Hellfire by Michael Panush

Author:Michael Panush [Panush, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781620075661
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Published: 2014-04-27T07:00:00+00:00

In about an hour’s time, Cane headed for Mayor Hugo Cuff’s mansion at the far end of Hellfire. The palatial white residence stood before Silver Mesa, almost framed by the great shining gray stone. Cane wore his best frock coat and vest, his tie neatly knotted and his hat in his hands. He walked up the steps and knocked on the door, shuffling a little in the afternoon sun. After a while, the door opened. Mayor Cuff stared up at Cane and bowed his head, doffing his top hat as he let the sheriff inside. Cane followed him with a polite nod.

Mayor Cuff traced his fingers over the thin, dark beard outlining his chin. “We are all here, Sheriff Cane, as you requested. We have assembled in the parlor. I must admit, I am somewhat curious as to this meeting. I trust all will be illuminated.”

“Yeah.” Cane followed Mayor Cuff through the lobby and to the little sunroom, where wide glass windows looked out at Silver Mesa. “I’ll tell you what you gotta hear.” In the parlor, several of Hellfire’s most influential and wealthiest citizens sat in the armchairs, sipping on brandy and smoking cigars while they waited for Cane. Reverend Matthias Wingrouse sat there, his brilliantly white hair tangled and askew. Bayard Mills, who ran the town bank, reclined in an armchair in the corner. A few other notable citizens filled up the parlor, all of them watching Cane with wary eyes. Their conversations fell silent when he and Mayor Cuff walked into the room.

Cane looked at them. “Thanks for coming. Got me a question I’m gonna pose to you. It’s a big question, and it’s about the future of Hellfire.” He cleared his throat. “Gaspar Noble’s gonna ruin this town. I know it well. He’ll buy out all the local businesses, and move in his miners. He’ll buy out the local town and government. When his workers organize, he’ll bring in hired guns to discipline them. And, when he’s satisfied with taking all he can from Silver Mesa, he’ll roll away and leave nothing but ruins for the coyotes. We’ll be just a memory and a story behind how he gained a little more of his fortune.” Cane’s eyes moved to each of the men in the room. “I seen it happen, time and time again. And it’s happening here.”

Bayard Mills raised a finger. He wore a monocle uneasily in one eye, like it was about to tumble out. “But perhaps his business will be good for Hellfire? We’re not Marxists or smelly foreign anarchists after all. Perhaps Noble’s attention will benefit our town, bring it up, and let us share in the profits of his industry?”

“You don’t want his kind of industry, Mr. Mills,” Cane said. “You got kids who go to the schoolhouse, and you got a wife who’s in the Ladies Temperance League, and a fine house and a life. But a school and a church won’t help Noble and the armies of workers he’s bringing in, so he’ll do away with them.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.