about the same as this; one-and-a-half boards. I should add that it shoots rather high for its sights, but that’s something one can allow for with practice.”
“Yes, or have the front sight modified. How do you load this gun without a loading lever?”
“It comes with a custom-made ramrod. I suggest you remove the cylinder to load it.”
“I see. How much?”
“The gun was new, and then there’s the cost of my professional services on top of that. It’ll be forty-five dollars for the package. That includes its special ammunition and a shoulder holster. It’s surprisingly fast to draw from beneath a coat. The very short barrel helps, of course.”
“I’ll take it. I also want one—no, two of those short Pocket Police revolvers.”
“I have them in stock. Will that be all, sir?”
“Far from it. I want leather cases for the rifles, and a lot more.” Walt rattled off a long list of ammunition, accessories and supplies, while Fitch made hurried notes. “I’d like to collect everything by close of business tomorrow. Can you meet that deadline?”
“It’ll be tight, but yes, I think so. I suggest you bring a trunk in which to pack everything except the rifles—or I can supply one, of course.”
“Please do that, and provide protective padding to separate everything inside. What’s the total? I’ll pay you half now, half on collection tomorrow.”
“Give me a few moments, please.”
Fitch scribbled columns of numbers on a sheet of paper, muttering to himself as he made mental calculations. At last he looked up. “I’m afraid it’ll be expensive, Mr. Ames. I figure the cash price after your trades to be two hundred and forty-two dollars in gold, or twice that in greenbacks.”
“Done.”
Walt didn’t hesitate to hand over six double eagles. The profit margin on so large an order would ensure the gunsmith’s best efforts to get him all he needed before his departure. Of course, if his future brother-in-law ever found out that he’d used his name as a reference to buy weapons, despite his status as a paroled Confederate, he probably wouldn’t be happy; but by then Walt would be too far away for it to matter.
―――――
He arrived back at his hotel room to find that his new clothing had been delivered. He tried on one of the four sets of working clothes, finding them loose-fitting and comfortable. There were also six white shirts, four cotton and two silk, with stiff detachable collars; two conservatively-cut business suits; and a suitably elegant formal evening suit. He’d be well dressed during the journey to St. Louis, and would be able to create the right impression when he arrived there.
Walt examined the business suits carefully. There was room to tailor a narrow leather-lined pocket inside the left and right chest of each jacket, sized to fit a small Colt Pocket Police revolver. He resolved to get that done the very next day. The tailor might question his haste, but he figured payment in gold would produce rapid results. The jacket of the evening suit didn’t have as much space inside its lapels, but he’d foreseen that, and bought it sized a little larger in the chest than fashion dictated. That would allow him to conceal a shoulder holster beneath it.
He put on the evening suit to confirm that he could move easily in it, and nodded in satisfaction as he examined himself in the mirror. He looked very different to, and altogether more suave than, the bedraggled cavalryman who’d made his way home just a few weeks before.
He left the jacket lying on the bed until Rose should return from her shopping trip. While he waited, he took the bear claw necklace from his bag. He severed the old leather thong and threw it away, then opened a jar of beeswax softened with mineral oil that he used to wipe down the exterior surfaces of his guns, took one of the rags he’d cut from his old shirts, and polished each of the claws to gleaming brightness. Finally, he restrung the
“Yes, or have the front sight modified. How do you load this gun without a loading lever?”
“It comes with a custom-made ramrod. I suggest you remove the cylinder to load it.”
“I see. How much?”
“The gun was new, and then there’s the cost of my professional services on top of that. It’ll be forty-five dollars for the package. That includes its special ammunition and a shoulder holster. It’s surprisingly fast to draw from beneath a coat. The very short barrel helps, of course.”
“I’ll take it. I also want one—no, two of those short Pocket Police revolvers.”
“I have them in stock. Will that be all, sir?”
“Far from it. I want leather cases for the rifles, and a lot more.” Walt rattled off a long list of ammunition, accessories and supplies, while Fitch made hurried notes. “I’d like to collect everything by close of business tomorrow. Can you meet that deadline?”
“It’ll be tight, but yes, I think so. I suggest you bring a trunk in which to pack everything except the rifles—or I can supply one, of course.”
“Please do that, and provide protective padding to separate everything inside. What’s the total? I’ll pay you half now, half on collection tomorrow.”
“Give me a few moments, please.”
Fitch scribbled columns of numbers on a sheet of paper, muttering to himself as he made mental calculations. At last he looked up. “I’m afraid it’ll be expensive, Mr. Ames. I figure the cash price after your trades to be two hundred and forty-two dollars in gold, or twice that in greenbacks.”
“Done.”
Walt didn’t hesitate to hand over six double eagles. The profit margin on so large an order would ensure the gunsmith’s best efforts to get him all he needed before his departure. Of course, if his future brother-in-law ever found out that he’d used his name as a reference to buy weapons, despite his status as a paroled Confederate, he probably wouldn’t be happy; but by then Walt would be too far away for it to matter.
―――――
He arrived back at his hotel room to find that his new clothing had been delivered. He tried on one of the four sets of working clothes, finding them loose-fitting and comfortable. There were also six white shirts, four cotton and two silk, with stiff detachable collars; two conservatively-cut business suits; and a suitably elegant formal evening suit. He’d be well dressed during the journey to St. Louis, and would be able to create the right impression when he arrived there.
Walt examined the business suits carefully. There was room to tailor a narrow leather-lined pocket inside the left and right chest of each jacket, sized to fit a small Colt Pocket Police revolver. He resolved to get that done the very next day. The tailor might question his haste, but he figured payment in gold would produce rapid results. The jacket of the evening suit didn’t have as much space inside its lapels, but he’d foreseen that, and bought it sized a little larger in the chest than fashion dictated. That would allow him to conceal a shoulder holster beneath it.
He put on the evening suit to confirm that he could move easily in it, and nodded in satisfaction as he examined himself in the mirror. He looked very different to, and altogether more suave than, the bedraggled cavalryman who’d made his way home just a few weeks before.
He left the jacket lying on the bed until Rose should return from her shopping trip. While he waited, he took the bear claw necklace from his bag. He severed the old leather thong and threw it away, then opened a jar of beeswax softened with mineral oil that he used to wipe down the exterior surfaces of his guns, took one of the rags he’d cut from his old shirts, and polished each of the claws to gleaming brightness. Finally, he restrung the
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