Style, you
either have it or you
don't. And if you have it, you have it
all the time.The Rogue's Quiet Weekend
by Tux Toledo
Page 14
"James,
pack up the Rolls," I said. "I want to leave Nevada City as soon as
possible. This quiet weekend has been a considerable
disappointment."
"Indeed, sir."
We packed in silence then packed the Rolls.
"To the National Hotel, James. I want to say goodbye to the
Dukes."
"Yes, sir.
He drove me to the hotel then went on to pick up a very important
package that was waiting for us. Jepson was in the hotel, taking an
early supper in the cafe. He was a slovenly beast of a
fellow. He had too many gold and diamond rings on his fingers and
probably drove a Cadillac.
The Dukes desolately sat at a table next to the window. Have you ever
seen the lost expression on hunting dogs when the fox gets away? No,
you probably haven't. But if you have then you know how the
Duke's looked.
"Hello," I said to them.
"Hello," Mary replied. Her voice was tired.
Ansley was quiet.
"Awfully decent of you to stop in and say goodbye," Mary said.
"Not at all. Actually, I'm here to get your money back."
"What?" Ansley nearly jumped out of his chair. "By Jove, Mr.
Churchill, are you serious?" Ansley looked at Mary.
"What do you intend to do?" she asked.
"Buy the land from you."
Ansley recoiled. "Mr. Churchill," he said. "We will not accept charity."
"It's not charity, it's a business deal. I don't have the money right
now, but if you sign over the title to the land, I'll sign a promise to
pay."
"Mr. Churchill..."
I looked Ansley straight in the eye. "Trust me," I said.
"If you had listened to me before you wouldn't be in this fix."
I already had the papers prepared and I laid them on the table.
"I don't know," Ansley said.
"Do it," Mary said.
Ansley looked at his wife and capitulated. We signed the agreement.
"I don't feel right about this, Mr. Churchill," Ansley said. "No matter
what you say it's still charity. What are you going to do with that
land?"
"Oh, I'll find a use for it," I said. I smiled as James drove up in the
Rolls.
Ansley resumed his argument but was interrupted by Emery's appearance
in the cafe.
"Whee, drinks for everybody!" Emery shouted.
"Who's that and what's he talking about?" Ansley asked.
Jepson looked up from his pork chops.
"Gold! I found gold!"
Nothing captures people's attention like gold, does it? It certainly
caught Jepson's attention. He rose from his table and approached Emery.
"Gold?" he said. His nose sniffed like a bloodhound's.
"Yep!" Emery said.
We all gathered around the scruffy prospector.
"You found gold?" I asked. "Where?"
"Right here." He pulled out a musty map and pointed to Ansley's parcel
of land.
"That's my land!" Ansley said. He looked at Mary and grinned.
"No, that's my land," I said.
Ansley's jaw dropped like a runaway elevator. His face became a
kaleidoscope of colors before it settled on red. You could have skated
on his eyes. "You, you, you cheated me!" he cried. "You must
have known there was gold on my land! You crook! You big crook!"
© 2008 David Biagini