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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3829991" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Two-hundred-twelve, “Richard’s Idea“, Saturday, June 17th, 12:30 P.M. Richard replies, "I would like to learn as much as I can about his business, but need to do so in a way that doesn't invade the man's privacy or trust in us. He gave you a tour, perhaps you can show me around and tell me what he told you, especially about future expansion plans." "Sure, I can do that. It's pretty amazing." Ruby leads him to the elevator. "Why do you need to know?" He replies, "I see a potential business opportunity." She answers, "Well, it sounds like a good business opportunity to me, Richard. George is very very excited about his plans and better yet, he believes in them." As Ruby shows Richard around she explains to him George's plan for the future as he outlined it for her. She finishes the tour in the same room George finished it for her. She says, "You have to admit, it would be interesting for all kinds of people to have access to cameras and film. Think of all that would change! And all that business stuff sounds legit, although I don't know much about sharing profits and all that. But it sounded good. Seems to me he has the drive and resources to make it work." Richard smiles and says, "Yes, what I thought was a good business opportunity may turn into a great one. Ruby, you know this Mr. Eastman far better than I do, but my first impression is that he is a rather smart businessman. If he were offered an opportunity to cut his production costs by...say ten-percent, do you think he would jump at that chance?" She says, "He's not a greedy man and I'm positive he would consider it. You're right about him being a smart business man, he built all this," She waves her arm around, "From nothing. Why, what would you offer? How can you cut the costs?" Richard replies "What would I offer? Significantly reduced cost of materials, integrated production facilities, reduced shipping costs, management services and an opportunity for a bi-coastal direct market presence." Ruby just blinks at him. "Sounds like you two have something to talk about then. I have no idea what you just said but it sounds very business-y and official. But Richard, I hope you won't keep George talking about business the entire time we're here. I'm planning on stealing him away for a while too." Richard "That sounds fine, a plan is starting to fall into place. Now why don't you tell me a little about this cousin of his who he takes orders from?" "Ugh!" Ruby rolls her eyes. "Helen Eastman Barker. She's a bit older than George and I. She recognized my name in the paper and called George. I think she got his hopes all up just so they could be crushed again. I mean, I was Jake and she knew it... she's never liked me. She told me to my face, she would never let us be together. She wanted to prove to George how horrible I am. I guess I did help her with that," Ruby says with flushed cheeks, embarrassed. Ruby tells the story of how George came to town and all the details in between, including the whole "murder" and how Helen wouldn't let Ruby track him down. "And that's Helen. She one of the deputies now back in Promise City. She a crack shot with her gun too, Jake's taken some lessons from her." She finishes with, "I wonder why George let her boss him around, he doesn't seem like he would do that here and now." Richard says, "Okay, it sounds like she is a take charge kind of person. And would it be safe to assume that George would trust her to look after his interests?" Ruby answers, "I suppose so, yes. She seems pretty responsible. Part of the reason she doesn't like me I guess. Why? What are you thinking?" He states, "What am I thinking? Ruby, what do you know about the process of photography? By that I mean the dry-plate photography like Mr. Eastman is specializing in. What I'm says is, do you know what the primary and single most expensive component is in the process?" She exclaims, "Isn't it obvious that I don't know much about business... stuff? I'm not that smart. I never paid attention in school either. For crying out loud, I'm just leaning how to read better!" Her embarrassment shows through, and she calms down a bit. "What is it, paper maybe?" He says, "No Ruby, the most expensive component in the process is silver. Silver dust, specifically silver nitrate, that is what sticks to the gelatin on the dry plate to capture the image of light and create the negative used to later make the print. Eastman is probably getting his silver from Colorado, from suppliers he has been using for years, and there are probably several middle-men in between, each of whom takes their own share of profit from the transactions. And with his plans for expansion he will be buying much larger quantities in the years to come. Southeastern Arizona is now emerging as the new silver capital of the world, replacing Colorado in total output. If Eastman had his own operations there he could purchase the silver directly from the stamping mills and complete the process himself. He could also produce enough dry plates there for his customers in California and other western states and territories instead of having to ship them all the way from here in Rochester." "Oh." Ruby pauses, taking it all in. "Well, that would mean George would have to come out West more often." She smiles at the thought. "Richard, you know a lot about this stuff. Are you wanting to get involved in George's business? Or more to the point, are you thinking of leaving the Three Gods?" I know George will be back any minute, I hope anyway, so if you don't want to talk about it now, I understand. But I'm curious." Richard replies, "No, I don't plan to leave the Three Gods, but I'm needed there primarily on weekend nights, not during weekdays, which is when the factory's primary operations would occur. The city of Tucson would be the ideal location for Eastman's new manufacturing operations. It is near the silver mines, it has considerable rail access, there is a large population of skilled workers and it has the necessary infrastructure such as electricity, water, telephone and telegraph services to support a plant for a long time to come. He doesn't know me, but he trusts you Ruby, you could act as a reference. And with oversight from a Board of Directors that includes his cousin who lives in the region I'm hoping that he might be agreeable. Yes, this idea is falling nicely into place." “Ugh! I don't want him to have Helen in his life more than he has to..." Ruby voice trails off. Why should she care about that this much? She continues calmly, "I will speak him if you'd like. I have many things to talk to him about, I can present it to him but I don't want him thinking that is why we came. But Richard, you have proven yourself to me and I will vouch for you." He replies, "Thank you. Let me figure out some more details. We may want to wait until tomorrow for me to suggest the idea to him. As for his cousin, she lives in Promise City, not Tucson, so I would only anticipate her involvement a few times a month for Board Meetings. But from what you've said I think her involvement will be what will get him to agree to the idea." Ruby laughs. "I could probably get him to agree myself. That boy is crazy over me even though I treated him so poorly. That's why I say he's a good man. And why I want to spend some time this trip making it up to him." She smiles widely, "Think he'll like that, me making it up to him? Now that Jane is on her way home, do we have to get back for anything? I've already missed the play and we're going to miss the tournament." Richard replies, "At this point I'm seeing all the more reason to stay here, it'll distract those folks following us and our staying away from Jane will help keep her safer. Plus the more time I get to spend with Eastman discussing this idea the better, for all of us!" "You're really into this idea, huh?" Ruby laughs. "I just hope he returns soon, I'm starting to worry. I guess I should be figuring out a way I can get in on all this successful business stuff too. I don't want you stealing all his time from me! I'll wait until he's back safe and then I'll do some scheming of my own. Got any tips for me?" she laughs again. Richard says, "Just continue to be yourself, that appears to be who he wishes to be with." The smile slowly falls off Ruby's face. "But he doesn't know me, who I am now anyway." She fingers some photographs on the table in front of her but then she smiles again. "I'm going to change that anyway, that's the new point of this trip!" She finds a chair and plops into it, trying not to show the small amount of nervousness she is beginning to feel. "I'm starving. Old cheese just doesn't cut it for breakfast anymore." Richard replies, "He should be back soon. I am certain he knows a place or two in this city that are good to dine at. But before we go to any of them we need to make sure that nobody tries to kill us on sight." "True. That would ruin our trip and plans," Ruby says seriously before laughing. "I wonder how the play went last night. I'm sad I missed it. And how the tournament will go today. Nothing goes too smoothly at the Lucky, something is bound to go wrong." Richard replies, "Don't be concerned about that, our business partners are resourceful people, they will handle whatever comes their way. Right now it is far more important that things go smoothly here for us. I would not have imagined that we have stumbled into a conspiracy at the highest level, even if it is forty years after-the-fact." Ruby says, "True. I wonder how this will all come out. Even after we clear our names what do you suppose we do with what we know? We'll have to do something, these people aren't going to stop at one little roadblock." Richard states, "They have no idea that we are actually even involved, just a notion that we might be. And they certainly have no way of knowing that we have deduced what the conspiracy is about." Ruby says, "They know we're involved, or we wouldn't have the Pinkerton's looking for us. Do you really think they think we're Douglas and Clarke?" Richard says, “Their detectives and hired guns probably do. What their bosses know is another matter. At any rate it would have given them an ample excuse to check our possessions with over a million dollars still missing." Ruby nods. "Well, I'm sure George will straighten all this out. Have you decided you can trust him now?" Richard says, "For the most part. I seldom trust anybody who I first meet completely, that has to be earned over time. Let me say this, he's given me no reason to distrust him." She says, "I understand. I'm not very trusting myself. But I've known George almost my whole life and believe me when I say he's a good man. More trustable than anyone else I know. Anyway, you'll find out for yourself." Ruby smiles as she retreats into her thoughts while she waits for George to return. They wait another fifteen minutes until the fancy carriage returns. They see that a uniformed policeman is with the driver. Three men exit the carriage, George, one man wearing a Police Commissioner's uniform, and a man in a suit. The three men head toward the factory door while the driver and policeman stay with the carriage. "Okay, they're coming. Let's cross our fingers this goes well." Ruby fluffs her hair and stands, waiting for George to find them. The next few minutes seem to drag on for an eternity. They then here the sound of the elevator, which stops at the floor. They hear the men approach. Ruby gives a nervous glance to Richard and continues to wait. The men enter. George introduces his friend the Commissioner. The other man is introduced as Horace Stethford, Pinkerton Regional Manager. Ruby steps forward and extends her hand. "Ruby West. It's a pleasure to meet you." Richard extends his hand and says, "Richard Broughton, Miss West's business partner." The Commissioner looks skeptical and asks "And what type of business is it that you two do?" She replies, "We own a private meeting house together back West. I also own a Saloon in Promise City, Arizona." "A meeting house?" he asks. Richard interjects "Dedicated to the Greek/Roman Gods." That answer seems to satisfy the men. The Commissioner tells the Pinkerton Detective "I've known Mr. Eastman for a few years now, he's one of the very best citizens of this town. I've also met Miss. West's parents on a few social occasions. These aren't the outlaws you are looking for." "No, outlaw isn't on my resume," Ruby says trying to lighten the moment. "I've known George since I was a child. We're definitely not Deadeye and Clarke." The Commissioner replies, "Certainly not. We will head over to the newspaper office to see about getting a retraction printed in tomorrow's newspaper. In the meanwhile it would be prudent for the two of you to keep a low profile for the remainder of today." Ruby steps over to George and takes his arm. With an easy smile she says, "We plan on it." She gazes up at George, "Right Mr. Eastman?" George replies "Yes, well gentlemen, I truly do appreciate your assistance in this matter." The Commissioner asks to use the telephone. He tells the person on the other end to send a carriage for him over to the Eastman Factory." George tells Ruby and Richard, "Let me escort these gentlemen back downstairs. I'll come back up to get the two of you once their ride is here." She states, "Alright. Hurry back!" Once the men leave Ruby starts hurriedly gathering their belongings. "That went well." Richard replies, "Yes it did, Eastman was smart going right to the two top men instead of having to deal with intermediaries.” "Yes, he's very smart. In a way, I'm glad this happened. It's reminded me a few things about George I may have forgotten." The smile again comes unbidden to Ruby's face. "Let's wait by the door, I'm anxious to get out of here." Richard gathers up their luggage. They wait another few minutes until the elevator returns. George is surprised to see them waiting there instead of inside the office. "We're ready!" Ruby chirps. "Can we go now? We're hungry. And tired. And dirty," she blushes. "Well, let's go then," George states. They take the elevator down and exit the building, George locking things up behind him as they go. They head out to the elaborate carriage where the driver takes the luggage and stows it in the back then opens the door for the three of them to enter. Ruby hops inside and takes a seat facing forward, not really in the middle but not exactly near the window either. She takes in the luxury of the coach, waiting for the others to enter. They ride for around two miles ending at street on the east side of town with a series of nine houses . The brick and wood buildings on the street are all two-and-three stories tall, most with adjacent carriage houses and well maintained but small lawns, each no more than an acre in size. They have the appearance of being upper-middle-class homes but a far cry from than the upper crust elite that Ruby's parents belong to and the social circuit that she would have assumed George now belonged to as well. They turn into the driveway of one of these houses. She asks, "Where are we going? Is this where you live George? " He replies, "Yes, this is my home. It isn't much, but is enough for a man living alone. I bought it several years ago, back when my business was still operating out of the third floor of a downtown building. A few months ago I purchased a much larger tract of land over on East Avenue, the entire 900 block in fact, with plans to someday put up a mansion there. But I've been far too busy with the business and other projects to get around to doing that yet." "What do you mean, it isn't much? It's your own home, right? It looks like a nice neighborhood to me." She strains to look out the window at the houses. "Although, mansions are nice too," she teases. She looks at the handsome man sitting next to her. "So you plan on staying in Rochester forever George?" "Yes, it's my home. Although I do like to travel also." The driver stops in the driveway and opens the doors to the carriage. Richard goes to get the bags but George says, "William will get those, come on inside." Ruby was a little saddened to hear that George wanted to stay in Rochester. Her life had grown way past living in the city, especially with her parents still here but still, it would have been nice to have her friend closer to her. George takes Ruby by the arm and walks her up the front walk with Richard following behind.</blockquote>

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