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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3806797" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Two-hundred-six, “Mistaken Identity”, Saturday, June 17th, 11:15 A.M.Ruby West stands and lightly walks over to Richard. Holding onto his back she tries to peer out the window without getting in front of him. He states, "The men appear to be leaving." They wait for another five minutes. Richard says, "Two men left inside a Concord Coach and another was driven off in the Stanhope Coach. The Landau Coach and it's driver still remain." "Good," she whispers. "We can get out of here!" She pauses then giggles, "Why am I whispering anyway?"He states, "Hold on, somebody is still here. We don't want to get seen by whoever that is or the driver." She comments, "I wonder what they're doing here on Saturday anyway?" She doesn't wait at the window, instead she hurries back over to the bed and the pile of clothes she left on the floor. She rifles through it with her toe before she lifts her suitcase onto the bed and start rummaging through. "What am I going to wear today? Hmmm...,"She throws clothes left and right. "Ahhh, this!" She pulls out a beautiful, rich deep red dress with a low but not too low square neckline. "I think it's perfect!" She also pulls out new undergarments. It only takes moments before Ruby is standing completely naked. "I know you don't mind," she says, not even paying attention to if Richard is stealing a glance. "You've already seen me naked anyway." He comments, "In my nearly three centuries I have seen a number of women naked, including our friend Jane during many late night dances."Looking outside rather than at Ruby he says, "That driver is sitting down in the front of the coach eating a meal from a lunch bucket, so I don't get the impression he is planning to leave any time soon." “Are you saying I'm unremarkable Richard? Please don't insult my delicate sensibilities," she laughs, "I'm already having a rough day." He says, "It may get rougher, do you hear that humming sound? That's the electric elevator. We had better be quiet." "You're just avoiding telling me I'm absolutely gorgeous," she teases as she finishes pulling on her dress.Ruby does do as Richard asks, and stays quiet as she throws all her clothes and belongings into her suitcase. She takes her glass in one hand and her hairbrush in the other sits at George's desk, looking through whatever he has on the desktop. She gazes overlong on the pictures of herself before looking back to the actual desk to see if he has a calendar or any other sort of papers, all the while listening in to see if someone is approaching. They hear the sound of the door to the executive secretary's area being unlocked.Ruby's eyes widen and she whispers, "Oh crap!" as she looks to Richard. She points to the bed and the lever, motioning for him to close it up. "Too late," he whispers. He reaches into his shirt pocket and removes a two-shot Derringer pistol. Ruby widens her eyes even more and give Richard a "don't you dare" look. She sits quietly at the desk and just waits to see what happens.She hears a key turn at the door to the inner office. However, that door hadn't been locked, so instead of unlocking the door the person on the other side actually relocks it, so it doesn't open when the person turns the knob expecting it to.Richard extends his arm, aiming the gun towards the door. Ruby gulps and stands, glass in one hand, hairbrush in the other. She waits in anticipation at the door opening but readies herself to throw off Richard's aim if he actually fires. The key turns again, this time unlocking the door. The door opens and George Eastman is standing there, a newspaper tucked under his left arm and a metal lunch pail in his right arm. His eyes go wide at the sight of Ruby and then shift over towards Richard and the pointed gun. Eastman stands proud and exclaims in a loud but calm voice "Don't harm her Mr. Douglas, I'll pay whatever ransom you are seeking.""George!" Ruby exclaims and before she knows it, she runs towards him, jumping into his arms for a hug. Richard lowers the weapon. Eastman returns Ruby's hug and then intentionally steps between her and Richard, shielding her with his own body. George says, "State your terms Douglas." Glancing over towards the rolled out bed he then adds, "I'm unarmed, your accomplice can come out from her hiding place." Ruby's opinion of George shot through the roof as he took a step between her and Richard and her eyes sparkled.She takes his hand and says, "George, he is not Deadeye Douglas. And there is no one else here, it's just the two of us. They thought I was Clarke. We're here hiding out actually, on our way to see you. some bad people are after us. He's been trying to protect me." George opens the morning's newspaper and says, "No, they think you're somebody named either Yeats or Fox." The headline reads "New Douglas Gang in Rochester" It has a large photograph that appears to have been taken outside of Bella's Restaurant in Tarrytown of Ruby, Jane and Richard standing together. George says, "The article identifies all three of you. If this isn't Douglas then who is he?""Oh George," Ruby sighs, her hair still a nest on one side. "This isn't how I wanted us to meet again. I've been trying to get to you..." She takes his hand and pulls him into the office. "This might take a while." She sits on the couch and motions for his to sit next to her. "His name is Richard Broughton. He came to New York with me to protect me." "You see, I finally got to see my grandmother! She's living in Tarrytown George. She found me and I came here to meet her. That," she pauses and actually blushes, "And to see you."He replies, "Oh Constance, I was so worried after I saw today's paper. I notified the police already as to who you are as did your parents. We assured them that that you are probably Douglas's unwilling hostage. This Richard Broughton, are you sure that he isn't Arthur Douglas in disguise? The Pinkerton Men seem rather sure of their facts." She exclaims, "I'm positive he's not Douglas. I've seen Deadeye, he robbed a bank while I was in it. And this isn't him. Like I said, he's a friend, here to protect me. My grandmother gave me some items to hold for her and apparently they are something really important, important enough for the people who want them to lie about who we are so they can get access to our belongings. George, I need your help."Eastman replies, "Yes, it sounds like you do. Ruby, have you been following the newspapers about the Douglas Gang? They robbed over $ 1.6 million from a Colorado bank and killed several soldiers in the process. Douglas and Clarke disappeared. They caught four of the others, but three of them escaped from prison the night before last. There's a nationwide manhunt for this gang, with orders to shoot to kill. You're both at risk from anybody who sees today's newspaper." "Oh crap," Ruby swears. She turns her back to Richard and looks George in the eyes. "Will you help us? I've been insisting we can trust you George, and I hope you prove me right. What should we do?"George says, "Well, for now why don't the three of us talk. Nobody knows you are here so we're safe for the moment. Once I know enough of specifically what brought you here I can call up the Chief of Police and try to straighten out this mess. Then we can contact the newspaper for them to update the errors in today's paper." Richard interjects, "Not so fast, calls to anyone will alert the Pinkerton's who are after us to get those documents that Ruby referenced." Ruby exclaims, "He's right George, about the phone call. We had a plan to get rid of the documents. Maybe we can stick with our original plan Richard, then leave here and go from there?" She turns back to him, "What do you think?"She adds, "George, I am terribly sorry we broke into your office. I just didn't know where else we could go that might be safe. We'll pay for everything we used..." George replies, "You don't have to pay for anything, I am just glad that you are safe." Richard interjects, "This appeared to be the safest place for us to go. I had read in the newspapers that you spend a lot of time here so found it reasonable that you might come here on a weekend." "Richard, you didn't warn me he might show up here!" Ruby scolds.Ruby smiles at George then suddenly remembers her hair is a total mess and she has no makeup on. "Oh, excuse me!" She hurries over to the corner and puts her back to the men. The brush still in hand she starts brushing her hair and smoothing it down. Without a mirror she does the best she can. When she's done she smiles again and sits back on the couch. "There, at least I did something. I had planned on having a bath and looking my best when I came to see you George. Unfortunately circumstances didn't permit it." George says, "There will be sufficient time for that later. Now, please tell me more about this trouble that you have found yourself in."Ruby nods, and sits. She explains to George about her trip to meet her grandmother, and how her husband is a historian, how he came about the "papers" and why they are being chased for them."I don't know what exactly is in them, even James does not know. Something of great importance I imagine for these people to go through so much trouble. But he bought them rightfully and they belong to him now, fair and square.""We came up with a plan to get the papers away from us. Jane is gone and she has most of the papers with her. But I still have some in my possession. We could stick with that plan, get rid of them today, and leave with you George, if you are willing to help. Otherwise, we can find our own way to leave, deal with this problem the best we can, and I can come and see you when it's done, like I planned. We never meant for you to get involved or put you in harms way. We only came here, well, because we had no where else to go. I hope you aren't mad." Ruby smiles at him, but it's a feeble smile and reveals that she hopes that leaving him isn't what she has to do.George says, "Hmmm, those papers sound curious. We could indeed mail them from Rochester, but once your opponents know that you are affiliated with me they might try inspecting my outgoing mail. However, I know quite a few other business owners in town, so it could be shipped from one of those businesses." He gestures over towards his large mostly-empty desk and says, "If you want why don't we spread out those documents on the desk and we can look them over now. Maybe we can deduce something from them that you Grandfather missed."She gives a glance to Richard, hoping he's okay with her revelations. Ruby retrieves the papers from her suitcase and does as George says, spreading them out over his desk. She starts looking over the papers to see if she can deduce anything. George joins Ruby at the desk and she is suddenly aware of his being so close to her. She watches him look at the papers out of the corner of her eye, her long hair spilling over one shoulder as she leans forward over the desk. He is close enough she can smell his cologne, feel his body heat and her heart starts racing against her will.She gives a little cough to clear her throat and mind, "*Ahem*. Do you see anything odd?"George replies "Nothing yet, what about you Richard?" Richard is also sorting through them and says, "I'm not sure, most of these appear to be receipts. There's a small journal of some sort here that I want to look at as well, it might provide a clue." Richard takes the journal and walks over to the bed, sitting on it as he reads and ignoring Ruby and George. Ruby stays close but stands upright, looking George in the eyes. With much sincerity and her voice soft she says, "I really am sorry you know, for a lot of things. I hope we aren't getting you in trouble or worse, in danger." "I will risk any danger for you," he replies softly.Ruby smiles softly and she just stares into George's eyes, momentarily losing herself there. "It's nice to hear you say that." She realizes what a stupid thing that was to say and starts to stammer, "I mean, uh, not that I want you in danger or anything, uh, I just meant, uh, oh forget it!" She takes his hand in hers as she collects herself. "I just mean I have a lot to say to you but I'm not sure now is the time. I wasn't even sure you would want to see me after the way I treated you the last I saw you and then that terrible night or that you could even forgive me for any of it." George looks up and says, "Richard, would you trust me to give Ruby a tour of my factory?" Richard appears to be very interested in what he is reading but stops and looks up then says, "As long as you stay away from the telephones yes.""Oh, I'd love to!" Ruby exclaims and takes George's hand. "Please take me on a tour George." George takes her on the tour of all six floors of the factory, using the elevator to get from floor to floor, starting at the bottom and working their way up. The bottom floor houses the reception room, accounting offices, and vast mailroom where the products are shipped from. The next three floor are the manufacturing facility for the photographic dry plates, with a different step of the process occurring on each floor and with freight elevators used to move the product along. Using common rather than technical terms George explains to Ruby how photography works and the use of the plates.They then reach the fifth floor which he explains is "The future of photography". He says that is where his laboratory is located, and where he and the men he was just working with are in trying to revolutionize the entire industry. He takes her into a dark room lit only by a red light and shows her several wet pieces of paper soaking in metal pans of chemicals. She sees photographic images on the papers. He explains, "We are experimenting with using paper film to hold the images. This paper can then be rolled up in a cartridge and stored inside the camera. The cameras will be small enough and strong enough that they can be mailed back here to be developed. Do you realize what that will mean?"Ruby smiles widely at the proud man standing before her, "It means your dreams have and will continue to come true George Eastman. I'm so happy for you!" Ruby squeezes his hand. "All this is just... amazing... what you've done here. I really am, happy for you. So now, you tell me exactly what it means for people to have film in cameras they can send in. I want to hear you say it." She waits expectantly for him to answer. He says, "It means that photograpahy will no longer be just the realm of professional photographers, it will become open to anybody! People will have their own camera! Photographic portraits will no longer be a thing for the upper classes, every family will be able to have portraits. And pictures will be taken to record family events, weddings, anniversaries, special times! This milestone will provide memories for the world!"He then gives her an odd smile and says, "And one other benefit of this new technological revolution is that it will also make me a millionaire." Ruby laughs and says, "George, you were always destined for great things." She exaggeratedly spins around the dark room, her hair flying all around her. She stops short in front of him and still smiling says, "But Mr. Eastman, how will you spend your well earned millions?"He answers, "First of all, I would share the earnings with the workers who will make it possible. I plan to introduce the concept of 'dividends upon wages', over and above the hourly rate of pay. That way the employees will share in the profits. That will also increase worker goodwill, morale and overall motivation which in turn will make us a more productive manufacturing company. I also feel it is a company's responsibility to establish a retirement pension for the workers. I will also support this community through philanthropy. I already sponsor the Mechanics Institute of Rochester, whose mission is to train the young people to the concepts of engineering and mechanics. Those people will be the future of tomorrow. I also admire the work of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and plan to establish scholarships there, with hopes of drawing promising graduates to work for me here.I would like to do something for all of the people of the city as well, something along the lines of free dental clinics so that people's teeth can be properly cared for. Good teeth are the cornerstone of good nutrition and strong physical well being. And I would like to turn this city into a cultural center for music, establishing a school to promote it. That school could include that concert hall that we spoke of before, one to rival the concert halls of New York City." Ruby's smile slowly fades off her face as George speaks. She watches his enthusiasm for his ideas bubble through his words, his hand gestures showing his excitement, his eyes twinkling at his revolutionary ideas. He really believed he would make things better, not just for some but for everyone.When he is done speaking Ruby is quiet. She walks over to the bins with the paper in it, gazing into them to see what pictures she finds there. With her head down her hair again covers her face so she pushes it behind her ears. She doesn't look at George as she speaks. "You have some really wonderful ideas George. I hope you don't ever let anyone keep you down or get in the way of making the rest of your dreams come true, any of them. You have the intelligence, kindness and the compassion to help so many people and the ability to do it. You're such a good man, you always were. Just don't let anyone tell you no and they'll all come true."Silence fill the room again as she tries to focus on the photographs. Instead they go blurry as her eyes fill with tears she won't let come out. This was hurting her more than she expected. Partially because she hadn't anticipated seeing him until she was ready and partly because she hadn't expected to suddenly feel things she never thought she would feel. Of course, when she set this plan in motion she also expected her and Jake to be together forever and that she was only stopping by to drop off a ring; not remember how close her and this man had once been and that she had once cared for him as her best friend. In a soft voice she continues, "This is what I tried to explain to you back in Promise City George." She sighs. She just wasn't ready for this to come so soon. "You have so much potential, you can't and shouldn't waste it."He walks over to her and states, "My plans are meaningless without somebody special to share them with. As I said back in Promise City, I want to spend my life with you, that hasn't changed. I want your voice to be the one singing out at the city's Ruby West Concert Hall. Don't you see Ruby, despite the valiant efforts of your business partner and my cousin to keep us apart we are drawn together once more. This is fate." Ruby sighs again. "Don't you see what I'm saying? Fate or not, I'm not good for you George. You have big things to accomplish. You don't know me. If you did, you would change your mind about me. I'm selfish and stubborn, both of those things work against everything you're trying to do."She turns and finally faces him, showing him her teary eyes. "How do you not hate me after what happened in Promise City?" He replies, "After what happened? Ruby, what do you think happened? I got drunk and shot my mouth off, misspeaking so badly that people mistakenly thought that I had murdered you. How is that your fault? That was my fault, entirely!" Ruby scrunches her face, and violently shakes her head no. Squeezing her eyes shut causes the tears to fall down her cheeks as she cries, "That's not true... if I wasn't so mean to you, you wouldn't have gotten drunk and done all that. If I didn't say what I said..."She wipes at her face but doesn't look George in the eyes. "I shouldn't have done that... I... I felt so bad, I tried to see you... Helen wouldn't let me... then you left and I tried to see you in Tombstone," she continues to sob, "Helen stopped me again, said you were already gone. I wanted to make sure you were okay, and say I was sorry. Jake didn't understand but I never told him..." She shakes her head again, hanging it in embarrassment. "I am, really sorry. I shouldn't have treated you like that, you deserve better."</blockquote>

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