Boot Hill: Pima County

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"Thank you" Jack replies as he takes a pinch of tobacco and tamps and lights his pipe. "Big J you say? Well before I came in to see you I ran into a chap by the name of Kidd. He said that he was riding up to the Big J and would spot me a drink if I rode along and helped him with an errand. I am feeling kind of thirsty right about now, and in the mood to socialise with this Wayne fellow and those others you mentioned. I think I'll take him up on his offer. Do you know anything about him? Should I be watching my back?"
"Says he's an attorney out of Texas. Haven't had any trouble from his crowd yet. They do look a bit down-at-the-heel, though."
"I appreciate you taking the time to hear me out Clary. Oh, I would be obliged if you kept what we talked about under your hat for the time being."
"Inspector, everything we say is sub rosa," Marshal Clary says gravely. "I didn't take down the Cooley-Stinson Gang by giving the chance to hear what I was planning to do. I'd be dead."
Jack stands up retrieves his warrants, and extends his hand to Clary.
"I don't want my hand tipped, and have them get spooked. I don't speak any Spanish, if you catch my drift?"
"Rosario doesn't speak any English, so you needn't worry on that front. Good luck!"
 
"Good enough. I have a warrant for the two, but if they're riding in a gang I don't think that I have a legal right to do anything to the others unless they attack me.

Are you authorised to issue a writ empowering me to apprehend them? Maybe you can ride out with me? I sure wouldn't mind the help, and having a fellow peace officer would certainly be appreciated. Especially one who knows the lay of the land, or who buried the Cooley-Stinson Gang."
 
"Good enough. I have a warrant for the two, but if they're riding in a gang I don't think that I have a legal right to do anything to the others unless they attack me.

Are you authorised to issue a writ empowering me to apprehend them? Maybe you can ride out with me? I sure wouldn't mind the help, and having a fellow peace officer would certainly be appreciated. Especially one who knows the lay of the land, or who buried the Cooley-Stinson Gang."
"Sorry, I got duties here in town and without a deputy I can't leave," says Marshal Clary. "Fortunately I happen to have some blank writs already stamped by Governor Safford and all I need do is fill in some blanks and you can shoot those horse thieves nice 'n legal-like if they resist arrest."

He fills in the blanks with a few flourishes of his fountain pen and slides it across the desk to you. "That also gives you the go-ahead to temporarily deputize some help if you can find anyone loco enough to join your posse," laughs the marshal.

"Word on the street is the Tuskaloosa Kid drifted through recently, and he's no friend of the law. Travels with a banjo and smokes quirlies like a Mexican. Could just be loose talk from excitable fools, but if you get any information on him, I'd be obliged if you let me know. I'll do likewise with respect to McCoy and Jones."

He hands you a wanted poster and remarks, "I don't tack these up on account of some tenderfoot fool will get himself killed trying to get rich."
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Jack smiles and touches the brim of his hat.

"I understand Marshal, you've got a town to look after. So long as you and the Governor authorise it I will take care of those no good bandits. There's a £1000 bounty on the head of McCoy and Jones. That's a lot of money. I am sure for that amount of cash I can rustle up something, although I would prefer to get the help before I tell them that they'll get paid. I don't trust mercenaries as far as I can throw them. I'll see that you also get some of the reward as you've made getting them a little easier with these papers you've given me.

The Tuskaloosa Kid doesn't look like a nice fellow. That long hair tells me he is a man of low character. I will certainly let you know if I see or hear anything. I have the same problem in my neck of the woods with 'amateurs.' I'll see you soon."

Jack tucks the papers and wanted poster that Clary has given him into his coat pocket and leaves the Marshal's office. He will look for Cisco at the General Store, and if he isn't there he will go to the saloon.
 
As Jack MacRegan leaves the marshal's office, he narrowly avoids a collision with a scowling older man clutching a Book of Mormon in one hand and a 10 gauge side-by-side double-barreled shotgun in the other. Before he gets out of earshot Jack hears the older man address the marshal: "Marshal, I want to swear out a complaint against some no-account drifters for abductin' my daughter Betsy and abusin' my daughter Becca!" Jack can only guess what it's all about.
 
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Unless there was something else you wanted to do first, we'll assume Cisco, Juan, and Jesús are at the Yellow Rose Saloon with Cougar Rydell. Jack MacRegan should arrive within 15 minutes after the others as his conversation with Marshal Clary wouldn't take too much time and the saloon is just on the next block down Main Street.

Meanwhile, up at the Big J Ranch, Lars, Quinn, Tybalt, Mary, Eugene, and Corbin, with Betsy Sommer in tow, will be satisfied that there's nothing suspicious going on at the ranch and it looks to be a fairly well-run cattle ranch currently bothered by a recent wave of rustlers. Unless there's something more they want to do first, I'll assume you're gathering for grub at the mess hall where Lars has obtained a job as cook.
 
Eugene tries to get a word with Lars. I assume at this point that Lars has no news, correct me if I'm wrong. Seeing as this while trip to the Big J to "try and get to the bottom" of things seems to have been a bust, Eugene feels foolish, and wonders if he has cost the posse valuable time that should have been spent pursuing the man seen fleeing the seen of Cookie McCabe's murder... he relays these thoughts to his compadres and apologizes for the wild goose chase. And he plans to urge
Lars to quit his new job and rejoin the group![/]
 
Jack will go to the Yellow Rose and before he enters he will scan the saloon, on the off chance that McCoy or Jones, or even the Tuskaloosa Kid, are the inside having a drink. If he doesn't see these three he will go to the bar and order a whiskey before he walks over to Cisco and joins him.

"Are you still planning to ride up to the JBar?" He asks Cisco. "I finished my business with the Marshal, and I'm ready to ride whenever you are."
 
"Didn't get too close afore they lit a shuck, but I reckon they looked to be totin' Colts and Sharps rifles, mainly, an' they all wore bandoliers full of extra cartridges. They weren't goin' to Sunday school."
"Well I'm not familiar with how wild Sunday schools get around here..." he says with a smile "...but thanks for the details"

He heads to rejoin the others.

Eugene tries to get a word with Lars. I assume at this point that Lars has no news, correct me if I'm wrong. Seeing as this while trip to the Big J to "try and get to the bottom" of things seems to have been a bust, Eugene feels foolish, and wonders if he has cost the posse valuable time that should have been spent pursuing the man seen fleeing the seen of Cookie McCabe's murder... he relays these thoughts to his compadres and apologizes for the wild goose chase. And he plans to urge
Lars to quit his new job and rejoin the group![/]
"Don't fret Eugene, had to be done. So now do we pursue Jackson or this new crowd of ruffians?"
 
"Well I'm not familiar with how wild Sunday schools get around here..." he says with a smile "...but thanks for the details"

He heads to rejoin the others.


"Don't fret Eugene, had to be done. So now do we pursue Jackson or this new crowd of ruffians?"
"Well, the bandits are a more immediate threat. I imagine more unsuspecting folk will fall victim, less'n we put a stop to it. Hell, might be a reward on some o'them. Leastways, it oughta be good for a few free drinks. I'd like to go after Jackson, but I can't in good conscience allow these no-good bushwhackers to prey on the innocent. You ready to put down those skillets and pick up yer shootin' irons?"
 
Eugene tries to get a word with Lars. I assume at this point that Lars has no news, correct me if I'm wrong. Seeing as this while trip to the Big J to "try and get to the bottom" of things seems to have been a bust, Eugene feels foolish, and wonders if he has cost the posse valuable time that should have been spent pursuing the man seen fleeing the seen of Cookie McCabe's murder... he relays these thoughts to his compadres and apologizes for the wild goose chase. And he plans to urge
Lars to quit his new job and rejoin the group![/]

Yeah, as near as Lars can tell the Big J crew are a little rough around the edges but basically good people. As for quitting his job, though... well, neither he nor I am very happy with it, but it just feels wrong to quit after one day, especially since he's already been paid in advance. :worried:
 
Yeah, as near as Lars can tell the Big J crew are a little rough around the edges but basically good people. As for quitting his job, though... well, neither he nor I am very happy with it, but it just feels wrong to quit after one day, especially since he's already been paid in advance. :worried:
"Now that is a fly in the ol' ointment. How much did he pay ya? Maybe you can just give it back. Ya haven't spent it yet,have ya? Tell him I brought news of a sick aunt back home, and you have ta git ..."
 
"Besides, with your lack of cookin' experience, I don't reckon they'll be too sad to see ya go!" Eugene chuckles, giving Lars a good-natured clap on the back ..
 
Unless there was something else you wanted to do first, we'll assume Cisco, Juan, and Jesús are at the Yellow Rose Saloon with Cougar Rydell. Jack MacRegan should arrive within 15 minutes after the others as his conversation with Marshal Clary wouldn't take too much time and the saloon is just on the next block down Main Street.

Meanwhile, up at the Big J Ranch, Lars, Quinn, Tybalt, Mary, Eugene, and Corbin, with Betsy Sommer in tow, will be satisfied that there's nothing suspicious going on at the ranch and it looks to be a fairly well-run cattle ranch currently bothered by a recent wave of rustlers. Unless there's something more they want to do first, I'll assume you're gathering for grub at the mess hall where Lars has obtained a job as cook.
"Hi, Mr. Cisco. That's Mr. Rydell, I remember you saying you'd like to talk with him. And he'd probably like to drink to your health", Juan says calmly.
Because he likes to remain a civilised person, even if the yankees are running the show now.
 
"Hi, Mr. Cisco. That's Mr. Rydell, I remember you saying you'd like to talk with him. And he'd probably like to drink to your health", Juan says calmly.
Because he likes to remain a civilised person, even if the yankees are running the show now.
"Say, boy, how about some of them pickled eggs they keep in a jar behind the bar?" suggests Rydell. "I'm feelin' downright wolfish!"
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Cougar Rydell
 
"Say, boy, how about some of them pickled eggs they keep in a jar behind the bar?" suggests Rydell. "I'm feelin' downright wolfish!"
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Cougar Rydell
Juan just nods at Cisco. That's gotta make it easy to get whatever info he wants.
 
"Well, the bandits are a more immediate threat. I imagine more unsuspecting folk will fall victim, less'n we put a stop to it. Hell, might be a reward on some o'them. Leastways, it oughta be good for a few free drinks. I'd like to go after Jackson, but I can't in good conscience allow these no-good bushwhackers to prey on the innocent. You ready to put down those skillets and pick up yer shootin' irons?"
Corbin smiles and holds up a knife. "Throwin' irons friend, but certainly and I'll be glad to have some of you proper shootists with me"
 
OOC probably a dumb question that I should have asked at the begining but was the bounty (that we know is morally ok to collect) put up by the Saguaro's sheriff's office or J bar ranch?
 
OOC probably a dumb question that I should have asked at the begining but was the bounty (that we know is morally ok to collect) put up by the Saguaro's sheriff's office or J bar ranch?
The bounty on Jethro Beauregard Jackson's head was put up by the Big J Ranch and is extralegal as far as you know.
 
Corbin smiles and holds up a knife. "Throwin' irons friend, but certainly and I'll be glad to have some of you proper shootists with me"
"Ah, yes, how could I forget about your love of knives? Tell me, is that Common to all Swedes, or are you unique even among your countrymen?"
 
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ooc
1.has (or will) a seperate bounty been (or will be) issued from the sheriff's office?
2.is the sheriff's office interested in this indiviual?

what I am asking in a roundabout way is can we collect twice on one bounty?
 
ooc
1.has (or will) a seperate bounty been (or will be) issued from the sheriff's office?
2.is the sheriff's office interested in this indiviual?

what I am asking in a roundabout way is can we collect twice on one bounty?
1. & 2. Tybalt doesn't know as neither he nor those with him asked anyone about that. You might want to ask Cisco, Juan, MacRegan, or Jesús as they probably have better information.
 
OOC will do thanks.

Tybalt's thought process
while not uncommon, the issuing of private bounties in the old west it did mark the person issuing the bounty as a major power in the region as they were now operating either as "The Law" (in this case) or "The Law"'s best friend. Either way the owner of the J bar ranch is someone that Tybalt wants/needs to be on the good side of.

IC

Tybalt goes to Lars and discretely asks, "Marvelous job you did here simply marvelous. I say could you point out who the host is so that I may thank him in person? oh and would you happen to know his name perchance?"
 
"Now that is a fly in the ol' ointment. How much did he pay ya? Maybe you can just give it back. Ya haven't spent it yet,have ya? Tell him I brought news of a sick aunt back home, and you have ta git ..."

"Well, no, I haven't spent anything - ain't really anything to spend it on out here anyway..." Lars says. "But I can't tell him I've got a sick aunt, I already told him I ain't got any kin in the area." He scratches his head. "I dunno... Maybe if Mister Crenshaw said he really wanted me back for some reason and asked Mister Wayne to release me, as a favour between gentlemen or such..."

"Besides, with your lack of cookin' experience, I don't reckon they'll be too sad to see ya go!" Eugene chuckles, giving Lars a good-natured clap on the back ..

"Hey, no one's complained yet!" Lars protests, feeling oddly defensive about his admittedly next-to-non-existing cooking skills.

Tybalt goes to Lars and discretely asks, "Marvelous job you did here simply marvelous. I say could you point out who the host is so that I may thank him in person? oh and would you happen to know his name perchance?"

"Oh, sure, that's Mister Wayne," Lars says. "Big Jim Wayne, that is."
 
In town we're currently pending Cisco, Juan, Jesús, and MacRegan's activities. I think MacRegan is waiting on a response from Cisco. Since we haven't heard from Black Vulmea Black Vulmea for a few days, AsenRG AsenRG or Bunch Bunch might want to pick up the baton.

Up at the Big J Ranch, Tybalt, Lars, Quinn, Corbin, Eugene, and Mary are presumably all together in the mess tent taking advantage of food and Western hospitality. If there's anyone they want to speak to, let me know; otherwise I'll sit back and let the conversation unfold until you determine a course of action. For the group at the ranch it'll be nightfall soon so you may want to sleep there as well, but that's up to you.
 
(OOC, He is indeed. Unfortunately, since he hasn't met any of the other PC's, I am in a holding pattern for now.)
 
(OOC, He is indeed. Unfortunately, since he hasn't met any of the other PC's, I am in a holding pattern for now.)
You presumably met Jesús at the Wagon Wheel general store even if no spoken words were documented here, and he's obviously with Juan and Cisco. You could speak to Jesús and/or Juan, Pete Benson (the barkeep), Cougar Rydell, or other patrons of the Yellow Rose Saloon in the meantime. By my count there are 38 named NPCs in and around Saguaro at this point. I'm sure you all have information the others lack. We can always backtrack to Cisco-MacRegan's conversation if needed.
 
You presumably met Jesús at the Wagon Wheel general store even if no spoken words were documented here, and he's obviously with Juan and Cisco. You could speak to Jesús and/or Juan, Pete Benson (the barkeep), Cougar Rydell, or other patrons of the Yellow Rose Saloon in the meantime. By my count there are 38 named NPCs in and around Saguaro at this point. I'm sure you all have information the others lack. We can always backtrack to Cisco-MacRegan's conversation if needed.

(Fair enough)
 
MacRegan will address Cisco, and the table.

"If you and your friends are still planning on going to the JBar, I've finished my business with the Marshal, and I am ready to ride."
 
'I'm afraid I can't be of assistance,' Cisco replies ruefully, 'as I haven't seen anyone who matches your colorful description.' He checks his watch adds, 'We will retire to the Yellow Rose while you conduct your business with the marshal, and ride out in a half-hour or so.' With that, he moves to join Juan and the prospector, suggests they go to the saloon down the street.
Cisco guides Rydell toward a table, motions to one of the cute Mexican camareras for a round for the prospector and the hands. 'Mr Schein, the assayer, says you work diggings in the sierra yonder, east of town,' begins the attorney, after whiskeys are delivered to the table and a smile and a tip given to the camarera. 'We work for a cattle outfit, new in the Rio Santa Cruz country, looking for range to the east, and hoped you might share with us your insight and expertise about water holes and streams and the like in the foothills.' As he listens, Cisco makes a point of looking to see the reactions of others in the bar to Rydell, if any.

OOC: Shemek hiTankolel Shemek hiTankolel, Cisco will pick up your conversation as soon as he's wrung what he can out of the prospector.
 
Cisco guides Rydell toward a table, motions to one of the cute Mexican camareras for a round for the prospector and the hands. 'Mr Schein, the assayer, says you work diggings in the sierra yonder, east of town,' begins the attorney, after whiskeys are delivered to the table and a smile and a tip given to the camarera. 'We work for a cattle outfit, new in the Rio Santa Cruz country, looking for range to the east, and hoped you might share with us your insight and expertise about water holes and streams and the like in the foothills.' As he listens, Cisco makes a point of looking to see the reactions of others in the bar to Rydell, if any.

OOC: Shemek hiTankolel Shemek hiTankolel, Cisco will pick up your conversation as soon as he's wrung what he can out of the prospector.
Nobody seems to pay Rydell any mind; your impression is that he's a known eccentric tolerated because he's harmless.

"Well," says Rydell, "just so long as you ain't lookin' to jump my claim I don't see no harm in it. I ain't showin' you where I staked my claim, though. There's silver in them hills yonder, not to mention Spanish gold them conquistadors done left behind! I got a gun 'n I ain't afeared to use it!" Calming down a bit, he continues, "Ain't a lot of water up in the mountains, but there's some seeps 'n springs in the foothills. There's tinajas up there all year 'round if you know how to sniff 'em out. Rains mostly in the summer 'round these parts so we might get us some nice wet arroyos any time now." He fixes you with a serious eye after he drains his shot glass: "Gotta warn you, though, there's already some big cattle outfits fixin' to set up an acreocracy hereabouts 'n they mean to push out them alfalfa desperados, so I reckon they won't much take a shine to you boys movin' in even if they only got squatter's rights. Most of 'em, I mean. Big Jim is the smart one--he married hisself into one o' them Spanish land grants."
 
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OOC
okay, the assumption I'm working with is that the J Bar group is okay with hunting down the killer of old cookie now that we double verified that everything is above board (first with Lars then with us checking out the ranch). I'm going to (with the party's approval) ask Big Jim Wayne if he has any insights into where the killer of Old Cookie (I have totally forgotten the name of who we are looking for) is, additionally I'm going (with Lars approval) ask that since we've worked together before and that since New Cookie (Lars) is an exceptional tracker he be allowed to come with us to hunt the outlaw. Thoughts, comments?
 
"Well," says Rydell, "just so long as you ain't lookin' to jump my claim I don't see no harm in it. I ain't showin' you where I staked my claim, though. There's silver in them hills yonder, not to mention Spanish gold them conquistadors done left behind! I got a gun 'n I ain't afeared to use it!" Calming down a bit, he continues, "Ain't a lot of water up in the mountains, but there's some seeps 'n springs in the foothills. There's tinajas up there all year 'round if you know how to sniff 'em out. Rains mostly in the summer 'round these parts so we might get us some nice wet arroyos any time now." He fixes you with a serious eye after he drains his shot glass: "Gotta warn you, though, there's already some big cattle outfits fixin' to set up an acreocracy hereabouts 'n they mean to push out them alfalfa desperados, so I reckon they won't much take a shine to you boys movin' in even if they only got squatter's rights. Most of 'em, I mean. Big Jim is the smart one--he married hisself into one o' them Spanish land grants."
Cisco listens carefully, motions to the cutest camarera for a bottle. 'Mr Crenshaw endeavors to locate reliable water and good forage, not silver,' Cisco assures Rydell. 'A horse with a good sense of smell can usually locate a tank' - the common Texian term for tinaja - 'if you give him his nose in dry country, in my experience - would you agree, Mr Rydell?'

The Texan lowers his voice. 'I hear a lot of talk about desperadoes, Mr Rydell.' He pauses until the waitress brings the bottle, gives her a wink. Cisco uncorks the bottle, refills the prospector's glass himself. 'First, this Jeff Jackson fellow who killed the Big J cook, just recently, and the Tuskaloosa Kid and a pair of horse thieves, now you have stories about more bad men.' Seemingly as an afterthought, the attorney adds, 'And I didn't much care for the look of Buckskin Johnny and Honcho de la Vega, for that matter.'
 
Juan listens attentively, and drinks his own shot. And he smiles at the nice camarera.
Hablando de agua? ¿Cisco es serio acerca de hacer una granja allí?

But he can ask him that later.
 
OOC
okay, the assumption I'm working with is that the J Bar group is okay with hunting down the killer of old cookie now that we double verified that everything is above board (first with Lars then with us checking out the ranch). I'm going to (with the party's approval) ask Big Jim Wayne if he has any insights into where the killer of Old Cookie (I have totally forgotten the name of who we are looking for) is, additionally I'm going (with Lars approval) ask that since we've worked together before and that since New Cookie (Lars) is an exceptional tracker he be allowed to come with us to hunt the outlaw. Thoughts, comments?

Works for me.
 
Cisco listens carefully, motions to the cutest camarera for a bottle. 'Mr Crenshaw endeavors to locate reliable water and good forage, not silver,' Cisco assures Rydell. 'A horse with a good sense of smell can usually locate a tank' - the common Texian term for tinaja - 'if you give him his nose in dry country, in my experience - would you agree, Mr Rydell?'

The Texan lowers his voice. 'I hear a lot of talk about desperadoes, Mr Rydell.' He pauses until the waitress brings the bottle, gives her a wink. Cisco uncorks the bottle, refills the prospector's glass himself. 'First, this Jeff Jackson fellow who killed the Big J cook, just recently, and the Tuskaloosa Kid and a pair of horse thieves, now you have stories about more bad men.' Seemingly as an afterthought, the attorney adds, 'And I didn't much care for the look of Buckskin Johnny and Honcho de la Vega, for that matter.'
"If'n the horse is bred to the mountains and deserts, sure," agrees Rydell. He stops to light a corncob pipe and begins to smoke, squints a while, then says, "Now this Jethro Beauregard Jackson fella, him 'n Big Jim came out from Texas together the way I hear it, then somethin' soured atwixt 'em. Some folks say it was a woman, which I don't doubt as womenfolk is few 'n far betwixt hereabouts. I don't know no Tuskakloosa Kid, but horse thieves 'n cattle rustlers is to be expected. I don't blame 'em none for brandin' a few questionable cows. Like as not the big brands done the same when they was small. Stealin' a horse is a whole other thing. Out in the desert, 's a kinder thing to shoot a man dead than to steal his horse 'n leave him on his beetle-crushers. What you got against Buckskin Johnny 'n Honcho? Ain't showin' 'em where I got my claim staked, as I opine they'd like as not jump it if'n they thought they could get away with it, but then again they'll like as not buy a fella a round or two when they got money, so I got no quarrel with them. There's no shortage of desperados hereabouts, but what can you expect you can belly to the brush across the border from here?"
 
"Ah, yes, how could I forget about your love of knives? Tell me, is that Commanding n to all Swedes, or are you unique even among your countrymen?"
"Oh I'm one of a kind...well aside from all the other folk doing knife tricks at side shows I guess" he says with a nod.

Corbin turns to Tybalt.

"Mr. Crenshaw all that sounds good to me. You find out more about that Jackson character. We'd lack the class for talking to Mr. Wayne"

Corbin heads off to the ranch house to enquire about staying the night for some shuteye.
 
Corbin heads off to the ranch house to enquire about staying the night for some shuteye.
At the big adobe ranch house, Corbin sees the entry is guarded by a solidly built, bearded Mexican man with skin like worn leather sitting in a wooden chair by the door. He wears a big sombrero and holds a Winchester Yellow Boy across his lap. He also wears a strapped-down Remington on each hip and looks like he knows when and how to use them. When Corbin inquires about staying the night, the man looks up at Corbin and says, "Boss ain't seeing visitors tonight. Man at the gate ought to of told you there's no extra room in the bunkhouse but your party can bed down in the barn or stable. Anybody says otherwise, tell 'em to ask Hernández. You got business with the boss, it waits till morning."
Hernández.jpg
Hernández
 
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"Oh I'm one of a kind...well aside from all the other folk doing knife tricks at side shows I guess" he says with a nod.

Corbin turns to Tybalt.

"Mr. Crenshaw all that sounds good to me. You find out more about that Jackson character. We'd lack the class for talking to Mr. Wayne"

Corbin heads off to the ranch house to enquire about staying the night for some shuteye.


ooc I thought I was talking to Lars here. Oops. Unless Crenshaw advises otherwise, Eugene will probably accompany him to talk to Big Jim. If Crenshaw would rather talk to Big Jim alone Eugene will make enquires about Jackson, and see if any of the cowpokes know anything about his known associates or hideouts, where he might ha e family, etc.
 
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