to make some money.”
Sherman held up his hand to halt the protest. “Don’t worry, you won’t really be quitting,” he said. “We’ll just make everyone think you have quit. In fact, we can let it out that I fired you.”
“Oh. All right, whatever you say. As long as you ain’t kickin’ me out, I mean.”
“Now why would I want to kick you out, Poke?” Sherman asked. “You are one of the best I’ve ever ridden with. I told you, you leavin’ us would be just for show, just to keep anyone from tracing your operation back to us.”
“What if I need help?”
“If after you get down there, you decide that you need help, hire some locals. If the job is really worthwhile, you should be able to afford it.”
“Oh, the job will be worthwhile, all right,” Poke said. “I don’t see how it can miss.”
King Hill, Idaho Territory
Joel Matthews, president of the Cattleman’s Bank and Loan of King Hill, was sitting behind his desk, reading a newspaper. To some, Matthews’s office might have been considered messy, but because it was the office of a bank president, it was just considered busy. The bank president’s desk was filled with stacks of paper, though he did manage to keep enough room left on his desk for an ink blotter and an inkwell and pen. The walls of his office were festooned with pictures, including one of a 4-4-2 engine with steam gushing from its piston rods as it thundered beneath a plume of smoke, pulling a string of passenger cars across a high trestle that afforded a grandiose mountain vista. There was also a portrait of the bank president, Joel Matthews, as well as a calendar with a picture of a brightly colored array of pumpkins, corn, apples, peppers, and pears. A grandfather’s clock stood against the wall, its pendulum marking each passing second with a loud tick tock.
“Mr. Matthews?”
Matthews looked up from the paper to see someone standing at his desk. The man was medium height, slender and well groomed. His hair was very light, almost blond, and his eyes were such a pale blue that one could almost say they had no color at all. Matthews recognized him at once.
“Ah, Marcus Kincaid,” he said. “It’s so good to see you.”
“I came to talk about that proposal we discussed.”
“Good, good, I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have about it.” Matthews put the paper down.
“Anything interesting in the paper?” Kincaid asked.
“An interesting story about Kitty Wellington’s ranch,” Matthews said. “But I’m certain, given the circumstances, that you read the story.”
“I read it,” Kincaid said without showing a lot of enthusiasm.
“But did you also read the article about the shootout over in Green River City, Wyoming?” Matthews asked his visitor.
“Yes, I read that as well,” Kincaid answered. “The story makes this Matt Jensen fellow into quite the hero, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. From time to time editorial writers wax on about the spirit of the West. Most of it, I’m sure, is just hyperbole. But I have read about Matt Jensen before, and occasionally, someone like Jensen comes along and you think maybe there is something to it. Clearly, Matt Jensen is a living manifestation of the spirit of the West.”
“Come on, Mr. Matthews, don’t you think it is possible that the person who wrote this story may be engaging in a bit of this same hyperbole?” Kincaid asked.
Matthews chuckled. “I suppose that could be true,” he said. “Still, it is reassuring to believe that there are such men out there, men who are dedicated to fighting evil, and doing what is right and true.”
“I suppose so.”
The bank president leaned back in his chair and hooked his thumbs into the shoulder openings of his vest. “Well, Mr. Kincaid, you are here, so, am I to take it that you have decided?”
“Yes, I have decided.”
“That’s good to hear. Tell me, what have you decided? Do you want to buy the loan?”
“Yes.”
“You are sure, now, that you want to do this?” Matthews asked. “I don’t want to be in the position of having you pushed into something that, upon further reflection, you regret.”
“I am positive I want to do it,” Kincaid answered. “And don’t worry, there will be no regrets.”
“I don’t have to tell you that we are talking about a lot of money here. The original loan was for twenty-five thousand dollars. With interest, the amount due now is considerably more.”
“I just want you to tell me again what happens if the borrower cannot make payment,” Kincaid said.
“You don’t have to worry about it. Mrs. Wellington has pledged Coventry on the Snake as collateral. That means there are more than significant assets against the note to cover the loan. If payment cannot be made, those assets will be forfeited to the mortgage holder.”
“Which will be me, if I purchase the loan right now. Is that right?”
“Yes, that would be you.”
“So if I make this investment, I will be protected?”
“Oh, indeed you will.”
“Do you think it is a good investment?” the bank customer asked.
“I think it is an excellent investment,” Matthews said, gushingly. “Why, back East, banks sell off loans all the time. It is perfectly safe—as I told you, if the loan goes into default, the assets will come to you. And of course, if the loan is paid on time, which I have every reason to believe that it will be, you will recoup every cent of your money, plus the interest that will have accrued between the time of your acquisition and the time of the settlement of the loan.”
“If you are sure the loan is going to be repaid, why are you willing to sell it?”
“We are a bank, Mr. Kincaid, and in order to function as a bank is supposed to function, it is necessary that we maintain a significant balance of funds. From time to time we get—well, to be honest—a little over-extended. When that happens, we can’t make any new loans. Selling this note will give us more flexibility in handling customers who require new loans.”
“All right, I want to buy the loan. How long will this transaction take?”
“Not very long at all,” Matthews said. “In fact, we can do it this very day. As soon as you make the payment, we can draw up the papers transferring the mortgage to you.”
“Exactly how much money will it take at this moment, to purchase the loan?”
“The initial loan was for twenty-five thousand dollars, but currently, with accrued interest, the amount due is twenty-eight thousand, five hundred seventeen dollars, and thirty-six cents,” Matthews said with the efficiency of one who was well at home with numbers, especially as it related to money.
