The Treasure Train by Bob Young

Author:Bob Young [Young, Bob]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: EVS LLC
Published: 2012-03-01T04:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

“Frankly, Gentlemen, I Just Can’t Believe What I’m Hearing!!” JL His booming voice reverberates through the entirety of the store.

Roads has begun his day seated at his cluttered desk in his back room office at A. Roads Mercantile. Before him is the ledger from the doctor’s office and his two most trusted strong arms, Lindsay and Charlie.

“Do I have to attend to every detail myself?!” he shouts at them.

“No,” they reply, their voices barely audible and their heads hanging low.

“What am I paying you guys for—to not use your brains?” he shouts again, pounding his desk for emphasis and making various items jump up and drop back down.

Lindsay and Charlie are anxious for a quick exit, but they both know that if they move once, they may never move again.

Roads goes on, attempting to collect himself: “So you’re telling me that it looks like the auction house was broken into and the intruder tracked flour through the building? And you also found footprints made of flour on the floor of the doctor’s office?”

“That’s right, boss,” Lindsay answers.

“And you saw nothing last night?”

They shake their hanging heads.

“And nothing is missing?”

“Not a thing,” states Charlie.

“And what about my paper, the fiber paper for our printing project. Is it here yet? Can you at least squeeze out one small droplet of decent news?”

“Last night. Last night. It came up on the Jeff Davis late yesterday, and I had the boys move it to the print shop last night,” says Lindsay.

“We’d planned to move the ink and plates this morning. That’s when we found the flour tracks,” adds Charlie.

“The press will be ready for full operation tomorrow, no problem,” says Lindsay. “We got the boys on it right now.”

“No problem?! You better hope so!” shouts Roads. “We’re running out of time with the Reb government on the run and the Yankees squeezing us. We’ve got to get that money in circulation.”

“We will boss, not to worry,” assures Lindsay.

“Easy for you to say. You have no responsibilities. I am very worried,” says Roads. “But maybe you two can calm me down.”

The men trade cautious looks.

“I have a special project for you two,” Roads explains. “I need you down at the dock right away. You’re heading to Savannah on the Jeff Davis. Ron will give you the details and your expense money on the way out of here. Just be sure you do it right—or don’t bother to come back!”

Both men assure Roads that they can be counted on, then proceed to make their way toward the door, beyond which lies not only their mission, but a feeling of relative safety.

“And close the door on your way out!” he shouts after them. With a resounding “thud,” the door shuts, leaving Roads to the welcome silence of his office. His head is spinning with the news that he has just been presented. What does this mean, if anything? Roads did not get where he is today by being stupid or careless, and he’s certainly intent upon putting this situation to rest.

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