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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3046999" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Seventy-five, “The Great Bank Robbery”, Saturday, June 3rd , 1882, 1:30 P.M. When his stomach finally decides it wants food more than it does not, Jake dresses again, packs away all the packages back into the trunk and makes his way to the Lucky Lady in time for an early supper.  Harry Rote and Thom are the only ones around. Maria isn't expected for another hour to start cooking for the supper crowd, but there is still a half pot of soup on the stove from lunch. Harry brings Jake a bowl and some home baked bread to go with it. "Mind if I join you?" Harry asks.   "No need for you to ask, just sit," Jake says and kicks a chair out.Harry sits down and says, "Thanks. I was hoping you could give me some advice. Niles made this liquor distribution business appear to be effortless but I've found that isn't the case. One of my suppliers decided to raise his prices to me ten-percent just because I'm not Niles and Kate Higgins at the Long Branch says I messed up her last order, with two things missing. I should have written it down instead of going by what she said from memory, which is what Niles always did."Jake shakes his head at Harry. "You are not Niles. Do what works for you. Build your own relationships. Sure, build on what Niles left you and what Niles taught you but I am certain he did not expect that you would be HIM." Jake slurps some of the soup before he continues, "Since you are NOT Niles some of these folks will likely test you. If you need to write down orders and have your customers sign them, so what? Just tell them that you are doing it do make things right for them, so that their orders are never wrong again. Even if it is because you do not trust them, just keep that part to yourself." Another slurp of Maria's soup. "About that supplier who wants to take advantage of you...." Jake stops and scratches at his beard a moment, "try this. I will offer to sell you comparable items at ten percent less than what Niles was paying. Now you go and tell this supplier that someone is trying to undercut him. Tell him that Niles trusted him, his product and his delivery and that you would like to stay with him. If he can give you a five percent discount on what he was charging Niles, you can lower your prices and keep this other guy out of Promise City. The extra volume from all the Tombstone business should generate enough extra to make up his difference." Jake gives him a wink. "Do not let him forget you are trusted in town just like Niles and are the link to delivery here. You might mention you expansion plans."Harry replies, "Thank you Jake but what if he calls my bluff and stops selling to me? Do you really have an alternate source for liquor?"  "No, of course I do not." Jake looks him in the eye, "Look, we could probably find another source but never gamble unless you are willing to risk losing."  Harry says, "Then I think I'll take your advice but tone down the comment. Instead of saying that I have another source I'll state that I heard about one and may make further inquiries."  Jake says, "Good for you, do it your way. That is what I am talking about." While they are talking Chumbley comes into the Lucky Lady hawking his newspapers. However, this is a different paper than the one he was selling that morning. Jake's ears perk up when he hears the halfling exclaim, "New Douglas Gang Commit Record Bank Robbery!"  Jake waves him over mumbling, "At least the band is not playing." He hands the diminutive journalist his coin and takes a paper.The main headline of the Mirror reads: New Douglas Gang Commit Record Bank Robbery! The story takes up all of pages one and two. It reads: The New Douglas Gang led by Arthur Deadeye Douglas has just pulled off the largest bank robbery in United States history, stealing over $ 1,600,000 from the Tabor Bank of Leadville Colorado on Thursday, June 1st. Leadville is situated at the base of Mount Elbert, the nation's highest mountain. It was founded in 1860 at the time of the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. It is currently the home to the nation's most lucrative silver mining operations with over $ 100 million in silver having been mined there and currently has the nickname of The Silver Capital of the United States. Horace Tabor is the town's wealthiest citizen, owning a percentage of most mines in the area and is the exclusive owner of the Matchless Mine, the most profitable mine in town. The New Douglas Gang was formed right here in Cochise County last January when Arthur "Deadeye" Douglas broke Pinto Joe Weams, the brothers Koonz, Mongo Bailey and Dudley Yeats out of the Tombstone Jail. They then attempted to rob Condon's Bank but were thwarted by the bank's guards Chester Martin and Jacob Cook, managing to escape with a mere $ 300 while leaving behind Pinto Joe Weams and Pamela Yeats captured with Elmer Koonz and Dudley Yeats dead. Judge Isby sentenced Weams and Yeats to be hanged but before that sentence could be carried out Douglas freed them, with Deputy Sheriff Colin Hunter hogtied and gagged in the process. The New Douglas Gang were next seen in Cheyenne Wyoming during the first week of March. They were recognized by a newspaperman who communicated with this reporter for a positive identification, with the gang now including Douglas's former girlfriend and safecracker Mae West. Unfortunately the newspaperman was spotted by them, captured, and left hogtied and gagged in the gang's hotel room. Two days later the gang robbed the Wells Fargo Stage running between Deadwood, Dakota Territory and Cheyenne. The Wells Fargo driver and guard and one United States Army soldier were killed in the robbery. The gang then vanished, along with the stagecoach. Wells Fargo posted a sizeable reward but no traces of the gang or the stolen vehicle materialized. At approximately 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, June 1st the New Douglas Gang resurfaced in Leadville at the Tabor Bank, the largest bank in town with the most sizeable deposits. The gang apparently set fire to the town's firehouse across town as a distraction while they broke into the bank. Both guards on duty were shot and killed and safecracker Clarke made short work of the locks on the vaults, which coincidentally were made by the same Harrisburg Safe Company of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where Clarke's deceased husband worked as an engineer. The gang opened three of the four vaults, most of which were filled with silver, but opted to only take bundles of currency comprised of $ 20 bills or higher. They escaped town using the same stagecoach from the March robbery. Army Soldiers assigned to Leadville were unsuccessful in stopping the Gang from leaving town, resulting in three dead soldiers and another four wounded. Cavalry troops chased after the stage but were stopped when the Gang dynamited a mountainside, blocking the roadway. The stagecoach was later found a mile further south, burning at the bottom of a 400 foot cliff, however the only bodies found were those of the horse team. It is unknown where the Gang has now gone off to. Horace Tabor has reported to his insurance agent that over $ 1.6 million was stolen. He has assured his depositors that their money is safe, the stolen currency being part of his own personal fortune and not that of the depositors. He reiterated that only a fraction of the bank's total cash and silver holdings were stolen and that nothing at all was taken from either of the two silver vaults and that the other currency vault remained unopened. He says that he also plans to quadruple the number of bank guards. Tabor has offered a reward of ten-percent of all monies recovered with an additional bounty of $ 50,000 for Arthur Deadeye Douglas and $ 10,000 each for Mongo Bailey, Mae Clarke, Sally Fox, Joe Weams and Pamela Yeats. The Wells Fargo Company has posted a $ 10,000 reward for the death or capture of Douglas and $ 2,000 each for the other five members of the gang. The Harrisburg Safe Company has posted an additional $ 20,000 bounty for the capture or death of Mae Clarke. This comes to a total of over $ 300,000 in reward money if the entire gang is caught and the stolen money recovered. Most of the remainder of the paper are advertisements, with only two other news stories. A story on page four tells of the ongoing construction of telegraph lines between Tombstone and Promise City. It states that to date the first three miles beyond those of the previously built incomplete five-mile rail line have been put in place. This brings them to the southeastern most point of the Dragoon Mountain range. The project is scheduled to be completed by election day. It states that in total miles a line from Wilcox would have been shorter but more difficult to place and maintain as it would have had to go through the Dos Cabezas Mountains while the Tombstone route is longer but close to level, being placed alongside the existing stagecoach road. A short story on page six reads "Local Actors Chosen for Play". It states that Miss. Josephine Marcus of the Pauline Markham Acting Troupe will be directing several performances of William Shakespeare's classic 'Romeo and Juliet' on the weekend of June 16th to 18th. The stars of the play will be Mr. Conrad Booth and Miss Ruby West. Other performers chosen include Miss. Morgana Arcadiam, Miss. Julia Barbeau, Miss. Liza Brown, Mr. Alton Boyd, Mr. Coolie Fagan, Mr. Estaban Fuente, Mr. Boston Harker, Mr. Kevin Kelly, Mr. Ashley King, Mr. Rolf Larsen, Miss. Shannon O'Hara, Mr. Jose Ramirez, Mr. Hans Schmidt, Mr. David Tomlinson, and Mr. Don Wainwright. Harry Rote has put in a half-page ad for the Liquor Distribution business, offering specials on cases of Italian wines harvested the previous year. A quarter-page ad for the Comique Variety Hall and Saloon welcomes the new arrivals who will be working for Count von Zeppelin and says that tonight will feature German cuisine and music at the Comique. The back-page advertisement is for the Palace Saloon and is a repeat of that from the previous two papers promoting the Saturday night boxing rematch between Boston Harker and the house pugilist Finnegan. It also mentions the meeting of the Liberty Political Party to be held at the Palace immediately following the fight.Minerva and Nakomo ride home from Kate‘s ranch. This is the first time that Minerva sees her young charge so relaxed and happy. He almost seems like the young teen that he is as he smiles and sings a Yavapai song.  Minerva smiles as he sings enjoying the moment while attempting to push away thoughts of the future. "What if Nanuet should send the boy back to the Yavapai? He was treated so poorly there. I will not see him turn back into the skittish rabbit that he was when first he arrived."Minerva arrives back in town and is surprised to see one of her parishioners, the Italian Joseppi Franjoluppi, waiting for her in the small garden behind her house. He notices the Indian boy with her and says, "Ah, Seniorita, I wanted a word in private with you. If now is a bad time I can come back later.""Oh No Senor Franjoluppi. Now is fine. Nakomo why don't you go on and get cleaned up. I will be in shortly." Minerva leads Senor Franjoluppi, through the gate. They enter the house and she motions for him to have a seat in, what she thinks of as her office. She closes the door behind her and sits across form him. "Now, Tell me how I may be of assistance."Joseppi says, "I have a problem. I....I am not used to women priests. Back in Milan they are all men. But when you were away last month I spoke to the Greek Priest who was filling in for you. He said that I can should talk to you about my problem.   Priestess, I have a difficult family obligation that I need to fulfill. I have been stalling, not wanting to do what is expected of me. But I feel that this is wrong, that I must make my family proud. But it is difficult, I had joined the French Foreign Legion to run away from these obligations and felt that the unexpected move to the United States would prolong that. But fate has now drawn me back. Priestess, is this a sign from the Gods that I must do my duty?"  Minerva cocks her head and looks at him questioningly "Not all signs are from the gods Senor. What is the obligation that you speak of?"He replies, “A family feud of honor, it goes back decades in my mother's homeland of Sicily. My brother was killed by the Corleone family and I am to avenge that honor. A Corleone is here in Promise City. I have tried to avoid him, but also fear that he may recognize me and kill me first unless he fears retribution from my employer's, Arcade's Gang."She says, "You are indeed stuck between.. what is the phrase?, a rock and a hard place." She sighs in sympathy. I will attempt to advise you, though the choice is yours to make. There is no shame in ridding the world of evil. It is an unpleasant but necessary task." Minerva say's, her mind flashing back to her mangled father's body lying in a pool of blood and the wizards that she slew on his behalf before fleeing Spain. "But to cold bloodedly murder innocent people for a feud that occurred decades ago? The gods will not find honor in that, Senor." You must decide if your family's respect is more important to you than your immortal soul. However, if this man you speak of should attempt to take your life first, well even the law will not fault you for defending yourself.""Ah, I understand," says Joseppi. "You are saying that I should not initiate this action but should be armed and prepared if he should come for me. Very well, I will do as you suggest and also avoid going near the Lucky Lady saloon, where he works as a gambler."  She replies, “He works as a gambler at the Lucky Lady? I hope you will not consider me to forward, but may I ask his name?"  Joseppi replies, "Anthony Corleone, I believe that he gambles under the name Tony Lucky." She says, "I have heard of him. I did not realize that he was a Corleone. I do not know him well, but Promise City is a small town and it will be difficult to avoid him. Por favor, watch your back Senor Josseppi and do not travel alone. I will keep watch as well."Joseppi replies, "I will. I have asked around, Mr. Lucky spends most of his time away from the saloon either sleeping at his boarding house or enjoying the company of the women at the Palace Saloon. It should not be hard to avoid him if I stay to a small circle and avoid those places."  She replies, "That is a good plan. Be sure and come to me if you need help. May the gods watch over you until we meet again Senor." Minerva stands signaling that the meeting has come to an end and walks him to the door. "Remember, do not hesitate to find me if you need help." She bids him good evening and goes in search of Nakomo. She finds him in his room clean and dressed to go out for the evening. "Senorita Minerva, I am going to the Lucky Lady in search of Mr. Cook. Would you like to come with me? "That is a fine idea." she agrees. "We can take our evening meal there as well. I just need time to clean up." she wipes her hands on her dirt stained gown. It was quite a fun game, was it not?" "Yes I really liked it a lot. My father used to play with me before he went away."  She asks, "Went away? Where did he go?"   "They dragged him away to prison." he says and without further explanation, he turns and leaves the room."  "Que lastima, Poor nino." she mutters under her breath as she watches him walk away. So much heartache for one so young." She bathes quickly, changes into clean clothes meets Nakomo in the yard where he is once again standing silent.  She comes up behind him and puts her hand on his shoulder. "I lost my padre too. We will commiserate together when the time is right. For now let us enjoy the end of this beautiful day." She puts her arm through his calls to Luna and they head to the Saloon for dinner.This was a quiet day for Chester, with him and Helen on Duty for the morning and afternoon so that they can each have the night off to watch their significant other's perform at the Lucky Lady. Mitchell Berg and Eduardo Rodriguez both arrive at 4:00 P.M. to relieve them. They are accompanied by Deputy Marshall Neil Cassidy who had the day to work with his lumber company, as he had some extra hands today to help him. Berg shuts and locks the door and says, "Okay, everybody have a seat. I have some new information regarding the death of rancher Claude Buckley." He takes out a folded up piece of paper and says, "This was found shoved under Eddie's door. It's written in Spanish." He hands it over to Eduardo who reads: "Marshall Berg should stop looking into Buckley's death. Buckley was the man who killed Marshall Hollister last December. The man who hired Buckley to do that killing is now planning to run for office and Buckley made the mistake of trying to blackmail him. I cannot come forward or I will be killed as well, as Buckley knew of my involvement but the other killer does not. Further investigations on your part will only result in more dead lawmen."   Berg says, "Obviously that note could be a lie, but something sounds genuine about it to me. They never did find Hollister's killer."Chester exclaims, "This ties it. If people can get away with killing a Marshall, then none of us will be safe. If the mastermind is a candidate, then who knows what the guy will try if he gets elected. What do you all think?"   Berg replies, "I think I'd like to have one of us at the Palace tonight for that meeting of the Liberty Political Party. But then again, after what happened last Saturday and their gambler Karp getting killed that probably wouldn't be a safe proposition for any of us. Chester replies, "Much as it pains me, I agree. I wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall when it happens though. I hate that lawmen are have to be careful of where we can go. But that's neither here nor there."  Berg says, “Chet, the best thing we can do is make sure this killer doesn't get into office. No telling who he is but I can take a guess, you probably can to. You should know that you'll have my full support for Marshall, you're one person who I know I can trust. Let me know what I can do to help you get elected."   "Yep. Ain't too hard to figure out." Chester looks at Berg. "Are you saying that we're done looking into Buckley's murder?"Berg replies, "I think we may be at a stopping point unless we can determine either who wrote this note or who the killer is that it references. Fisk seems obvious.....maybe too obvious. Actually, this note could have been written by somebody on the other side who wants us to go after Fisk. Then again, maybe I'm over thinking this."Kate sat for a while longer at the ranch after Earp left.  She then finally got herself moving. It was about 5:30 by the time she arrived home and after she cleaned off the smells of animals and exercise she crawled into her bed. She managed to wake in time to make it to the Lucky Lady for her nights work.  <<Note: The New Douglas Gang are the playing characters in my travelling "Sidewinder Recoiled" campaign, which can be found in the Story Hour titled "Seven Outlaws in Search of a Bank">></blockquote>

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