Paladin - Have Gun, Will Travel

[Grognardsw]

[jemmus]

The deputies look at eat other, and one says, Well, preventing crime is our job. But we can't accept pay from the public for doin it. The other says, But we could accept a donation to the crime victims widows and orphans fund from ya. Go ahead and escort them, Will. I can mind the shop. The men leave the marshal's office and the Union Pacific manager looks at his watch and says, As I said, the funds will be available at the bank by 11:00 AM. You can leave the receipt you sign at the bank and a clerk will pick it up later. The railroad thanks you for your service, Mr. Paladin. He rides back in the direction of the Union Pacific office and the train station.

The deputy, who's a rather tall, mustached man of around 40 years of age says, Eleven o'clock. He looks at his plain brass watch. Around two and a quarter hours from now. I propose that we not dawdle around in public durin that time. How about we go to Lawson's general store right over there. I'd like to pick up a dime novel to while away the time while we're waitin. I know they're all made up make-believe. Well, the ones about the West and gunfighters and Indian chief are, so I reckon the ones about anything else are too. But I find that seein what kind of horsecrap the writer will come with next is entertainin. I suppose them boys back East will be scramblin to write up some yarns about Sam Bass, now that his career is done. Did ya that him and his gang never shot a man? Not that we know of, at least. "The Robin Hood of Denton." No, "The Robin Hood of Central Texas." That's what I'd title a book. No, "The Robin Hood of Texas." No use limiting the size of the story. Make it as big and grand of all a Texas. For the cover, at least.

[Grognardsw]

Paladin turned to the cowboys and stared at them for a long moment, his hands hitched into the belt near each of the ambidextrous gun-slinger’s two pistols.

The cowboys didn’t respond, so as the marshal replied Paladin turned away from them.

“Thanks deputies. Glad I could help, and that the widows and orphan fund can benefit.”

Paladin and the deputy walked to the General store. “Yeah, as Mark Twain said, ‘never let the facts get in the way of a good story.’ The Sam Bass tale will grow in the telling. You know me, what’s your name deputy? You from around these parts?”

Paladin glanced back to see if the cowboys in the office had left and may be following them.

“After the general store, you mind if we stop by the station to look at the train schedule?” Then Paladin realized maybe the paper had the schedule. He checked the copy of the Fort Worth Star he had purchased earlier. The gunslinger was wondering if a train was leaving today, or if he’d have to stay overnight.

What is the next leg of the train journey to San Francisco?

[jemmus]

Paladin checks, but doesn't see anyone from the marshal's office following him.

The deputy marshal replies, Jim Holland is the name. I grew up on a little farm east of Fort Worth. It provided us with milk, eggs, butter and bacon, and not much more. At the store he looks the book rack over and reads the blurbs on the back. He makes his selection.

This one's set in the woods back east. Might be a little harder for me to tell the truth from the whoppers. The men reach the bank. The deputy greets the teller and says, Morning, Mr. Leissner. We'll be here for a while waitin for a payment authorization from the Union & Pacific to come in for Mr. Paladin. Leissner replies in accented English, I see. I expekt the U&P's clerk to arrive promptly at 10:30. He does that effry day.

Paladin checks the newspaper for train schedules. The railroads don't run through the Indian Territory, so he'll have to first go east to travel west. To Little Rock, through Dallas and Texarkana. Around 400 miles total. The train to Texarkana leaves from Dallas at 7:45 AM tomorrow, Tuesday, June 16. To arrive at Texarkana 7:42 PM. There are a lot of stops along the way, especially after crossing the Red River into Arkansas. Holland reads his dime novel and let's out a hoot. Mr. Paladin, get this. This hero fella just drove a nail into a tree with a old smoothbore musket at 50 paces. The whole Seneca tribe, includin the squaws, old folks, and the kids, thinks he's the biggest brave they've ever seen! They're ready to make the big chief of the whole Seneca confederation, but our boy doesn't have time for that. He's got business with the heinous Mohawk savages to take care of. And maybe with bashful and comely blonde Emma to take care of too.

True to Leissner's word, a young man carrying a leather case arrives at 10:29, greets the teller, and presents him with several sealed envelopes. Leissner says to Paladin, Mr. Paladin? How would you like the funds? Large bills? A mix of bills and coins? A bank draft check?

Paladin can take an early from Fort Worth to Dallas, or save a little money ($1.24) by riding Copper the 30 or so miles.

[Grognardsw]

“I’m from the east myself, though now I call California home,” replied Paladin to Jim.

As the deputy marshal looked over the book rack, Paladin commented, “I’ve read a few of Colonel Prentiss Ingraham’s adventures of Buffalo Bill. The man can tell a yarn.”

Looking over the train schedule, Paladin decided to take the Texarkana train from Dallas at 7:45 am tomorrow. Today he’d take the short train trip from Fort Worth to Dallas and stay the night there. With lots of train time soon to be on his hands, Paladin looked at the book rack selection for something more edifying than a dime novel.

At the local National Bank, the same bank Paladin does business with in San Francisco, the gunslinger gave his preference. “A bank check please, to be deposited directly to my account based in San Francisco.” He provided his account number. He also deposited the excess of the robbers cash, keeping a total of $30 in his wallet.

Paladin tried to avoid carrying large sums of cash, since robbery and misfortune were often companions on the road. Unless there was an express purpose for more, he typically carried under $30 on him. He could always secure additional money from a National Bank, or have funds wired to a different bank.

Afterwards, Paladin thanked Jim and went to the train station for today’s Fort Worth-Dallas ticket. He looked around for any familiar cowboy faces following him. Paladin felt a little lighter and carefree after last night’s long sleep and the infusion of travel money.

Monies and expenses are tracked in the Accounting Ledger in the Private forum.

[jemmus]

In addition to the dime novels, the general store's book rack has:
-Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
-The Robin and Other Stories, with colored illustrations
-Holy Bible
-The Atlantic Monthly (May 1873
-Capital by Karl Marx (used and dog eared, with notes penciled in by a reader)
-Anti-Slavery Opinions before 1800 by William Frederick Poole (used and dog eared, with notes penciled in by a reader)
-Popular Songs Old and New (a sheet music book)
-Paris under the Commune The Seventy-Three Days of the Second Siege; with Numerous Illustrations, Sketches Taken on the Spot, and Portraits by John Leighton (used and dog eared, with notes penciled in by a reader)

Paladin buys his ticket and leads Copper into the livestock car. This one is full of fat young longhorn steers, perhaps bound for the steak houses of more urban and urbane Dallas. It's also full of fresh green cow patties and black cattle flies. The sit almost wing to wing on the steers' shoulders, undisturbed by swishing tails or swinging heads. Copper doesn't seem to mind the flies, cow pies, or steers much. He/she's a horse born and raised in Texas, after all.

After a short ride of an hour and a half, Paladin arrives at the train station in downtown Dallas. Not having a watch, he guesses that it's around 2:30 PM. Rather than adjoined by a cattle stockyard, it's surrounded by an extensive railyard with multiple parallel tracks for coupling cars and carriages for consists, and tracks leading in from the west, south, southeast, east and northeast. And it's also surrounded by the stone or wood buildings of banks, insurers, hotels and restaurants. Some of the stone ones rise to an impressive height of four stories or more. Dallasites drive or ride in fancy buggies, dressed in fine clothing at the height of fashion-- as it was two years ago in San Francisco.

He sees the signs of three nearby hotels, each one more ornate than the next: Bradford Mews; Hotel Roxy; The Mansion. Each has an attached attendant stable, with middle-age or older men standing outside, seemingly quite eager to attend to the needs of one's steed or carriage.

[Grognardsw]

Paladin looked over the book rack. That French fellow Jules Verne had imagination. With all his travel, Paladin felt he could relate to the title.



Paladin noted the inserted plates with illustrations by A. de Neuville and L. Benett. The book had pictorial bevel-edged green cloth, front and spine panels stamped in gold and black, rear panel stamped in blind, brown coated endpapers, all edges plain. James Osgood & Co. put out quality books.

Paladin must have lost his watch, so he also bought a pocket watch.

Boarding the train to Dallas, Paladin was relieved to not see those cowboys from the U.P. office. He half-expected a robbery attempt by them.



In Dallas, the cosmopolitan sights reminded him of San Francisco. He walked Copper to the Bradford Mews, left his horse to be stabled, and procured a room.

“Could I have the bath drawn and dinner brought up,” Paladin added. It had been a few weeks since he last had a bath. That and a good meal would get him ready to enjoy a night in Dallas.

[jemmus]

Nicely-bound, illustrated upscale trendy bestseller - $2.50
Watch (brass) - $6 (silver) - $10 Engraving - $.35 per letter
Fairly deluxe hotel - $1.75 (stabling free of charge)
Meals - $.35

The general store shopkeeper says, I think you'll enjoy that book, sir. That Jules Verne can really tell a story. It makes me wonder if he's really been to all those places he talks about. I doubt it.
The Bradford Mews stable master is dressed in a kind of uniform suit. He hardly has any Texas twang accent when he speaks. Good day to you, sir. A freed man teenager comes running up and the man hands him a card with 412 printed on it in red ink and a thin wire run through a hole in it. The teenage loosely tips the wire around the horse's front left fetlock and man hands Paladin a similarly-printed card with the same number. In the event I'm not here when you claim your horse next, please present the card. Your horse will be well cared for, sir. The teenager leads the horse into the stable and the man stands waiting. As if expecting a tip. A first of such behavior Paladin has seen in Texas.

The Bradford Mews is a level or two higher quality place than the Drover Hotel in Austin, a world better than the one in Fort Worth. It has glossy polished parquet floors nice carpets under the chairs and tables in the lobby. Wide, fine lead to the second floor. There's the smell of fine cigars in the air, the smoke perhaps coming from the back where the sound of gentlemen's games of chance can be heard. Large dark-suited, well-groomed men wearing gun belts quietly stand at locations around the lobby and the hallways leading of from it. A pair of ladies, to Paladin's eye one appearing to be married and the other not, emerge from a hallway arm in arm, laughing merrily. Catching Paladin's glance, they both give him little smiles before entering the gaming room.

The front desk clerk says seems not to register Paladin's name as he signs in. The middle-aged man says, We have Room 222 vacant, sir. It's well away from the station and quiet, and it has a fine view of Reunion Boulvevard. He shows Paladin a paper diagram of the three floors of the hotel. Here is the gaming room, with tables for cards, a roulette table staffed by the house, billiards tables, and a bar. Here is the restaurant. Today's the chef's specialties are fresh Trinity River fried catfish, buffalo tongue and liver, and Virginia ham. But of course the famous Bradford Mews prime rib steak is always a favorite. Here is the bar, also with dining. And here is the ballroom-banquet room. It's by reservation only, and an invitation is required for entry.

A hot bath, Mr. Paladin? Certainly. Please feel free to partake of any of the amenities of the hotel while waiting. But it won't be much more than a half an hour before your bath is ready. Paladin spots a stack of Dallas Morning News newspapers and flyers published by the City of Dallas Chamber of Commerce titled Glamorous Downtown Dallas - Places to Visit, Fare For Fine Dining & Entertainment Not To Be Missed. A young uniformed bellboy of freed man descent takes Paladin's saddlebags and leads him up the stairs to Room 222. He also seems to linger around... as if hoping for a tip.

[Grognardsw]

“Thank you boy,” Paladin said to the stable hand, accepting the 412 card and handing him a dime tip.

The Bradford Mews met with Paladin’s approval; even half-decent places were appreciated after so much time on the road. He smiled and nodded to the passing ladies. Paladin regretted not having his evening clothes that would befit the setting and better garner the attention of the more sophisticated women.

“That sounds fine,” Paladin replied to the hotel clerk. He took note of the hotel amenities and picked up a copy of the Dallas Morning News and the Chamber of Commerce brochure. It had a helpful map of the town:

1872

At the restaurant Paladin placed an order of the Bradford Mews prime rib steak, medium rare, with potato, greens, and a glass of house red wine, to be brought up to his room. After his saddlebags has been brought to Room 222, Paladin thanked the bellboy and gave him a dime tip.

“Another dime if you can bring me up a dress shirt and jacket size 42, charged to my room,” Paladin said, deciding to splurge as the clothes can sometimes make the man.

“Tell me, what’s one of the more exciting saloons in the neighborhood?” Paladin was considering his evening options, whether it be here at the hotel or elsewhere.

While waiting for the bath to be drawn, Paladin looked over the newspaper and brochure.

[jemmus]

The bellboy replies, It's Tuesday, so Dick Flanagan's Saloon on Main Street has boxing tonight. Pretty girls walk around the ring holding up cards with the rounds' numbers on them. There are professionals who come from outa town, and also local amateurs. Anybody who wants to can fight. A lot of bettin goin on too. They got three or four roulette tables too. And of course a lot of card tables.

There's also the Peacock Cabaret, with dancin ladies and a big band. I hear it gets a little rowdy sometimes with cowboys, but I also hear that the dancers can be pretty friendly to gentlemen of a certain class. He give Paladin a wink.

The Chamber of Commerce flyer recommends visiting the Fair ParkLakewood Theater "for fine productions and thespian performance by troupes from all over North America." A ride on the Stephen F. Austin riverboat provides views of the beautiful scenery along the great Trinity River. A fine dining picnic on Panther Island is included. Lone Star Park on the north end of town has horse races Saturday evenings and on many national holidays, including the famous Fourth of July event. Other recommended attractions include certain famous steakhouses and restaurants, clothing, furniture and jewelry stores, saddlers and boot makers, saloons and dance halls (including Dick Flanagan's), doctors and dentists, and even a funeral home.

The newspaper has news of local events such as upcoming elections for city and county offices, new businesses opening, groundbreaking for new rail lines, more Comanches trouble, et cetera. The Dallas Morning News has more advertisements per page than any paper Paladin has seen. It's about half news stories and half ads. But the story that catches Paladin's eye is: TRAIN AND STAGE ROBBER SAM BASS's TRIAL DATE SET The bandit is to be tried at the Tarrant County courthouse on July the 5th. It goes on to explain that the delay has caused some public discontent, but it's unavoidable because the defendant is currently unconscious, and under Texas law an unconscious man cannot be tried. It further states that the famous trial lawyer Temple Houston of Austin, son of the late President of the Republic of Texas, has volunteered to defend the defendant and fellow and also unconscious defendant.

The story that immediately follows is: TEXAS RANGERS HUNT FOR ESCAPED BASS GANG MEMBER Suspect believed to be Seaborn Barnes of Denton, Texas The story says that the suspect is around 18 years old and gives a physical description and says that the Rangers are asking for the public's help in identifying him and providing information. It further says that the Rangers declined to comment on the investigation, but the Bell County sheriff is quoted as saying, "We know where he is. He's somewhere north, south, east, or west of Belton."

[Grognardsw]

Dick Flanagan’s could be too rough and tumble for Paladin’s mood at the moment. And his last several times at the card table he hadn’t won one game.

Paladin thought the Peacock Cabaret sounded right. Perhaps a theater show at the Fair Park Lakeview Theater beforehand.

“Can you inquire about tickets to the Fair Park tonight?” he asked the bellboy.

If he wasn’t leaving tomorrow, Paladin would have visited some of the sites mentioned in the Chamber of Commerce brochure.

Paladin read with interest the Sam Bass story. Hopefully justice would be served. He wasn’t keen on Temple Houston representing Bass. Paladin recalled meeting and competing with Houston at the Shooting Contest in Austin a few weeks ago. Hopefully Bass’ long and infamous record of crimes would be enough to put him away forever, even if Houston got him out of the noose.

As to the escaped gang member Seaborn Barnes, Paladin hoped the boy had learned a lesson. Life could be tough on the run. He’d likely have a bounty on him.

Paladin took his bath, feeling refreshed and a little more civilized. The prime rib arrived and he savored every bite, slowly sipping the red wine as he looked through the paper.

The bellboy arrived with the dress shirt and jacket. Paladin switched from his black work clothes to a snappier attire, feeling ready to enjoy the night.



His jacket concealed his fast draw pistol and holster and derringer, and he left the other weapons in the room. He hid the Winchester upright behind a window curtain.

Making his way down to the lobby, he surveyed the room for possible female companionship for the evening. If prospects were dim, he strolled into the bar for one drink and reconnaissance.

[jemmus]

Paladin sees a pair of apparently married couples sitting in chairs and chatting in the hotel's lobby. Heading toward the bar , he passes by the hotel's restaurant, and looking through the doorway sees that it's lively this Tuesday evening, with the sounds of maybe two or three dozen people chatting, laughing, and clinking silverware on porcelain. The front desk clerk didn't mention a bar in the restaurant, but he sees cocktails and bottles of wine on the tables. And he knows from his travels that when a restaurant serves spirits, it usually has a bar for the solo diners to dine or drink on their own.

At the end of hallway to right are double doors varnished walnut double doors with a sign above the lintel reading Ball and Banquet Hall. A Mexican or Tejano man in the hotel's livery stands before the doors, looking bored. But seeing Paladin looking that way, he straightens up and pulls a poker face.

Past the restaurant is a doorway with a sign standing on polished brass legs reading Bradford Mews Bar, Salon & Gaming. The smell of sweet to average cigar, cigarette and pipe tobacco fills the air. Inside it's more quiet than in the restaurant, but there are the sounds of clicking poker chips, bottles touching glasses, clicking pool balls, and males commenting and conversing in civilized tones (albeit in the slow, relaxed, drawn out Texas accent, with all of its Appalachian dipthongs). But... a couple of alto female voices are heard laughing cutting over the clicks and slow murmurs.

[Grognardsw]

Paladin noted the lobby as he passed through down the hallway. Having already eaten, and attracted by the laugh of women and clicking of billiard balls, Paladin strolled by the restaurant and into the bar and gaming room.



Paladin ordered a drink, approached the billiard tables and watched the games and players. He tried to suss out if there were any pool sharks to avoid.

Observation 13 [1d20]=18

He settled on a gentlemen and asked “Care to play sir?”

[jemmus]

Oh no, my post from yesterday got eaten/disappeared into the ether.... Sorry for any typos/editing errors in this one.

Paladin enters the bar and gaming room. There's a bar along the back wall, with a neat bartender behind it polishing glasses. Before it are six tables. Two are occupied by four gentlemen each, playing cards with beers, wine, cocktails, and coins and bills before them. Lit cigars fill the air with the smell of good to pretty good tobacco. The men at the closer table are playing poker, the ones at the farther one faro. As Paladin comes in, they look up from their cards and give him courteous greeting nods.

Sitting at the table next to the faro table are two women. They're the ladies Paladin walking through the lobby arm-in-arm, chatting and laughing. They have cocktails on the table before them. The older one appears to be married, and the younger one single.

And Paladin's assessment of a lady's marital state is seldom in error. The two women smile at the newcomer gentleman as he catches their eye.

At the far left end of the room is a pocket billiards table with three men around it. One is bent over lining up a shot, one is standing with a pool cue between his hands, and a third is watching empty-handed. All are well-dressed and wearing ties, like the card players. They nod to Paladin as well. The striped 10 and 15 balls and the black eight ball are the only ones on the table. Two silver dollars sit on a top rail. The shooter aims to put the 15 in a corner pocket, but it nicks the cushion and ends resting in front of the hole. The man with the cue says, Well, that blocks any easy shot on the eight ball. He walks around the table, eyeing angles and pathways from cue ball to eight ball to pocket. He aims for an angling shot to the right side pocket-- and makes it. But the cue ball slowly rolls to the opposite side corner pocket... and drops in. The man puts his hand to his forehead and throws it back for a second. That's dumb. Well played, sir. The table is yours The winner answers, Thank you. I had some luck on my side this time. He takes the silver dollars, pockets them, and turns to the man who was watching. You're up, sir, if you care to play again. The man answers, I believe I'll get some liquid refreshment and take the winner of the next one. He heads to the bar.

The man replies to Paladin's greeting and offer to play, Evening sir. House rules are the challenger racks the balls and the winner breaks them. A dollar bet among gentlemen? The man who went to the bar returns, and soon a waitress follows bearing a tray of four dark beers.

Paladin didn't detect any pool sharking, but he did arrive late in the game. If he accepts the invitation, he'll need to accept the $1 wager, or propose a different one. Then, roll three 1d20s on Coordination.

To interact with the ladies, he'll need a Stature roll and a Luck roll.

[Grognardsw]

Paladin nodded and smiled at the two women near the faro table. His eyes lingered a few seconds longer on the younger single lady.

“Good evening, yes let’s play,” Paladin replied as he placed a dollar on the top rail. “The name is Paladin.” He racked the balls and the game commenced.

“What line of business you in?” asked Paladin, making small talk during the game.

Pool game rolls Coor. 19 [1d20]=9, [1d20]=12, [1d20]=14

“You from these parts?”

Paladin occasionally tried to make eye contact with the young lady. If so, he snuck a quick smile.

Further lady-action after the pool game!

[jemmus]

Paladin stature roll [1d20]=4
Paladin's opponent answers, Good to meet you, Mr. Paladin. Gaines is the name. You wouldn't be the Paladin who brought in Sam Bass, would you?

I'm in the farm and ranch supply business. I wholesale tools and hardware to merchants in the tri-county area. I'm originally from Longview in East Texas. But I was lucky enough to guess that Dallas would become the business hub of North Texas, and got in just before it started boomin. Business has been good. Folks are worried that the downturn in the economy back East will hit Dallas too, but I doubt it.

He starts the game off with a few poor shots, and it takes Paladin a bit to warm up as well. Perhaps he's a little distracted by the nearby feminine beauty. But after his opponent's slow start, he goes on roll, sinking ball after ball, hardly giving Paladin a chance to shoot. Paladin picks up his own game as well, but the fellow goes on another deadeye streak, sinking four successive balls, and finally the eight ball. Whew!, he says. That was about the best game I've ever played. Well played, sir. He takes the two silver dollars from the rail and pockets them.

Please roll a Stature roll and a Luck roll for interacting with the young lady.

[1d20]=19
[1d20]=3
[1d20]=3

[Grognardsw]

“Yes, one and the same,” replied Paladin to Gaines’ question about Sam Bass. “You made a good business decision moving to Dallas.”

During the game, Paladin watched to make sure that Gaines and the two women didn’t make eye contact or interact. He wondered for a moment if they were Gaines’ wife and daughter. It would be embarrassing to approach them if that was the case. To make doubly sure, Paladin commented to Gaines: “Is it me or are those two lovely ladies watching us?”

Paladin had been away from the billiard tables for too long, it seemed, as he congratulated Gaines on the win. “I shoot people better than I shoot pool,” he quipped. “Have a good evening.”

Paladin ordered a drink and joined the two women (only if they weren’t related to Gaines), hoping his luck would turn after the pool game.

“Good evening ladies, my name is Paladin,” he smiled and sat. “I’m a visitor from San Francisco to your fine city, and have heard Texas hospitality is second to none… What brings you to the Bradford Mews tonight?”

He made small talk with the ladies, asking about their interests, home, time in Dallas.

Assuming Paladin got tickets to the Fair Park Lakeview Theater he had asked the bellboy about… “I have two tickets to the Fair Park theater tonight. Might I have the pleasure of your company?” he asked the younger woman.

Stature 13 [1d20]=7
Luck 9 [1d20]=4

[jemmus]

The older of the ladies says, It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Paladin. I'm Mrs. Doris Langhorne, and this is my cousin Miss Constance Frey. My husband Mr. Rober Langhorne is there playing faro, and we came along to have a call drink and get of the house for a little. A gentleman in a tie looks up from his cards does the fingers to hat brim gesture and nods his greeting. This hot weather is just horrendous, wouldn't you say? Constance is visiting from Rockwall. It's a town around 20 miles to the northeast. Her father founded a small library there, and Constance is the librarian. She's a well-read young lady, and quite a pianist too. The best in all of Rockwall County.

Constance shakes her head and laughs and says, It's not saying much to be said to be a little better than average in Rockwall County. The man who bangs out the lively tunes in the saloon is quite good. Which I've only heard in passing and from afar, of course. The cousins laugh merrily. Doris says, But of course! No lady of the Freys has ever set foot in a saloon. "Lips that touch liquor shall not touch mine." You remember how grandmother taught us that slogan? She glances down at the mint juleps before on the table before them and smiles a winking smile.

She continues. Mr. Paladin, you have an unusual name. Spanish in origin, perhaps? Constance says, Cousin Doris, there were some knights of either Charlemagne or Charles Martel called pahlahdahn I belief, as pronounced in the French. I daresay that Mr. Paladin may be using the name as a nom de guerre. An alias used to conceal one's identity to protect friends and family from the attention of one's enemies. Might that be the case with you, Mr. Paladin? She gives Paladin an arch look, not unfriendlily.

Doris stroke her chin and says, Hmm... how interesting! I ask because I came across the name of one Mr. pahlahdahn in the newspapers just a day or so ago. That man foiled an attempted train robbery by the Sam Bass gang of robbers. Might that have been you, Mr. Paladin? I never dreamed that the railroad train guard of the story might be a fine gentleman from San Francisco. The mood has changed, and she casts an eye at Paladin. It seems that she's checking on his intentions, and is alert guard for hustling and grifting. But her cousin casts a same side eye at her and steps forward a step.

Mr. Paladin, you are very generous. I accept the invitation, and would be pleased to accompany you to the State Fair this evening. I'm afraid I'll be very inquisitive about life in the City of San Francisco, and about the many places you must have visited between there and Dallas, Texas. Doris gesture her husband over and whispers in his ear. Then she introduces him to Paladin. The man presents his hand for a shake and says, Robert Langhorne, my pleasure. Mr. Paladin, I'd just like to let you know that the Fairgrounds are a wholesome place for the entire family during daylight. Livestock judging events, trick ridin, pie eatin contests, that sort of thing. But at night, when the barns have closes and the family events are over, the grounds take on a different character. They're still generally safe, but there can be an element of drifters, ne'er do wells, ruffians, sharps, and gypsies. From all over the 37 states and the several territories, and some foreign countries too. And of course, the usual... spirited Texas cowboys. Please just be aware, Mr. Paladin. But we have little doubt that the man who brought in Sam Bass will have any trouble bringing our dear Constance home without incident. At a reasonable hour, of course. He looks Paladin in the eye and winks. Then goes back to the faro table, takes a seat, and says. Pardon the delay, gentlemen. Dealer, ready when you are.

[Grognardsw]

“A pleasure to meet you Mrs. Langhorne and Ms. Frey.” Paladin returned Mr. Langhorne’s nod from the faro table. “Yes it is a mite bit warm. A librarian you say, Ms. Frey? A noble profession. ‘Show me a family of readers, and I will show you the people who move the world” - Napolean Bonaparte, an avid reader I would guess.

Paladin sipped his drink.

“You’re correct Ms. Frey about my name, in its etymology and purpose.”

When Mrs. Langhorne brought up the train robbery, Paladin laid his business card on the table.



“While raised as a man of learning, I am at heart a man of action. My martial and problem solving skills are for hire for just causes. Most recently I was engaged by N&W railroad owner Christian Cummins to resolve certain matters, some of which the newspaper reported on. Being a gentleman doesn’t preclude knowing how to use a gun.”

“We’ll be careful Mr. Langhorne,” Paladin replied after the warning about the Fairgrounds.

“Shall we go Ms. Frey?” Paladin asked, extending an arm for Ms. Frey.

[jemmus]

The fairgrounds are around three miles to the southwest. The boy who carried Paladin's saddlebags to his room and bought the fair tickets for him is in the lobby. He sees Paladin escorting Miss Frey and gives him a wink and a smile. I'll get a coach for ya, sir. He takes off at a run, soon returns, and announces that the coach is waiting.

The driver opens the door for the passengers and folds out the three little steps. When he hears the destination, he asks, Should I drive you straight to the theater, sir, or to the gates so that you can tour the fairgrounds on the way?

Carriage fare - 50 cents (+ optional tip)