The Unseen Servant forums

jemmus wrote: ↑Sat Nov 04, 2023 7:59 pm The men leave the courthouse at only half past 10:00 in the morning. Plenty of day ahead left, a city-wide shooting contest toward the end of it.

“I’ll join you for lunch at the Drover Hotel,” Paladin said to Doos, DT, Andreas and Gideon. “I have to check for mail and wires now. After lunch we can head back to the rail camp, and come back in for the shooting derby this evening. Hopefully the rail matter will be fixed in another day or so.”

Andreas Larson looks up at the sky when they exit the building. The others split off in several directions, so Andreas decides to take a walk through the neighborhood until lunch.

A Little Bit Later At the Drover Hotel...

Paladin smiled and nodded to Doos, Andreas, Gideon, DT and William as they came into the Drover.

“Ready for lunch?”

Paladin ordered ham, grits and another beer.

“Look at this notice in the paper about the shooting derby.”

TEXAS
Marksmanship contest in Austin tomorrow.
Austin, June 9 – The Winchester Firearms Co., the Samuel Colt Manufacturing Co., and multiple sponsoring companies will hold a shooting contest tomorrow. It’s to be held at the intersection of Front St. and Main St. at 5:30 PM in Austin. Around two to three dozen contestants from around the City and Travis County are expected to compete. The entrance fee of $4 per contestant (per event) as well as the embarrassment from being publically defeated by more expert shooters, is expected to discourage many able sharpshooters from entering the competition. However, the prizes for the winners are quite rewarding. For the 1st prize winner of the rifle competition, a hand-machined, silver-plated and brass-chased Winchester 1873 carbine. The Winchester Co. assures this newspaper that it is highly accurate, and faster and more accurate the than a manufactured rifle of comparable build. A value of $100, or more.
The Colt company is offering two prizes, also hand-crafted by master gunsmiths, for the pistol and fast draw pistol contests. One is a single-action revolver, the other a double-action fast draw model. Each come with oiled leather gunbelt, which reputedly eases the ease and speed of all actions.
Other prizes will be awarded, according to division of entry fees among participating participants. The public is invited.

Over lunch, Paladin shared what the Rangers had told him about their day expedition with Gideon and William.

jemmus wrote: ↑Tue Nov 07, 2023 1:35 am … Your friends ably guided the detachment to place. They're all good trackers, and the were able to find two tracks. An older one of a rider who-- or whose horse-- was bleeding profusely. And a later one of three horseman. The followed those tracks a ways to the north. But the light began to fail, and the needed to escort the witnesses Mr. Moore and Mr. McLaury back to Austin for this mornin's trial.

The group was takin a short route to Austin from that old farmhouse in Blanco County. They come across four Comanches a few hundred yards away, sittin their horses and watchin. Often when ya see a small group of Comanches doing that, they're actin as bait for a bigger group. This was not much more than 10 miles west of Austin, by the highway to Blance.
Lieutenant Kyle sent Mr. Moore and Mr. McLaury on to Austin, then the Rangers charged the Comanches. The focused fire on one of them and dropped him. That run the others off. But in the action, Lieutenant Kyle took a serious wound to the chest and Private Denton get a serious wound to an arm. We sent out some other Rangers who'd just come in from weeks in the field dog-tired. A Comanche raidin party just 10 miles from Austin-- that ain't somethin ya ignore for long.

It looks like Kyle and Denton will survive, but they're weak. They won't be good to ride for a couple of months. We'll try to get together another attachment to go after the stage robber gang. But that will depend on what happens with the Rangers who went after the Comanches. If it's a choice between outlaws and Comanches, generally we have to go after the Comanches. Outlaws are generally just after money and property. But Comanches will massacre all the men and boys, abduct the women and girls, kill all the cattle and burn everything down. They're generally by far the more serious threat requirin manpower and immediate attention.

DT arrives and on his way to sit with Doos and his friends, he stops at the bar and orders a bowl of baked beans with bacon, some vegetables, tea, and a glass of water.

I heard your beans with bacon are terrific. I promise, I'll give much of it back to you day after tomorrow. Do I get a reduced price for only renting it for a while? Again that faint hint of a smile.

He finds a place at the table

He stays quiet...assessing Doos' companions. Following Paladin's tale, he volunteers:

Capt Watson volunteered some of that to me. I think I'll look for an opportunity to stop in and pay a complementary visit to Lt Kyle and Private Denton.

10 miles or so from Austin? Strange and disconcerting. Kinda harkens a few years back to when the U.S. Cavalry moved back into Texas. Civility and civilization in this place is under serious pressure hearing from the law enforcers this morning and reading in the papers.

You wanna hear something funny? The U.S. Deputy Marshal, Dorner, flat out asked me to go bounty hunting for the stage robbers. He even sweetened the reward by informing me the Marshal's are adding a $50 reward for recovering the stolen mail. They must be desperate...overwhelmed to ask a physician to bounty hunt. I initially laughed it off. But, given how sincerely desperate he was, I might could reconcile my Hippocratic Oath with that, as awkward as it might seem. Couldn't do it alone though. Might be something to consider. Know anybody I could speak with? Gideon?

Speaking of that, I understand you're making a visit out to the train camp. Sounds like a place that might be in need of some medical services. Doos seemed to think so. Thoughts?

"I think a bit of a visit would help the morale of the place. Paladin, you think it would be a problem finding a spot for him? Having someone as a home base would be nice, not having to worry about people taking advantage of our schedule."

Doos drinks some more coffee and orders some more toast.

"Would love to have you around and jaw jack with you."

Doos

“Sure DT, you’re welcome to come to the rail camp and assess the workers health,” replied Paladin. “Shaking loose some money from Cummins the rail baron may be tricky, but I could let go one of the hired guards and redeploy his pay to you.”

“If all goes well, the job could be done in a few days and we could go stage robber hunting with the Marshalls. Are these the same stage robbers that Wells Fargo has a reward for?”

“but I could let go one of the hired guards and redeploy his pay to you.”

While I certainly could use the income…I’m a bit cash strapped at the moment…I don’t think it right to take from another. That is if they’re honestly earning their wage.

What is it y’all are into out there? Must be more than just guarding if y’all are easily coming and going to and from town.

Are these the same stage robbers that Wells Fargo has a reward for?”

Same bounty… just an additional reward for the return of the mail bags, so I assume same robbers. But I s’pose that if the authorities knew that answer, they’d have the problem solved and case closed.

Assuming the guys tell DT the story (I’ve read the 10,000 Guns thread) DT will lean to the table so as not to be overheard by others.

It’s possible I can help. You see, non-interrogators make the best interrogators. People tend to open up to Docs and medical assistants. One way we treat pain management during treatment is to get people talking…often about random stuff. We hear all kinds of things when people’s inhibitions are loosened by the pain of their conditions or treatment. Just have to know how we can steer their ramblings.

If we have to use anastetics’s, Laudanum, ether, etc. it’s even more vulnerable to divulging info, and they may never remember.

Mapped out a Confederate spy ring in the Shenandoah the last year of the war. In ‘66 at Fort Leavenworth, I assisted in breaking a gang of soldiers selling Army equipment bound for the Indian Territories. At Fort Stockton two years ago, we found out who murdered a local town-folk. Not all the information is admissible in a court of law, but can be useful in the investigative process. That’s for you lawyers to decide. Certain ethical boundaries I have to stay within, too.

Thumper wrote: ↑Thu Nov 09, 2023 12:10 pm
While I certainly could use the income…I’m a bit cash strapped at the moment…I don’t think it right to take from another. That is if they’re performing their duties with honesty.

"Well, at least I am buying you lunch. Are hard down on your luck? Anyway I would love to have you out there, would help with communication and everything. Sounds like Paladin is good for it. You have a horse or lots of luggage?

Doos

Edited

Nah. Not down on my luck. Just spending on my transition out of the Army. And my horse…

A horse rancher from San Angelo, the town at Fort Concho, sold the Fort some new stock. One of ‘em was a magnificent gelding. Unbroken. Not all that unusual. But our wrangler suspected something was wrong, so before the trader could leave, our wrangler and several of his buddies tried busting the bronco. They failed and the Colonel insisted he buy the “unbreakable” horse back. The Colonel had to resort to threatening the trader to use him as Comanche bait. He capitulated, then we learned the horse had a history…they called him the Demon.

Trader offered to sell the Demon to whoever could ride him…cheap. Lots lined up for that. I guess I was the lucky guy on him when he winded. Was my third try. I landed on the corral fence my second throw, and that hurt bad.

After that he let me ride him, but no one else can Been that way since. Folks can handle him, but no one else can mount him.

That’s where my savings went. Still owe that guy $10. Got a few dollars left after buying some new civvies and supplying a medical kit, but it’ll only last a couple days. A doc’ll find the work, but this work could ease the transition…and allow us to catch up!

If you’re happy with your current guards, keep ‘em, and I’ll peddle my services to the track layers and the end track camp (I think that’s what they call the rail-camp followers). If ya don’t want one of ‘em, we’ll talk about what would be expected of me as a guard.

Come to think of it, that “Hell on Wheels” out there should be passing plenty of social diseases around the rail camp and the end track. I’ll bet there’s lots of people quite literally itching to get treatment out there. Hell, they’ll be lining up for my care, and they’ll think they got a great deal outta paying standard prices given the remoteness of the two camps.

“I’m not sure Curly the guard is adding value relative his pay, but if you’d like to offer your services independently among the workers you’re welcome to,” said Paladin to DT.

Answering the doc’s question about what is going on at the rail camp, Paladin explained: “I was hired to investigate and stop sabotage happening on the construction of the Fredericksburg rail spur from Austin. Our presence put the pressure on the saboteur, who ended up being the foreman. There is also a corrupt camp guard who we’re monitoring, but its thought he was taking orders from the foreman. We have three of our own guards watching him and the camp, and there are three other camp guards in addition to the corrupt one. Anyway, we had to come in to Austin because of a trial and will be heading back after lunch.”

“That’s an intriguing theory about people letting their guards down with doctors. You’re probably right.”

“That Demon sounds like quite a steed.”

William shares in Paladin's dislike of the outcome of the trial. That's two men that we'll need to be looking over our shoulder for in just a couple year's time, assuming that they don't take their leave of prison sooner, which I hear can happen with some regularity. But, in the meantime, I do think that that shooting competition might be fun. I think I'll wager a few of my dollars against that Winchester. If I don't win, I'll be needing to get myself some employment real soon.


Sorry for being MIA this week. Work has been workish, and then I've been tired! It looks like the others have filled in on William's solo thread.

Andreas steps out from the courtroom and it's criminal justice atmosphere and its outcomes. He looks up at the sky and sets of on another walk around western Austin. In the street in front of Peacock’s Saloon on Main Street there’s a saddled horse hitched to a rail with a cowboy lying passed out between its four legs. His hat is over his face and he’s too liquored-up to even snore.

The undertaker whom he did job for yesterday has a new hand-lettered sign up: Barber needed. One-Time Job. Won't take a Jiffy. $1.00 Pay The lumber yard next to it has a sign up as well. Yard help needed. $1 per day. Day by day employment is accepted.

He turns the corner onto Front Street and sees a building to his with the sign Stephen F. Austin Public School standing in its grassy front yard. The half-pane windows are raised for the June heat, and he sees an earnest-looking young woman reading from a book to children around 9 or 10 years old. “...And even Stigand, the patriotic archbishop of Canterbury, found it advisable--"'
`Found what?' said the Duck.
`Found it,' the Mouse replied rather crossly: `of course you know what "it" means.'
`I know what "it" means well enough, when I find a thing,' said the Duck: `it's generally a frog or a worm. The question is, what did the archbishop find?'
`Ugh!' said the Lory, with a shiver.
The young woman notices Andreas passing and noticing in the street and looks up. To Andreas, he’s quite pretty. Beautiful, really. She looks Andreas a brief look in the eye, a stunned and little long one really. It seems the she may have found a possible-- just maybe possibly-- her prince. And with a bashful smile she turns back to the book and the reading.

From there, it’s another right turn, past Drover's corral and livery stable, and then to Drover’s hotel. He, Doos, DT, Gideon and Paladin and William enjoy chewing the fat (or just quietly listening in) and have a good meal. Paladin has an errand to run in town and leaves the others to enjoy an after-lunch coffee, beer, root beer, or water. He returns, and the party mounts up and heads west toward the railroad construction camp. The newly-laid tracks more or less parallel the highway to Fredericksburg. Which after a ways past the scattered 160-acres farms and ranches isn't much more than two parallel ruts through the prairie grass. The Bullet locomotive pulling its coal tender and a flatbed loaded with steel rails, cross ties, and various wooden crates gradually overtakes riders and passes them. Charley blows the whistle and he and coal dust-faced Floyd waves from the engineering room. Howdy boys! Sorry, no livestock car in the consist this time. You’ll have ta ride. See ya at the camp!

As the horsemen get closer to the rail construction camp they hear a deep, steady, rhythmic thumping sound. It gets louder with every yard they get closer to the camp. The riders enter the tent hamlet of the camp and see that assistant project manager John and one of the three crews have the flatbed car piledriver in operation driving piles thicker than telegraph poles into the bed of the gulley. The loud rhythmic thudding of heavy metal on wood is about deafening, and the earth beneath the horses’ hooves trembles. WHUMP. WHUMP. WHUMP. WHUMP. Gideon says, deadpan, That rhythm kind of reminds me of ole Leona. WHUMP. [/dialog]Fallen angel gal I know in Waco.[/dialog] WHUMP. WHUMP. WHUMP.

Another crew is still at work offloading steel rails and cross ties from The Bullet’s flatcar. Most of the crates the riders had seen on the flatcar are stacked outside the cook tent. They've been broken open, and Paladin sees Gao hustle over to one and heft a 50 lb. bag of flour and throw it over his shoulder. He looks up and spots Paladin seated on his handsome horse and gives the man a black look. Then hustles back into the cook tent.

The third construction crew is on the other side of the gully, continuing the backbreaking daily work of laying down ties and rails. Chen’s shaker, another Chinaman, places spikes into the eyes of cleats and holds them for the big man's from sledgehammer to drive into the creosote ties. The tracks continue stretching westward, one length of rail at a time, toward Fredericksburg.

The four rifle-armed railroad guardssit their horses and conserve their energy in the glaring light of the June Sun almost directly overhead. One expertly lines a cigarette paper with tobacco, twists a smoke up, and touches a match to it. Their horses face the grass and shrubs of the savannah prairie to the north, west, and south, and east of the camp.

Where any threats to the camp would come from. Comanches. Robber gang. Cattle stampede. Wild fire. Anything else that's out there that could cause trouble out here in the middle of nowhere. The diners at the Drover Hotel notice Paladin paying particular attention to one of immobile mounted guards. The spy and saboteur one? Probably. If the man is having uneasy thoughts or making traitorous plans, his face isn't showing it. He looks like a man hired to sit in a saddle all day and part of a night to guard a spot out on the prairie. Maybe a little more alert than the bored other three men? If so, not by much.

Moe, with Larry and Curly behind, walks up to the mounted riders with his old revolving cylinder rifle cradled in his elbow. All three's faces are sweaty in the heat. Moe yells above the piledriver’s thumps. HELLO, MR. PALADIN, GENTLEMEN. NOTHIN SPECIAL HAPPENED WHILE Y’ALL WAS AWAY. Big oafish young Curly with his hunting long tom shotgun yells, THA COOK SAYS TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA HAVE CRABBAPPLE PIE WITH MOLASSES AND REAL SUGAR ON TOP A THE CRUST! AND DON' BE LATER FER DINNER! Larry yells, helpfully, THE BULLET BROUGHT MAIL. MISTER BURNS BAGGED IT AND IT'S IN HIS TENT. IF YA HAVE MAIL TA AUSTIN, NOW'S THE TIME TO POST IT. THA BOX IS ON THE SIDE OF THE COAL TENDER, IF YA DON'T KNOW. THE ENGINEER AND COAL MAN SAID THEY'RE LEAVING CAMP AT 2;30, SHARP. I DON'T GOT A WATCH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS. He looks up at the Sun. ANYWAY, THEY'RE GOIN BACK TO THE RAILYARD BETWEEN NOW AND NIGHT.

WB, redwarrior! I was just about to have to move things forward and bring William back in later when he can. Glad I didn't have to.

Andreas can retcon to an action before lunch at the Drover Hotel if he’d like. He has around 1.5 hours around Austin for that.

Paladin's lunch is $.35, DT's beans and maybe Doos's toast ("Cheap meal") are $.25. Coffee - $.05. Beer - $.05. Root beer - $.10. Please update your sheets. 1873 Texas and the entire rest of the frontier is all about money. Nobody would be out here in this hot, rough, violent place if they were content being poor in a less god-forsaken one.

Going forward, I'm going with "Drover Hotel" instead of "Drowver Hotel." The Swedish guy who made the digital map labeled two building "Drowver," rather than "Drover" as is in the rulesbook. Maybe a play on drow elves from D&D?

Paladin waved back to Charley in the Bullet train as it passed them on the ride out to the rail camp.

He reminded Doos, Andreas, Gideon, William and DT who the traitor guard Benedict Judas was, what he looked like, and that we should keep a close eye on him.

Later, in the camp...

“I think your steam whistle blew a lot sooner with Leona than that pile driver will,” joked Paladin to Gideon. He was glad to see the pile driver in action again.

“Thanks for the update men,” said Paladin to Larry, Moe and Curley. “Here’s today’s pay.” He handed it over.

He took Larry, who seemed a little sharper than the others, aside. “You’ve been keeping an eye on Ben Judas? He been up to anything unusual?”

Paladin grabbed an empty sack and went to the mail box on the side of the coal tender. He loaded the sack with the mail. “Hey Charley, I was asked to bring in the mail today, as I’m heading back into Austin later.”

“Doc, come with me and I’ll introduce you to the camp foreman.”

Paladin then checked in with the new foreman Mr. Behrens. “I hear the sounds of progress out there. How has it gone so far today? The train brought in supplies from Cookie’s list. That should help morale.”

“Mr. Behrens, I want to introduce you to Doctor DT Crockett. He’ll be about the camp, offering medical services and such to those in need.”

Next, Paladin visited the unhappy Chinaman Mr. Gao. “Don’t worry my friend, if all goes well you should be done here in a few days. Remember the work here and your services are very important fo Mr. Cummins. I got the food and stuff the workers were clamoring for. Now have you heard any new scuttlebutt? Morale is up I assume?”

To the others, DT says,
“And remember, I’m just a former Army doc y’all ran into and Paladin thought it a good idea that the camp had a visit from a medical professional. There’s not a soul besides us that needs to know Doos and I are friends. Ok? then he rides alongside Paladin to speak to Mr. Behrens.

He rides over looking quite outta place for a Doc…a carbine and a saber, both in saddle sheaths, a Bowie knife and pistol at his hips. An old cavalry pack on his back which ya know is his medical kit.

Mr. Behrens, a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I know I don’t look the part, but I recently mustered outta the Cavalry as a fort Doctor. As an Army Doc, I am formally educated and trained. Gotta be one of the few in Texas that are…at least that ain’t out at a fort.

Where can I set up a surgery? I’d be happy treating your men as you see fit in their work schedule. If that means non-duty hours, so be it. In between, mind if I see patients from the end track or entertainment camp here?

]

like I said I will pay for DTs meal and alos mine, money deducted. Can I retcona but have have bought a bottle of whiskey? I will look for the price and deduct it also. EDIT: -$2.70 total

Doos will head to the work site to look around. He will look for any problems and make his way over to a large group of the Africian Americans and watch for a bit and hope someone has a break or recognizes him so he can talk for a moment.

Doos

Larry replied to Paladin, I seen him put a letter in the train mailbox. Y'all call him Benedict Judas, but his real name is Jimmy Dickins. That's what we wrote on the letter.

Charley says, I'd be careful about handlin that mail, Mr. Paladin. If it's got a stamp on it, it's a part of the U.S. Mail. Paladin sees Ben Judas/Jimmy Dickins watching him closely as he empties the mailbox.

Behrens says, Pleased to meet you, Dr. Crockett. Marlon Smith's tent isn't occupied, that might be an option for seeing patients. I don't know if the railroad will let me put you on payroll, and I'd have to get their permission to let ya stay for long. Liability concerns and other things lawyers come up with to worry about, ya know. We haven't needed the services of a real doctor as yet, knock on wood. But a rail construction site is a dangerous place. Any number of things can happen, even if everyone is staying heads up. G

Gao replies to Paladin in a low voice and in his Hong Kong British accent, I've hardly had a chance to speak to anyone, with that tyrant assistant cook always lording it over me all the time. They have me bedding in a work crew tent, and I did hear a three Chinese men commenting the absence of mishaps the past couple of days. Apparently they'd decided that this place and this operation were bùxiáng--inauspicious by nature, and immutably so. Those two, at least, are on their guard for the next bad luck event to happen. I don't know about the other Chinese men. After the Irishmen and Chen incident, the ethnicity-based crews were broken up their members assigned to new, mixed crews. The same for the crew tents. As for morale, please report that construction has been reasonably quick today, and the entire camp seems heartened by the arrival and putting into operation of the piledriving machine. And I'll say that the crew that unloaded the food supplies did take note of the contents as we opened the crates. Word of a special dinner this evening should get around quickly.

Then, Mr. Paladin... I do hope you won't require my services in this role for any longer than may be required. I have other duties in a city, you see. Pertaining to the Waco and Northwest Railroad Company's retention of the services of its men from China. A contract will reach its term in only a few days. Please do remind Mr. Cummins.
Gao raises his voice and reverts to broken English pronounced with a Cantonese accent. I no work for cook helper! I work for railroad! Cook helper no good, no work! Do nothing! Two man's job, one man do! Waste railroad's money! You tell railroad! He gives Paladin an evil look. Gao is quite a convincing actor. He could be on a stage. Or perhaps has trained to be on one, and has performed on several classica? Paladin wonders whether the evil look was fine stage craft, or more like the pretty heartfelt one Gao gave him earlier on being left at the camp cook tent?

The foreman of the crew unloading rails, crossties, and crates of supplies to take a break. Eventually their foreman, slight Jackie of the Irish accent, says, 10 minutes to drain your water and replace it. The three African American men of this crew head to their designated water crock just inside the cook tent. Doos approaches courteously and says, Jonathan Doos, good to meet you. The men politely return the greeting, and one says in a low, slow, quiet voice, Good ta meet ya, Mr. Doos. Sam Hopkins. I read of a judge named Jonathan Doos. Judge around the South Texas coast. Galveston, maybe? The papers said that Judge Doos stuck his neck out fer a lot freed folk, and tribal people to. A lot a people dint like it. No. No, not much at all. The two other men look at their friend, then at Doos. One with curiosity, but the other leaning back and eyeing him with appraising suspicion.

To save a posting step, I rolled Doos's Stature rolls (one for each man) for him with analog dice. One succeeded. Doos's work as a judge was in a distant region of Texas, and the papers can't print photos yet. People here don't know the face, but some know the name. So, he had to mention his name.

It's 2:30 PM. The shooting contest is at 5:30 PM. Riding back to Austin would take 45 minutes, barring any unexpected, unforeseeable delays.

Thank you, Mr Berhens. I wasn’t persuaded to come out here as a pay-rolled employee. Merely a service provider. I guess these folks I rode out with saw a need and asked me to come out for a spell. If somebody can point me to Smith’s tent, I’ll set up.

If y’all have no immediate need, I’ll go over to the family camp and the entertainers camp and let ‘em know I’m here. Mind if I serve them here as well? Your men getting priority, of course.

Oh, by the way, I’m also more than a fair horse doctor, too. Learned that out at the forts with the Cavalry. If ya have the need. Not much good with other animals.

He’ll go look at the tent. Seeing it’s suitable, he’ll find a pole, lash a cloth to the end then lash it to the tent poles….so as to wave a marker above his assigned tent.

He’ll then mount Ajax and ride over to the family camp (if there is one) and announce where they can find him. He’ll keep an eye out for any illness or infections he can see as he speaks with some of the folks. He’ll quietly whisper to some freed men (edited) , Chinese, and Tejanos that he will provide discounted services to their community if they keep it quiet…don’t want others finding out that discounts can be entertained.

He’ll then meander to the “entertainment” camp (if there is one) where he will first seek out out any “soiled doves” and announce that he can treat their venereals and that of any men they should send his way. He’ll inquire about the availability of rubbers and their use in the business. (He has it mind to look for a markup product he or the party can trade in since they are making regular trips between Austin and the camp). He’ll inform folks where they can find him, and that he has a tent for private treatments. He’ll also keep an eye out for apparent illness/infections here too.

At both camps, he’ll be sure to take a Quick Look at any horses. Mules, or donkeys for obvious conditions.

On his way back to his tent, he’ll drop in and take a close look at the camp livestock.

He’ll look for a chance to engage a few men, including Ben Judas and the other guards present at their tent, and the cooks in a typically Doctor intro and ask if he knows anyone in any of the camps bearing any hidden conditions like festering wounds, splinters, illnesses, or venereals that he should see. After all, the cooks and the guards probably see a lot.

jemmus wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:35 am Good ta meet ya, Mr. Doos. Sam Hopkins. I read of a judge named Jonathan Doos. Judge around the South Texas coast. Galveston, maybe? The papers said that Judge Doos stuck his neck out fer a lot freed folk, and tribal people to. A lot a people dint like it. No. No, not much at all. The two other men look at their friend, then at Doos. One with curiosity, but the other leaning back and eyeing him with appraising suspicion.

All Good about pre-rolling.

Giving a tip of the hat.

"Mr. Hopkins, well I am a Jon Doos that was a lawyer at the South Texas Coast that treated people like people. You think there are 2, I hope I'm better looking.

Jonathon smiles widens while he tells the joke.

Hoping they wont fake laughs he continues.

"I know you don't have much time with the break, so I will get to the point. I was wondering if I could visit you guys this evening after dinner, I would like to sit a spell and chat. And even though I am a judge, I have something to sweeten the deal. A hour after dinner?"

Doos