THE IMPERIAL ENGINEER (5 page)

From then on she could have been looking into Hell.

She woke with a scream caught in her throat and her body drenched in sweat.

* * * *

"Hell, boy, you've got to think modern. This is the Nineteenth Century!"

"Mr. Eagleton, I am thinking modern. But I'm also trying to make this telephone
system as foolproof as possible. Sometimes the tried and true methods make the most
sense."

Tony leaned forward, both hands planted on the surface of the desk, and stared his
employer straight in the eye. "I am also trying to save you quite a lot of money."

"But a water wheel! Folks will look at it and wonder if we know what we're
doing."

"A waterwheel is an elegant solution. I've looked at a number of methods we
could use, but since we need a constant source of low voltage power, the water wheel is
made to order. Trust me. It'll work."

"What about when we electrify the town? Won't we need a steam plant then?"

"I doubt it. With all the streams around here, we should be able to generate any
amount of power." He sat down and looked across the desk. "That's the second time you've
mentioned electricity. Is there something you haven't told me?"

"Hell, boy, there's a bunch I haven't told you. I've got a finger in so many pies, I
can hardly keep 'em all straight." Reaching into a drawer, he pulled out a cigar. He clipped
the ends, then paused, looking at Tony. "You know there's electricity up at the smelter in
Ketchum?"

Tony nodded.

"Well, I've been talking to the engineer up there. We could electrify the whole
town, if we wanted to. All it would take is money. I've been talking to folks here in town,
too, convincing 'em we need to look to the future. So far I've got a few who're interested,
but not enough. And it's more than I want to take on myself."

"So you're not planning to do it tomorrow?"

"Well, no, but I'd like to start planning for it. Why don't you give it some thought?
Draw up some designs, keep your eye open for a likely site to build your dam or whatever,
and we'll talk about it again. Now, have you got those maps done?"

"I'll get them."

As he walked back to his office, he grinned. Much to his surprise, he was having
the time of his life working for Abner Eagleton. The man was a caution--part entrepreneur,
part hustler, all charm and enthusiasm. So far, in the two months since he'd arrived in
Hailey, he'd designed the telephone system, ordered the equipment, persuaded nine people
to sign up for telephone service, chosen a bridge site, started to design the bridge,
annotated maps of the area with the locations of property with good water, built a corral,
roofed a shed, driven a hay wagon, and run more errands than he cared to count.

Oh, yes, he'd also rescued a damsel in distress. But that had been his own idea,
and the damsel hadn't wanted to be rescued.

She'd gone away again a few days after the Fourth. He hadn't known she was gone
until he stopped by her apartment, intending to apologize and had learned from the elderly
woman next door that she wouldn't be back until mid-August.

He'd been relieved. Mostly because he really didn't believe he had anything to
apologize for. But also because he still wasn't sure how he felt about her. Some days he
wanted to pound some sense into that curly head of hers. Others he wanted to wipe her
from his memory and expunge her from his life.

Always he wanted her.

He picked up the rolled maps and took them back to Eagleton's office. "Here they
are. I don't know how complete--"

"No matter. You haven't had time to explore every canyon and gully." Eagleton
unrolled the first map, showing Hangman's Gulch.

"Hmmm." Eagleton pointed to a symbol Tony had used to show mining activity.
"I didn't know that was up there. Must be new," he said.

"It's more a prospect hole than anything. I didn't see any sign of recent activity
when I was up there. But that was back in June--"

"We'll check it out come spring." Eagleton unrolled another map, this one showing
the area around Gimlet. "Teller owns all this?" His hand swept across the center of the
sheet.

"According to the records at the courthouse, he owns or leases nearly three
thousand acres."

"There was a time I thought the man was a fool for wanting to raise sheep instead
of cattle. Now I'm not so sure." He rolled both maps, handed them to Tony. "Keep at this,
whenever you get time. I'm not sure what I'll do with what you find out, but something will
come to me. Information is always worth money. You remember that, boy. A man who
keeps his eyes open and his ears cocked is always ahead of them who don't."

Tony was through the door when Eagleton called him back. "I forgot. There's an
article in today's paper you might find interesting. Here."

Tony took the newspaper and tucked it under his arm. "I'll read it tonight. I'm
supposed to go down to the ranch this afternoon about that well you want dug."

"Fine. I'll see you in the morning, then." Eagleton hesitated, as if he wanted to say
more, but after a moment's pause, he simply shook his head and waved dismissal.

Tony spent the afternoon walking Eagleton's ranch with the well digger, watching
him use the dowsing rods that seemed so like magic. When he'd marked the site where he'd
dig, they parted with an appointment to meet the following Monday.

As a result of the time it had taken to find a likely well site, Tony didn't get back
to town until after seven. He stopped off at the Nevada Chop House for supper, because
Mrs. Slossen didn't tolerate latecomers to her table. So it was twilight when he started for
home. He was almost there when he remembered the newspaper. Eagleton wouldn't have
called his attention to an article unless it pertained to business. He'd better read it
tonight.

Back to the office, then home at last. He removed his necktie and collar, slipped
off his shoes, and relaxed on the bed, pillows piled behind his shoulders.

The
Wood River News Miner
came out daily. Tony didn't often read it,
partly from a lack of time, partly from a lack of interest. A chatty, newsy paper, it
mentioned many people whom he'd never heard of. He supposed as he became acquainted
with the locals, he'd find more of interest.

Much of the news concerned the mines in the Wood River Valley and surrounding
hills. There were District Court notices, a short note that members of the GAR could ride
the train to Denver and back for only $56.70, legal summonses, advertisements for
whiskies and men's furnishings. Beside the haberdashery's ad, he saw one promising to
cure, among other male distresses, lost manhood. He wondered exactly what might be in
the guaranteed restorative. Something vile tasting, he had no doubt. And alcohol--lots of
alcohol.

Local gossip, a bit of poesy in which yesterday's shower was described as
'washing the face of nature and making the grass smile.' He chuckled, wondering what
smiling grass looked like. As he skimmed the contents of the back page, he wondered if
Eagleton had perhaps given him the wrong paper, Maybe it was yesterday's he'd intended
for Tony to read.

He went back to the first page. On the left were two columns of short news items.
This time he read every one, finding several interesting, but not anything Eagleton would
concern himself with. The third column contained an account of a
News-Miner
reporter's visit to Chinatown. No prospect of business there. Then came the results of a
foreclosure suit, an account of a pleasure trip to Bullion, a shooting at Atlanta, several
instances of dueling--

"Wait a minute!" He went back and read the reporter's account of his evening in
Chinatown. It was written in a patronizing, superior tone and contained contemptuous
comments about the morals and intelligence of Chinese. The writer pictured all Celestials
as opium fiends, although he did admit there might be some small value to Chinese
medicine.

Tony read it once, quickly, then a second time, slowly and with care. By the time
he was done with his second reading, he was furious.

Throwing the paper aside, he rolled to his feet and paced the room, five steps in
each direction. So the reporter believed Chinese lacked the ability to change, that the race
had never advanced beyond some near-primitive level. Someone ought to introduce him to
Chinese philosophy, to Chinese art. Why, Chinese were civilized when Europeans were
still all but living in caves.

He stopped at the open window and drew deep breaths of dusty, hay-scented air.
Someone ought to tell that reporter a thing or two. Teach him to respect other customs,
other beliefs.

"I'd like to..." he began, his fingers digging into the wood of the window
frame.

Before he could complete the thought, a voice spoke in his mind.
Yes? What
would you like to do?

Like a bucket of cold water dashed into his face, reality swatted Tony smack
between the eyes. There was nothing he could do to counteract the lies and misstatements
in the article. Not if he wanted to stay in Hailey.

Not until he lay in bed, unable to relax, did the most important question occur to
him.

Does Eagleton know?

GRAND
BALL,
--FOR THE--
BENEFIT
--OF THE--
Tiger H. & L. Co.,
NO. 1,
Coffin Brothers' Hall, Ketchum,
--ON--
MONDAY EVENING, SEPT. 10

Wood River Times

~~~

By the time she returned to Hailey in early September, Lulu was ready to stay in
one place for a long time. At a conservative estimate, she had covered about a thousand
miles in eight weeks, traveling by horseback, riverboat, canoe, carriage, railroad, and
shanks mare. She had spoken in parks, in churches, in schools, from porches, in the back
rooms of saloons and once from atop a table set beside the bar. She had been cheered and
reviled, applauded and pelted with rotten fruit.

But she had made converts. The cause of women's suffrage would be promoted in
Montana Territory.

Except for one short trip to Portland, where she would at last meet Mrs. Duniway,
she planned to stay in Hailey for a while. Soon she'd have to sit down and plan her winter's
work. Travel would be more difficult then, so she must accomplish as much as possible
before December. She eyed the stack of letters waiting on her desk. No, she would not
work today. It was Saturday, her first free day in weeks, and she would selfishly take it for
herself.

Was there a letter from her parents? She hadn't heard from them since June, and
was eager to read about their latest adventures.

Soon she was settled in the rocking chair, bare feet tucked under her skirt and a
cup of tea beside her. Not only had she the wished-for letter from Australia, but there was
one from each of her brothers and one from her cousin Katie.

Gabe and Micah were both well, hoped she was the same. Their letters were brief,
telling only what they were doing.

Katie, on the other hand, fairly babbled. Her letter told what each of her siblings
was up to, rhapsodized about her children--Lulu found it hard to believe that her
goddaughter Melanie was about to turn three--and confessed to worrying about their
parents, so far away in Australia.
I know they're having the time of their lives,
Katie wrote,
but Pa's sixty-three, after all, and his leg's never been strong since
that time he broke it. I guess I shouldn't worry though, since there's not a darn thing I
could do if something happened. Silas and Soomey are planning to travel with them
through India, which will relieve my mind no end. But still...

Lulu smiled, thinking about how Uncle Emmet had fretted and stewed about Katie
the time she and Luke had walked halfway across Idaho in the middle of winter. It must be
a family trait.

When she put the last letter aside, she felt much better. Hearing from family was
almost as good as being with them.
I'll stop off in Boise next time I come through, but
only for a short visit.

So much to do.

Sunday morning after church, Jacob Teller caught her before she started for
home. "Will you come to dinner this afternoon? Imajean isn't feeling up to the trip to town,
and she's lonely."

"I'd love to. I was planning on coming out tomorrow, but we can catch up today
just as well." She hesitated. "Unless you'd rather we didn't talk business on Sunday..."

"My dear Miss King, as if I could stop the two of you! All I ask is that you restrain
yourselves until after dinner. I have invited several others, and I doubt that some of them
would be interested in your cause. Would you like me to arrange a ride for you?"

"That would be very considerate of you. I've made no arrangements for regular
transportation yet, since I've spent so little time in town. Before winter I suppose I should
do so."

"Do you have any objection to riding out with Miss Petersham and the young man
who is bringing her? He is a gentleman."

"Not at all. It will be a pleasure to meet him. I know so few local residents."

"Good. I'll have him call for you about half past one." He tipped his hat and
walked toward the hitching rail where his buggy waited.

"Lulu?"

She turned around. A small shiver of pleasure made its way up her spine. "Hello
Tao...Tony."

"I didn't know you were back in town. Will you be here long?"

"Off and on. I still have some trips planned." Deliberately she didn't tell him they'd
be short and infrequent.

"Then it's a good thing I caught you. I wanted to apologize."

"Apologize? What for?"

"You don't remember?" he chuckled. "Perhaps I shouldn't remind you why you
were ready to snatch me baldheaded the last time we met."

"Oh, that. I decided it was perfectly typical of you." She turned toward home and
started walking. Having him beside her seemed natural and comfortable. "You always
were so protective of us girls. I never understood why. Not with someone like Soomey for
a mother."