Wellington's Quest by Robert F. Clifton (best books to read now .TXT) 📕

“I was hoping that the two of you would hit it off, as the saying goes. You would be wise to take up with her. She has money, social connections and in a dark bedroom she might be a great surprise. At the same time you might begin entertaining the thought of marriage. You having a wife would indicate to the board that you have stability”, Wilcox continued.

“I'll tell you what Milford. I'll consider taking a wife after I see you take one”, Jim responded.

“Touche', however, we're talking about your future, not mine”.

The two men entered the ballroom. Wilford left to attend to his guests and Jim walked to the buffet table and poured himself a cup of punch from the large silver bowl. He then stood with his back to the wall and watched the couples dancing.

Doreen walked up to him and in a demanding tone said, “I want to dance”.

“Go right ahead”, Jim replied.

“Why are you acting this way?”she asked.

“And, just which way would that be?'

“Rude, sarcastic at times like right now'.

“I didn't know I was. It must be a habit of mine'.

“Well, it's a bad habit”.

“You could be right. However, it is not as bad as the problem you have”.

“And, in your opinion what would that be?”

“Thinking that you're right most of the time. Wanting and getting your own way, and being a spoiled. Little rich bitch all of the time”, Jim answered.

“Well, I've never been so insulted in my life. You sir are not a gentleman”.

“And, you Miss are a royal pain in the ass”.

“I should slap your face”.

“Maybe you should, but you won't”.

“And, why not may I ask?”

“Because you and I know you want me. You want to bed down with what you imagine a frontiersman and Indian fighter would be like. You want me to be the one who lifts your nighty. The one who takes you hard and rough just like you've always wanted it to be. However, what you really want is a trophy husband. One that you can show that you defeated, socially and intellectually. You see yourself as the dominate female in our not so happy home.

Take a good look at yourself in that mirror on the wall. You are attractive, but not beautiful. Yes, you have bouncing curls and ruby lips and you dress in the latest Paris fashions, that Daddy buys for you but times running out on you. I'd say right now you're pushing thirty. Ahead is spinsterhood. You'll end up being an old woman with plenty of money, one cat and a rocking chair. And, Miss Baxter as you rock you'll always wonder what it would have been like to lay with a man”.

In anger Doreen raised her hand to slap him. He caught her wrist and held it. “When you're ready, send me your card”, he said releasing her and walking away.

During the month that went by Jim spent a lot of time reading current events in the local and out of state newspapers. He read books and articles pertaining to various business practices. For lunch he often sat at a table window in the small restaurant that he favored. On this day as he ate he read an article about the Fetterman massacre and the Gala Sioux War Chief, Red Cloud. His reading was interrupted by someone tapping on the glass window. Looking up he saw Doreen Baxter. She gave him a wave and a smile then headed for the entrance as she folded her parasol.

As she neared his table Jim stood and looking at her said, “Well, well. Look who it is, Lady Baxter”.

“Don't be cruel James. It doesn’t become you”.

“And, just why is the queen out of her castle this fine day?”, asked Jim.

“Shopping. When I get bored, I shop.”

“I'll wager that you shop a lot”

“Stop it'.

“Sorry, would you care to join me for lunch?”

“Thank you, no. Some tea perhaps”.

Jim discreetly signaled the waiter who then took Doreen’s order.

“Do you come here often?”, she asked.

“Yes, I do”.

“So, what have you been doing since I saw you last?”, she asked.

“Same old thing. Business is business”.

“Do you prefer this kind of life or would you like to be back fighting Indians?”

“Well, when I had to deal with Indians I always knew where I stood'.

“What does that mean?”

“It means that I don't know what you are up to”.

Doreen took a sip of tea, then dabbed at her lips with a napkin. Opening her purse she reached in with a lace gloved hand and took out a card. She handed it to him. “I'll expect you at eight. The servants are off so let yourself in. Please don't be late”, she said as she got up from the table.

“Well, since you said please”.

“You're such an ass”, she said turning and leaving.

The next morning before a board meeting Jim was seated at the long table when Milford came in. He took a look at Jim and said, “Why do I get the feeling that you have tasted the forbidden fruit?”

Jim smiled and answered. “I have no idea. And, as a gentleman I am prevented from even discussing the matter”.

“Where was George Baxter?”, asked Wilcox.

“I don't know, but he sure as hell wasn't with me”, Jim answered.

When the meeting began Milford Wilcox read the audit report to the members of the board, relating the financial account of all the various enterprises in which the corporation was invested. “As you know, we made a profit selling goods and supplies to the Union Army. Now, the war is over. We still have a vast supply of saltpeter. I recommend that we sell to DuPont at a price just above cost, liquidating that stockpile. Next, reconstruction in the south at this time means the Republican Party seeks to punish the people of the former Confederacy. Good sense and good business means that we should avoid any and all business ventures in the southern states until things return to normal. Besides, England is now buying cotton from Egypt. At the same time what use to be plantations are now mostly in ruin. I suggest that we look else where for new investments”, said Wilcox.

“That means doing business in the north or east”, said Fisk.

“True. Does anyone have an idea?”, asked Milford.

“Coal. Coal, sand and clay”, said Jim.

“Why”?, asked Baxter.

“American industry at this time basically sits where there is a water source. Water wheels supply the power to the machines. The railroads are using cut wood to burn in order to make steam for their locomotive engines. Riverboats cruising the rivers are doing the same. The navy will be building more ships constructed of steel and powered with steam. Right now coal companies are digging in Pennsylvania. The companies operating there are in control of the producing fields. However, right now the State of Illinois sits on top of one of the largest coal deposits in the world. Right now, no one is interested in it. My suggestion is to grab the mineral rights now, before any competition comes along and see's what I see”, said Jim.

“How difficult will it be to mine?”, asked Wilcox.

“Mining isn't the problem. Transportation is. We'll need a railroad. The way I see it we mine the coal then load it on to railroad hopper cars that then take the coal to Chicago. What Chicago doesn’t buy we load on to barges. The barges then float down the Mississippi River, delivering coal to any and all who want to buy from us. At the same time the place I have in mind also has large deposits of silica sand and clay”, Jim explained.

“What good is sand and clay”?, asked Frisk.

“Once we have the coal we have an inexpensive source of heat. The heat will be used to manufacture glass from the silica sand. At the same time by mining the clay in the area we can manufacture bricks, tiles and pipe”, Jim answered.

“Interesting. Very Interesting. Is there a particular place in Illinois that we should prefer?”, asked Wilcox.

“Yes sir, right now it is a little spot on the map being called, “Hardscrabble”.

“How difficult will it be for us to get established?”, asked Fisk.

“It shouldn't be too hard. The main thing is to get there and gain the mineral rights before someone else does”, Jim replied.

“Very well. Jim since this is your baby you get to nurse it. Make arrangements to go to Illinois and that town. What's it called again?”, asked Milford.

“It has no name. Right now it's just, Hardscrabble”.

“Oh yes, Hardscrabble”, Wilcox responded.

“I forgot to mention that Hardscrabble has not been incorporated as yet”, offered Jim.

“Excellent, We can create a company town. We buy up all the prime real estate, control the workers and their salaries and handpick the local government”, said Baxter.

“You do that and I withdraw from the enterprise”, Jim stated.

“Why?”, asked Baxter.

“The Pennsylvania coal towns are company towns. They own the mines, houses, company stores and even charge their workers for the tools they use. Young boys eight and nine years old go down into the mines with their fathers every day. Do we want to have the reputation of using child labor in our enterprise? If so, then like I said, I'm out”, said Jim.

“I'm sure at the moment most of us agree with you. As I have said, this is your idea”, said Wilcox.

“Fine, I'll probably be there for at least a year. I will return from time to time to report to this board. Most of the time I will be in contact using the telegraph. I'll leave sometime next week” Jim advised.

A week later Jim stepped down from a passenger car belonging to the Rock Island Railroad onto the platform in Chicago. Hardscrabble was now eighty one miles away on the Vermillion River. Unfortunately there was no direct rail service to the settlement. Out of necessity Jim rode the American Central train to a location where he could purchase a horse and tack. He then traveled on horse back following directions, then finding and crossing the Vermillion River, arriving in Hardscrabble late in the afternoon.

Over supper at the only boarding house in the village Jim discussed his plan to organize a coal mining operation with David Blum. As Blum reached for another slice of roast beef he looked at Jim and at the same time listened to his offer. “I'm sorry that you came all this way friend, but you have been beat to the wire in this horse race. Many people are interested in investing here. As a matter of fact the glass industry is trying to get its foot in the door,”said Blum.

“Who do I have to deal with for the coal enterprise?”, asked Jim.

“A man by the name of Worthy S. Streator. He has large holdings in railroads and is well connected politically. Right now, as I've mentioned he has all of the coal rights. He'll bring in the railroad connecting this soon to be town to Chicago and the Mississippi River. When he's finished he and his investors will also own the mineral rights. Still, if you're interested you have an opportunity to invest in the glass industry,”,said Blum.

“Right now I feel as though I'll need a bit more information when it comes to glass”, said Jim.

“To be on the safe side while you study your options why not let me show you around. I'll show you the possible financial opportunities and how this village will transform into a city”. Blum suggested.

The next day the two men made a tour of the village. Jim stood looking at the area already set aside for the glass industry. “The plan is to manufacture bottles and jars of all sizes. Think about how many products can and could be bottled. They say that in England beer drinkers who used to have a four and a half gallon keg in the kitchen that lasted a week before going flat now are content to take home a crate of four quart bottles. They keep longer and in