes hard decisions, some of them perhaps even ruthless. And of a person who may be suspicious by nature. He speaks with a Texan twang, but with good grammar and with the vocabulary of an educated man. Ah... Mr. Paladin. Pleased to meet you in person. My company has a property nearby that we can use as a place to discuss. Off of the street. Please follow me. He turns and walks just a few doors down the street, one of his guards in front, the other behind. He turns the key in the door, opening it into a what appears to be a house that has been turned into an office. The thug in front enters first, then Cummins, then the other goon behind. Paladin feels safe enough. This seems to be just how this businessman operates.

The man turns and says to Paladin, Please have a seat, sir. You did well in San Marcos, Mr. Paladin. You were expensive, but you did what was required. So, you think that this sheriff will look for revenge on McCullum? I won't have Virginia in harm's way, in any way. When the time is right, I may offer you employment in escorting my daughter to Austin. Door to door, and by first class train coach. And if you think it wise, I'll buy a ticket for every seat in that coach, so that there isn't one stranger in it.

He pauses, and again looks Paladin over with unabashed, even rude appraisal. Mr. Paladin, I have many enemies. Business rivals in the cotton, marine shipping, and railroad development industries. Former employees discharged for dishonesty or incompetence. Evicted deadbeats and squatters. Former landowners dissatisfied with the fair price paid for their land. Those kinds of men.

The enmity within the railroad development business is especially fierce. You seem to be an educated man, Mr. Paladin. So you would know that throughout the U.S. individuals and companies are racing to build rail lines. It's a complex business. Concessions for public land right of way must secured from state or Federal governments. Private land must be purchased from willing and unwilling owners, at a reasonable and not extortionate price. Labor must be raised, and rails and materials transported. Often, on rail lines owned by one's fiercest competitors. And politicians at the state and Federal level must be... cultivated. At great expense. Merely providing the necessary support for them in their political ambitions-- and tracking the shifts in power and knowing when to shift allegiance-- that's an ongoing operation in itself. Perhaps the most exasperating business operation is the requirement that all trains carry the U.S. Mail. And the months long, infuriatingly convoluted process of getting a U.S. Postal Service permit approved to do so.

So.... I may have many uses for a man with your abilities, sir. But first, the most immediate need. My railroad, the Waco and Northwest, is developing a spur to run west to Fredericksburg. A relative simple and inexpensive process. The geographic is done, the route mapped down to the yard, the right of way and land deeds secured, and the construction materials and labor assembled. But, progress is severely behind schedule. Because an inordinate and unacceptable numbers of operational accidents and loss of material and labor in the yard west of Austin. Occurring on an almost daily basis..... I don't believe these are chance incidents, sir. No sir, they're deliberate attacks on this rail spur development project. By whom, I don't know. But I have my thoughts on that.... A Chinaman has been detained. But what kind of labor would want to jeopardize his own job and livelihood?

Mr. Paladin, I'm offering you up to $3.00 per day to get progress on the spur moving. You can hire any kind of specialists and buy any kind of equipment needed-- gunfighters, ammunition, special equipment, fast or strong horses, dance hall girls, or et cetera may be needed. But in any case, speed is needed. I will see you tomorrow at this office at 10:00... No 11:00 AM, Mr. Paladin.

The guy sure is an annoying sumbitch.

[Grognardsw]

Paladin looked Cummins over with his own judgmental gaze, perhaps with a bit of skepticism mixed with cynicism. There was little christian about Christian Cummins.

Upon hearing the father’s plans for Virginia, Paladin nodded his head in agreement. “But I wouldn’t buy out a whole train car. That would attract attention, gossip, and criminal types may think it’s worth kidnapping the passenger for ransom.”

Paladin realized that the Waco and Northwestern Railroad he read about this morning was owned by the one and same Christian Cummins.

“I read about your problems and their ‘immeasurable costs’ in today’s newspaper,” said Paladin. “Great minds think alike; I had mailed you my card to offer my services before knowing that you owned W&N.”

“Yes, I can supervise the effort to get your schedule back on track, and find out who’s doing it and why. I suppose you’ve considered competitors? Or other parties - disgruntled cattle ranchers losing land, Indians upset that the rail runs through sacred land?”

“You’re right it needs different operatives. I’d put my own people in different positions to spy; properly incentivize managers to make success a priority; install guards or gunmen to send a message; perhaps even set a trap to draw out the saboteurs. And more, but we can discuss tomorrow.”

“I do want to say that my price is $5.00 a day, which is cheap against the losses you’re facing, not to mention the hit to your reputation. Competitors and investors will say “if Cummins can’t get a simple spur done on time and on budget, how can you trust him for big jobs?’”

[jemmus]

Cummins looks at Paladin with narrowed eyes. That's $150 a month, Mr. Paladin. I'll meet you in the middle. Four dollars per day. But-- if you can resolve the situation in three days, and it stays fixed for two more full days, there will be a $50 bonus. Deal? And I'll need receipts for all of the expenses. Expend what is absolutely necessary, but don't be at all extravagant.

[jemmus]

[Duplicate post, text deleted]

[jemmus]

Cummins says, Good morning, Mr. Paladin. Please have a seat, let's get right to it without delay, shall we. There are things you should know. First, there were other rail companies seeking the concession for the line to Fredericksburg. Of those, the Washington County Rail Road Company and the Eastern Texas Railroad Company were my fiercest competitors.

I've had trouble with the latter for years. Eastern Texas's principal owner, a man by the name of Pascal T. Etienne, has holdings in companies in diverse industries, as do I. And it seems that as soon as I start a venture in a new area, Etienne does the same. Thereby foolishly driving demand, and therefore prices, up for both of us. To thwart him, I've had to buy up key resources that he needs, at considerable cost. For example, if he is parroting me by building a new hotel in Galveston, I'm forced to purchase all of the locally available lumber and cement. If I find out that he's buying land for a cattle ranch, I'm forced to buy and fence all of the land adjacent to the nearest streams or ponds. The man hates me for it. He even challenged me to a duel once. He's a hot-blooded French Cajun from Louisiana, after all. But a well-educated one. Of course I declined to do anything so foolish and without benefit or value. But I did make sure that a city government did not approve him a certain permit he required, for a little over two years.

Etienne is a fool when it comes to enterprise ventures. But he's cunning and he has a kind of skillfulness in social situations. He has influence with a number of state legislators and administrative directors. To say it plainly-- cronies. And I firmly believe that he has informers within my organization. How else could he know of my potential new enterprises, and start emulating my plans, albeit ineptly. These would be men at the anonymous and faceless lower levels. Document thieves, burglars, mail interceptors and tamperers. We have reported several men to law enforcement officials. But little has come off it, other the once in a while jail term and ejection from the county.

The Washington County Rail Road Company is a newer enemy. I've never met the man, but I know that its principal owner made his fortune during the Colorado gold rush of 20 years ago. The man's name is Josiah D. Caine-- "Joe" Caine. It's said that he was a luckless gold miner who saw an opportunity made his first money delivering mail to lonely miners at isolated mining camps on a mule. He later hired other riders and expanded the enterprise into a full postal delivery service servicing the whole of that rugged region. This man alternately disguises his humble origins and boasts of them, depending on the demands of the occasion. His business acumen is altogether on a higher level than Etienne's. But he lacks significant connections in the higher circles. But.... The owner of untold amounts of cash dollars, gold coins, sight checks, deeds, mortgages, promissory notes, railroad lines, steam freighter, cattle, horses, shipping containers full of cotton bails, bars, saloons, dance halls, churches, ambitiously risky but rarely used beauty parlors, etc. raises an emphasizing and admonishing finger. Mr. Paladin. Josiah Caine has a way with common class people. Farmers, cowboys, gunfighters, gamblers, drifters. That kind of man. Do not underestimate that, Mr. Paladin. Those sorts of feral men hold an inordinate amount of the real power in Texas, Mr. Paladin. The Indian chiefs do, as well.

He pulls a drawer of his heavy oaken desk in the empty side office, pulls a gold-chained ring of keys from his pants pocket, and turns a key in a steel lockbox. Paladin spies stacks of ones, twos, fives, tens, twenties, fifties, and few hundreds. Cummins counts out four singles. Your pay for yesterday, Mr. Paladin. Oh, and by the way. The rail spur project manager's name is Marlon Smith. He's a competent and intelligent mechanic. Kind of an intuitive self-taught engineer of sorts. But my sources say he's having domestic problems. Someone ill, and an inheritance dispute. You'll know that these things lead to financial problems, inattention to details, and often monetary malfeasance. Keep an eye on him, Mr. Paladin, and.... He pulls a pocket ledger from his coat pocket and writes in it. Report to the office at 8:00 AM tomorrow. Oh, and do you speak Chinese? Probably not. If not, keep an eye on the Shanghai workers as well. They seem innocent and hard-working enough, but no one knows what they're saying to each other as they work. If they're in league with Etienne or Caine, we need to know of it. Poste haste.

[Grognardsw]

Paladin listened with interest to Cummins discussion about competitors.

“Eastern Texas and Pascal Etienne seem a likely suspect in the sabotage, ” said Paladin. “More than just financial motive, he has the emotional hatred of you.”

“Joe Caine seems a salt-of-the-earth type and would be less likely to practice underhanded trickery and sabotage.”

In the fourth paragraph of post #69, Eastern Texas owner is Joe Caine. Earlier is was Etienne. I assume Caine owns Washington County Rail? Also, post #70 is a duplicate to 69.

“Whoever it is, I hope to stop their agents.”

“Chinese? I know some phrases, but can’t speak it.” Paladin wished Heyboy was around to help.

“8:00 am tomorrow works. I’ll start right away. I’ll need:
- a letter from you giving me authority to investigate and give orders with full cooperation;
- four trusted gunmen or heavies;
- if you have one, a trusted Chinaman to serve as spy translator;
- some of your paper stationery;
- construction plan and timetables so I know where what will need to be at what time;
- your employee list and addresses of your warehouse depots;
- Marlon Smith’s address;
- some of that cash there for hires and such;
- and whatever else I think of after this post.

After the meeting, Paladin went to the wire office and sent a telegram to Heyboy at the Carlton: “Heyboy, you have any friends or family in Austin I can hire for translation services?”

Paladin then went find Gideon. “You up for this work? Are the others at the trial?”. William didn’t post such, is he around?

Then to visit Marlon Smith. “Cummins hired me.” He showed him the letter.

“So what’s going on here?” he said forcefully. Paladin read his face and body for nervous reactions.

I’m mixing activity and timeline a little to move things more quickly. Perhaps the title of Paladin’s solo thread could be Paladin - Have Gun, Will Travel

[jemmus]

Thanks. Etienne is Eastern Texas, Caine is Washington County. I deleted the text of #69. Thread name changed.

[jemmus]

Cummins sits and writes a brief note vouching for Paladin and confirming his authority to investigate and question. It ends with This authorization expires at 8:00 AM, June 10, 1873. That is, tomorrow morning. He then addresses each of Paladin's requests.
I don't have addition gunmen on staff. Mr. Ward Dunston can fairly quickly get suitable men together. He's a bartender at the Silver Dollar Saloon on Allen Street.
I may have a Chinaman who can serve, as an interpreter, at least. I doubt he'd be much at subterfuge, though. He's in Houston, though. It's possible that he could be here by tonight. If he's still in my firm's employ.
My paper stationery. That is an extraordinary request, Mr. Paladin. I can understand how you might have use of it for various reasons. But the ability to represent my company with the written word is quite a powerful thing, Mr. Paladin. You can have one sheet, with the understanding that my signature will not be forged. And if you use it, you must account for how, and why.
We have printed copies of the construction plan. A clerk will copy the current timetable onto one and provide you with it. It won't take more than a few minutes. The same for the list of employees, the addresses of the warehouses, and Mr. Smith's address.

Cummins takes a $10 bill out of the box. Then does some mental calculations and considerations, sighs, and takes out two $5 bills. Twenty dollars, Mr. Paladin. He writes down the figure on a receipt pad and Received by Paladin, Private Investigator, for operating expenses. and today's date. Please sign. I'll need a receipt for every expenditure. He hands Paladin one of the same receipt pads to carry. And remember, 8:00 AM here tomorrow, the the results of today's work.

To be continued shortly

[Grognardsw]

“So you’re going to write a letter every day?” questioned Paladin. “This isn’t a one day job. When I go down the spur I’ll be miles away, and there could be night work. I may not be able to report in everyday at 8:00 am. Make the letter good for three days.”

Paladin took the money. “Don’t be penny wise, pound foolish. Too much rides on this.”

He took the lists. “Send the Chinaman. I’ll talk with Ward.”

As he left, Paladin realized he almost forgot about the 2:00 court appearance. He watched his pocket watch closely to make sure he didn’t run over in his investigations.

[jemmus]

Mr. Paladin. I should have mentioned before that, due to these pernicious delays, construction of the track has only been extended 4.8 miles. It's less than an hour's ride from here. And yes, the letter will be valid only until 8:00 AM. I'm entrusting you with a great deal, Mr. Paladin. The construction timetable. A list of my employees. Company letterhead. Internal information on my business rivals and their strengths and connections. A more cautious man would say that that was imprudent. Reckless, even. I've only known you through telegram communication during a comparatively simple job in rural San Marcos. I have no evidence-- none at all-- that you are not in either Etienne's or Caine's employ. Etienne doesn't have the brains to even conceive of such an operation. But his friends in high places do. Caine could not only conceive of it, but would greatly enjoy executing it, like a well-played chess game.

So, you may wonder why I've trusted you with so much potentially damaging information, Mr. Paladin? It's because in San Marcos, you took the extra step of advising me to get Virginia out of her situation. It's not something that an ordinary hired investigator would do. They're paid to report, not to advise. And most of them are intelligent enough to know that advising about an internal family situation can be... messy. Emotions can be involved, with unanticipated and often unexpectedly strong consequences. So, they mind their own business, take their pay, and are done. I believe you're an intelligent man, Mr. Paladin. But you took the extra step and advised, based on what I believe was an honest concern for my daughter's well-being. That is why I have entrusted you, Mr. Paladin.

Report back tomorrow at 8:00 AM with what you find about Marlon Smith. If the delays are due to inattention or neglect, I need to know. After that, we'll see about extending your authorization letter for a few days.

TBC (Gideon and Marlon Smith, Waco & Northwest project manager)
Oh yeah, and great illustrations! Cummins has a face!

[Grognardsw]

"I see, that spur is shorter than I thought," replied Paladin.

"So you think Caine the more likely. Well, you know them better."

"Hopefully my work will fulfill your expectations."

[jemmus]

It doesn't take Heyboy 10 minutes to reply by wire. NO SORRY MR. PALADIN. EVERYBODY SAY TEXAS TOO HOT TOO MANY INDIANS TOO MAN CRAZY PEOPLE.

Paladin goes into the Iron Front Saloon looking for Gideon. There's a wood paneled saloon room with paintings and posters with various subjects: a Back East river landscape, circus acrobats, beer and tobacco ads, a half-naked belly dancer.

There's a wide selection of cigars by the bar. Beyond the saloon room there's a billiards room. And the Iron Front has its own brand of whiskey.

The bartender greets Paladin with a cheerful Good mornin sir! Welcome! The saloon room is empty of customers, but Paladin hears the sound of guests upstairs. There, there's another billiards table, monte and faro tables, a club room, and tables for poker players. Gideon is at one of them, holding his cards close to his chest. There's a pile of coins and bills in the middle of the table. He sees Paladin and eye-signs him to stay mum for a little. Hmm, he says. Ah believe I'm gonna hafta raise by a quarter dollar. Might be reckless, but this hand ain't takin no fer a answer. three players fold, but the fourth pitches a quarter onto the pile. Call. Gideon shows his hand. A pair of 10s, a pair of 7s, and a jack. The other man shows his- three 3s, a 10, and a 5. He starts raking in the cash.

Gideon is crestfallen. You had that other 10 I needed for a full house. Well, well played. I'm done fer now. I hafta go help put a attempted rapist saddle in prison. He stands. Howdy Mr. Paladin. Sure, I'm up fer work. I need to let my luck rest and recuperate a little. What kind of work and what's the pay?

It's around 12:00 noon. Paladin assumes that Marlon Smith is at the construction site. Getting there and back before the trial is possible, but it wouldn't leave much time at the site. Maybe a half an hour.

[Grognardsw]

“Good morning,” Paladin replied to the bartender. “I’ll have a shot of your Iron Front Whiskey. I’ll need some fortification for this afternoon. Say, does that belly dancer work here?” he added with a smirk.

He admired the paintings and posters. Taking the drink, Paladin left a good tip. “Is there a section of town where the Chinamen live? I need a translator.”

Paladin watched Gideon lose and was glad the ornery man was civil about it.

“The work is what I mentioned last night at dinner” Paladin told Gideon. “Stopping the sabotage at the W & N railroad spur being built to Fredericksburg.”

“I’m visiting the project foreman. Come along. I’ll tell you more. We’ll be a little rushed because we have the 2:00 trial.”

On the way Paladin filled in Gideon on what he knew. After the foreman,the trial, then a visit to Ward Dunston at Silver Dollar Saloon to hire some men. Of his colleagues, Paladin figured Andreas and William would be free, maybe Doos if the lawyering didn’t take up all his time.

“Let me do the talking.”

[jemmus]

Paladin and Gideon follow the newly-lain train tracks from Austin at a fairly fast pace. After four and half miles or so they see a village of tents pitched on the prairie. There's a train that has driven here backward, so that the locomotive faces toward Austin. It has a boxcar, three flatbed cars, and a flatbed with a tall steel machine. The flatbeds are equipped with cranes, and are loaded with steel rails, crossties, and heavy construction timber. A variegated groups of men-- emancipated, Anglo, Mexican, and Chinese labor different tasks. A crew is turning a winch on a crane to lift a massively heavy steel rail from a flatbed. Groups of three men on foot carry creosote crossties in the direction of the end of the tracks. Four men on horseback watch over the camp and operations. They see the visitors, take rifles out of saddle holsters, say something to each other, and trot up.

One raise a hand and says, Howdy. What can we do fer y'all? Just fer yer information, yer on the Waco and Northwest Railroad Company's land.

[Grognardsw]

“... Say, does that belly dancer work here?” he added with a smirk.

He admired the paintings and posters. Taking the drink, Paladin left a good tip. “Is there a section of town where the Chinamen live? I need a translator.”

Responses?

“Good afternoon. Mr. Cummins sent me. I’m here to talk to Marlon Smith.” Paladin said to the men.