Pinkerton's Gold by Thom Nicholson

Author:Thom Nicholson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gale, Cengage Learning
Published: 2017-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

THE FIRST BREAK

As John rode Blaze up the muddy street toward the rail yard, he recalled the pleasures of the past night and Belle’s irresistible charms. He became aware of the insistent tapping of a finger on a glass pane as he drew abreast of the bank owned by Loren Krammer. The well-dressed, portly banker motioned for him to come inside, beaming in friendly greeting to the horseman outside his window. Suppressing a sigh, John turned Blaze to the hitching post and walked into the bank. Two young men were counting and placing bills of money in the cash trays behind the customer windows in preparation for opening. They could have been cut from the same piece of cloth. Both were young, slight of build, with pale, watery eyes that spoke volumes of their long hours staring at numbers and paper only inches from their nose. Neither gave him a moment’s notice, so engrossed were they in their work.

John murmured to himself, “Krammer must deduct every penny they are short at the end of the day.” The banker gestured to him from the doorway of his private office, and John entered. Krammer closed the door behind him, after a glance at the two tellers, ensuring that they were hard at work.

“Good morning, Lord Whyte,” he welcomed John, a pathetic longing for approval in his exaggerated smile.

“The best of the day to you, sir,” John modestly replied. “Don’t forget, you agreed to call me John. No need to stand on titles from the old country here in the West.”

Krammer positively glowed, thinking he was being granted special status with the young “royal” from England. “Thanks, John. But, my wife will skin my hide if she catches me calling you anything but your formal title in front of her. She is so excited that such an exalted visitor as yourself should be visiting Denver. You remember that I mentioned she would want to throw a party in your honor?” At John’s nod, he continued, “Well, she’s aflutter at the idea, so here’s the plan. It’s on for Saturday night. We’ll have all the finest citizens in Denver there. Can you make it about eight? The heat of the day will be gone by then, and we can watch the sun set from my back garden while enjoying our drinks. Then, dinner at nine and dancing afterwards, until the wee hours of the morning. Will that be all right, er, John?”

“It would be an honor, Mr. Krammer. I’m anxious to meet with your friends. Colorado is such a magnificent place, I’m certain your friends will be just as interesting.”

“I agree completely,” Krammer answered enthusiastically. “Colorado is certainly a wonderful place to see the grandeur of God’s handiwork. Well, John,” Krammer beamed, “till Saturday night then. I’ll send over a formal invite for you, but it’s all set. My Florence will be beside herself with anticipation. And my daughter, Suzanne, will spend the next two days shopping for the best this ole town has to offer to be sure she’s appropriately dressed for the occasion.

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