“Truth is, Connell is being honest about the silver. There is no more silver in these parts but his men found something else out there. Isn’t that right, Hank?”
Jeff, I thought that the papers back at the ranch said there was still plenty of silver left. Or is there something deeper going on?
Whoops, sorry. I guess Gus is getting mite confused in his old age. 
Okay, you guys, I have no idea what Gus’s revelation is.
I will try and come up with something tonight and post tomorrow. If you have an idea, please post it. All I know is that it has to involve Hank and the governor.
I’ll say one more time…this has been fun, and thank you for contributing. I foresee a Return to Anderson’s Gulch sometime in the future. (But Baker has a thread idea that I want to post in first ;))
ivylass, I just sent an email to Jeff Olsen about this thing. It will be interesting to see what the big deal is! And like I said, we need a gavel pounding trial, a funeral for Bart, a (dare I say it?) a wedding, and/or a “six months later epilogue” Bet we can wrap this up in six or seven posts. Damn but this has been fun, and I like your sequel idea.
But I wanna do a sci-fi story first! And I’ll try and thing up a revelation too. Do you know, when I brought in the laudanum, that I’d actually done research for this? My sister is a pharmacist and knows a lot about the history of medicine, so I asked her what would be the most likely painkiller to do Jim in, and what dosage was a correct one, and what would a person OD on. I was *serious * about this!
Now there’s a coincidence, I just sent you one from work! 
I have replied Jeff ! Thanks for the idea, I think it will work!
While we ponder on what shattering information Gus may have to share I have a couple of confessions to make.
The name of Kasson is one from my family tree. My maternal grandmother’s maiden name was Kasson, and her paternal grandfather was named Archibald(Archie Kasson) Grandma’s maternal grandfather was George Sutton Connell. Just couldn’t resist putting a family thing in there. The names were both from the period of this story. Both of the men were Civil War veterans too, with George Connell being incarcerated in the notorious Andersonville Prison for a period. He told my grandmother that ever since that time he’d had stomach problems off and on again, because of poor food, sanitation, and beatings from guards.
Hank was pretty sure he knew what Gus was trying to do with making that surprising statement now, and he was always fast on the uptake. “They sure did Gus, and you know why.”
“I surely do. Well, you all know most of it, how I helped build up this town after the silver was discovered. There was something about this place I loved and I was as upset as anyone when things started to go bust…”
Connell, who had been roused to complete awareness by the voice of Sheriff Wilson, kept on playing dull as he listened to Anderson recounting the heyday and downswing of the Gulch.
“…but what most of you don’t know is that I had a silent partner. And that partner, who is now the governor(here Anderson kept a keen eye on Connell) had a special reason to hate the “Boss” here. It wasn’t just the money loss. The governor, way back when we were all small fry, had a sister. Connell seduced that girl, even promised to marry her, but he played her false and like the cad he was and still is, deserted her. The poor thing considered herself “ruined” and went crazy. She lives with a caretaker now, and her brother supports her, but she still thinks “darling Sutton” will come back for her someday. It’s been thirty years of hoping. Anyway, my partner vowed he would have his vengeance someday. So after all this time he hatched a plan. We salted some of the old mines with ore samples brought in and got “experts” to say there were plenty of new minerals to be found(here Anderson was pleased to note a little start of dismay on Connell’s face). We made sure the news leaked back to this snake here and that’s why he started trying to take over. He’s way overextended on cash now too.”
The Boss couldn’t stop himself from blurting out “So it was all a trick? Just payback for a stupid girl? But the people *I * hired told me it was real! I had the documents, the stuff that Belle here took!”
“Think we didn’t keep an eye on what you were doing? Hank here may have just one eye but it’s more than enough for you. Those folks you hired were in our pay, and played you false.”
“Yeah” snarled Hank. “I never thought I’d get satisfaction for my niece but now I will! You’re gonna be ruined! Espcially with what else we found, like Gus said!”
“Your *niece?” * Connell asked in dismay. “Laura was your niece?”
“My sister’s only girl. I guess having a politician for a brother-in-law surprises you?”
Connell asked pathetically “But what was that other thing you found?”
Oooh, Baker, very nice!
“Phosphate,” Gus said. Connell shook his head as if too clear it, then immediately regretted it.
“Huh?” Hastings asked.
“Phosphate. The best damn fertilizer around. There’s enough here to turn this dustbowl into the Garden of Eden. Hell, we could probably grow oranges if we tried.”
“Phosphate,” Connell said dully. He sagged in defeat. Wilson and Zeke dragged him away as Belle stood staring at him from the door of the clinic, her arm in a sling.
“Did you know about this, you whore?” Connell yelled at her. Belle smiled sweetly at him.
“You swindled my Pa out of his land. I thought those reports were going to be your undoing. And they were. Just not how I expected.”
“Oh, one more thing, Sheriff,” Slim called out. “Take a gander at these cards.” He handed the deck to Wilson, who stared at it curiously. Connell moaned again and began to shake. Zeke took a firmer hold on him.
“Belle’s beau took them from Connell’s ranch. They’re the deck used to win Belle’s Pa’s land, and Lord knows how many others.”
Belle walked over to stare at the deck curiously. “I don’t understand,” she said.
Wilson smiled grimly. “We just have another charge against Connell here. Poker cheat.”
Hank told the remaining crowd, “There’s something else out there, too. I found it when I did some prospecting along the road to Grand Junction.”
He produced a lead box from his duster and opened it. The crowd gasped. Someone exclaimed, “It’s green!” Another voice asked, “But what is it?”
Gus replied, “We’re not rightly sure. Whatever it is, it seems to make people sick which is why it has to be kept in that box.”
Jeff, I do hope the green stuff isn’t Kryptonite.
Dr. McCaulley hurried along after Zeke and Sheriff Wilson. As the little group reached the jail the doc spoke up “Hold on a minute Clay, before you throw him in that other cell. Got something I need to try. Get one of Connell’s hands out here.”
He pulled a small pane of glass from his coat pocket, that had been carefully wrapped in glass. “If this works out,” he explained, “I may give you yet another charge against Connell here.”
“What’s that?” the sheriff asked, as the doctor placed Connell’s hand palm down on the glass, then lifted it up.
“Well, you ever read any of those books by Mr. Mark Twain? I met him years ago out west here, when he was a journalist traveling around. We had us some long talks. I told him about doctoring and he told me about a deal he’d heard about, think it was from the Chinamen in San Francisco. He said he would maybe use it in a book someday, don’t think he has yet. Anyway, if you look at your hand, see all those little lines? Twain said he was told everybody’s are different. Now if this print here matches what I have on a certain bottle back at my clinic(here Connell jerked in dismay again) then we have ourselves another crime we can lay at Connell’s door.” The doctor went on to explain about finding Jim Conroy dead in his bed, and his suspicions about who’d had a motive.
Sheriff Wilson turned an eye on the man who just days ago had been a “Boss” and said “Gentlemen, I guess we’ll have to leave it to the judge, but it sure sounds open and shut to me.”
“Well, I best take Miss Belle out to Charlie’s,” Zeke said, clapping his hat on his head. “Unless you need me, Sheriff?”
Wilson shook his head. “These boys are locked up pretty tight. Tommy, thanks for your help. I won’t keep you from the Tumbleweed anymore.”
“Let me take this hand print back to the clinic, and I’ll ride out with you and Miss Kasson to take a look at her young man,” Doc said, glaring at Connell and his boys.
Sheriff sighed after they left. Al was in a separate cell, and Clem was kneeling by Connell, who had fallen asleep. JB was sitting on the cell floor, quietly crying.
“I’m going to get a drink at the Tumbleweed, and I’ll come back with some dinner from Bertha’s. The judge should be here tomorrow. I suggest you boys do some serious thinking tonight.”
Don’t worry, ivylass. The green stuff is something commonly found in the Colorado plateau.
The nearest judge was Joe Cotton, he had been a barrister in London but he decided a change of venue was in order after he heard of the gold and silver strikes in the American west. He correctly figured that there would be a need for people to keep the peace during those hectic times. Several famous people had done business in his courtroom, the Earp brothers among them. He had also met Roy Bean but didn’t approve of Bean’s courtroom demeanor.
Cotton arrived the next day by regular stage route. He didn’t know, of course, all the details of the happenings in Anderson’s Gulch, having received only one telegram at the last stop the stagecoach made before arriving at the Gulch. As he clambered down from the stagecoach door he was met by Sheriff Wilson, who proceeded, as they walked to the Silverlode Hotel, to outline recent events as best he knew them, and finished by saying, “It’s lucky for us that the Gulch was the next stop on your circuit. Otherwise we would have had to wait weeks at least to deal with these low-lifes. How long do you think it will take to get a trial going?”
"Well, I suppose the accused must have some sort of representation, but a trial needn’t be lengthy, if one is held at all. And although everyone is entitled to a jury trial, I think, based on what you’ve told me so far, that a jury of local citizens would automatically say ‘Hang them!’ " replied the judge. "I can take legal statements starting right away, and if that stack of complaints doesn’t convince the accused and whatever counsel they scrape up to accept whatever bench judgement I hand down, then we will have a “regular” trial
“Don’t think I’ll worry then” answered the sheriff. “Those varmints ought to know that you are the best chance of fair dealing they will likely get. Don’t think JB killed anyone in all this hoo-raw, but the others sure did, and if they don’t want to dance to the hangman’s tune, I’d bet they’ll go along with you.”
The two men of the law finished planning for statements, and after sending several errand boys off to notify the folks involved of meetings, set out for Bertha’s for a mid-day meal
Meanwhile, back at the ranch*(Sorry, couldn’t resist using the phrase just this once)* the Charging Bear family had been brought up to date on the goings on in town. Sally was goggle-eyed at all the news, her admiration for Belle even greater now.
Jesse, had been examined and treated further by Dr. McCaulley on his arrival the night before. Belle was glad that all the folks who had caused her so much grief were being dealt with, but there was one person who would not be enjoying their victory, and she aimed to do right by Bart, in gratitude.
She spoke up. “For me the first order of business will be seeing the Parson to arrange about a funeral for Bart. And I want the fanciest headstone I can get. Guess it’s because I feel guilty about how I treated him at first, but we both got over that and I want his name remembered. And then I have to see about getting my land back, and after that…”
“Belle, don’t fret so much, you don’t have to stew about what’s past” Caroline said. “and I always thought funerals were more for the living, 'cause the dead don’t care anymore. But if that’s what you want, we’ll help.”
Jesse finally got a word in edgewise. “Miss Kasson, there is one thing you have left out of your plans when you go see the minister” Belle looked puzzled at his formality but managed to ask, in the same stilted tone “And what might that be Mr. Parker?”
“Arranging to change your name too.”
When Sally caught the meaning of this statement she couldn’t help it. She jumped up and cheered.
The Charging Bear clan, along with Jesse and Belle, walked into the Tumbleweed Saloon, which had been turned this day into the Courthouse.
Judge Cotton had been up until the wee hours, gathering statements from Tommy, Zeke, the Sheriff, Parson Gray, Al and Hastings. He spent quite a bit of time with Doc, going over his comparisons of the prints on the laudanum bottle. It was new to him, but he had to admit, the evidence was quite compelling.
Sheriff had spent some time before breakfast with Clem, JB, and Connell. Connell was stubbornly refusing to talk, but Clem and JB were getting more and more scared. With Zeke’s help, Wilson had rigged up a makeshift cell in a corner of the Tumbleweed, and the three Connell boys were chained securely inside. Al was safely shackled further away.
Sally went to go sit with her friends, and Caroline, Charlie, Belle and Jesse quickly found seats in the saloon. This much excitement the Gulch had not seen in ages, and it promised to be quite a day.
Precisely at 10 of the clock, Judge Cotton stepped out of the back room and ascended a low dais which held a chair and a table. The Sheriff cleared his throat, and silence fell among the packed spectators.
“Allright, this court is now in session. I’m going to turn proceedings over to Judge Cotton here.”
Cotton began to speak. “With one exception those accused here have waived their right to a jury trial. I will ask Mr. Sutton Connell one more time, do you wish a trial by jury, or do you accept the judgements of this bench?” Sullen silence. “It is therefore declared that the accused here will be judged from the bench.” Judge Cotton went on, listing the charges against each of the accused, and asked how they would plead. “Do you wish counsel to represent you?” Knowing they were unlikely to get a decent lawyer(which they couldn’t afford anyway) all except Connell waived counsel, and accepted the statements of witnesses as they stood. JB, Al, and Clem knew their survival, if not their freedom, depended on the judge, and they didn’t want to cross him in any way. More silence from Connell, who seemed to be reacting now, shuffling his feet nervously, and reaching down to scratch inside his boots, as if they itched.
“Do any of the accused wish to make statements of any sort, that may have an effect on the judgements handed down from this bench?” Clem and JB both started to rise, but Al was on his feet first. “Just wanted to say that all that stuff I said about Connell and his doings is true. And me and Clem didn’t really mean to kill that guy when we tried to escape. We just meant to knock him out. Guess we hit too hard.”
“Is that true for you as well?” Judge Cotton asked of Clem, who murmured assent. Connell was getting even more fidgety. Johnny Boy merely said “I didn’t kill nobody in all this, but I did some shooting, and I tried to grab Miss Kasson for the Boss. Just wanted to say I’m sorry about that last, I used to like…”
But he never finished what he meant to say, because “Boss” Connell finally snapped. “You lily-livered scum!” he shrieked, jumping up and pulling a concealed knife from his boot. Clem was closest to him and was stabbed in the neck. Connell then lunged for JB, who just had time to put his arms up in self-defense and was cut badly.
A shot rang out and Connell slumped to the floor, blood blossoming from his back. Sheriff Wilson stepped forward, gun still in hand, and hollered for the cell to be opened. Dr. McCaulley stepped in and saw at once that Clem was dead. Connell was still alive but looked mortally wounded, and he ordered him carried back to the clinic. Sheriff Wilson had Zeke accompany JB to the clinic as well, to get his cut bound up.
All this took place among a screaming uproar from the spectators. They’d expected something exciting, but not like this! Judge Cotton had to pound his gavel on the table for a full minute before his cries of “Order, order!” could be heard, but finally folks started settling down.
“Well” drawled Judge Cotton, his British accent lending an edge to the sound, “I think I can pass judgements now.”
“John B. Starling, is sentenced to five years in the state penatentiary for attempted kidnapping”
“Albert M. Gooding, you are sentenced to twenty years in prison for murder. It would have been life, but I accept your statement that murder was not intended.”
“Clemuel S. Lietz would have received the same punishment as Gooding, but just now he’s answering to a higher judge than I am” At this point a boy came barreling in the door of the saloon with a note for the judge. “It also appears Mr. Sutton Connell will escape the law here, having just died. Had the doctor saved his like, he would have been hanged.” Here there was an explosion of ironic laughter from the packed room.
“Is there any other business to be brought before this court? No? Court dismissed!” And BANG went the gavel on the table. There was a second of silence and then the crowd all began talking and arguing, as they left.
Caroline fanned herself. “I’m not used to all this excitement!” she declared, collapsing in her seat. Charley ran to get her a shot of whiskey for her nerves, while Sally chattered with her friends.
Belle was shaken, but with Jesse by her side, she was bearing up well. It was hard to believe it was over, and that Connell would never cheat anyone again.
“I’m going to see Parson Gray about Bart’s funeral and the wedding,” Jesse said. “Belle, you relax here. I’ll be back in a bit.” He nodded as Slim wandered in. Belle called him over.
“Where have you been? You missed it all!”
“I’ve been discussing things with Gus and Hank,” Slim said. “I think Gus is going to have an even bigger announcement than the phosphate.”
“You mean that funny green stuff?” Charley asked. “Hank and Gus hurried off quick with that box. What is it?”
Two days later:
As the last mournful notes of the hymn “Abide With Me” died away Belle sat dry-eyed in the front pew of the little church. She had been pleased with the arrangements Jesse had been able to make for this funeral. The horse-drawn coach that had borne the casket to the church had been properly black, with silvered ornaments, and the two black horses drawing it, while not matched, had had fluffly black-dyed ostrich plumes fixed to their heads. The casket itself, while plain, was highly polished. The headstone had been arranged for but would take some time to carve. Being tall herself, Belle had not been able to obtain a black dress to fit her on such short notice, but the dark blue she was actually wearing was almost as good, and she had a jet mourning brooch at her throat, borrowed for the occasion. She smiled a little to herself, at the idea of Belle Kasson trying to be conventional for once. Jesse was at her side in the pew as the Reverend Gray rose to speak.
“Brothers and sisters, we are gathered here today to give thanks for the life of Bart Conroy. He was a man who had led a troubled life. Yet in the end he had pulled himself up out of those troubles, and died helping another live, as the Bible says ‘In the midst of life we are in death.’ We are now sorrowing at his death, and grieve that we will not see him again in this life. Is this wrong? I don’t think so, for even Jesus is said to have wept at the grave of his friend Lazarus. But in the midst of our grief we have this consolation, that although he has passed from our sight, like a ship that has sailed beyond the horizon, Bart is still there. Some would think that, like that ship, he is gone, but we know, that from another shore, Someone has said ‘Look! Here he comes!’ May his soul, thorugh the mercy of God, rest in peace. Will you bow your heads and pray with me?”
When the prayer ended the casket was carried out of the church to the cemetery lot that lay next to it, and, after a final prayer and hymn , was lowered into the grave. Before leaving Belle stood by the open grave and said quietly, as she had as a young child “Bye Uncle Bart” and with that she turned, linked her arm through Jesse’s, and strode away. She had appreciated the common sense spoken by the parson, and there were, after all, other, happier, plans to make.
The next several weeks were a very busy time for Anderson’s Gulch. In the interest of propriety, Jesse moved into the Silverlode, and with daily visits from Belle and the Doc, he mended quickly. He worked tirelessly trying to get Belle’s father’s land back. Connell’s affairs were in such disarray that the Land Office despaired of ever sorting out who lost land to Connell through fair means and who lost through foul. Jesse also found a nice plot of land near the Charging Bear Ranch, and he applied for the Homestead Claim.
Belle and Sally and Caroline worked night and day on Belle’s wedding gown and trousseau. Caroline was suffering the early bouts of morning sickness, and Charley was strutting around his ranch like a peacock. He and Caroline had resigned themselves to the fact that Sally was going to be their one and only chick, so Caroline’s surprise pregnancy was quite welcome.
Hank and Sheriff Wilson telegraphed the Governor, who sent experts to help re-open the mine. Zeke and Wilson also accompanied Belle and Jesse to her father’s ranch so she could gather some of her belongings. The deserted ranch looked very lonely, and Belle cried as they left, wondering if she would ever call it home again. Gus Anderson was busy writing letters back East daily, urging prospective settlers that the Gulch was a going concern again.
Then, on the late summer day of Belle and Jesse’s wedding, with Hank giving away the bride and Sally grinning ear to ear as the flower girl, Gus Anderson finally revealed the secret of the mysterious green substance in the box. Everyone in town was gathered in the ballroom at the Silverlode to toast the newlyweds and munch on Caroline’s famous pound cake when Gus tapped a wine glass to gather everyone’s attention.
(I’m stuck until Jeff tells us what it is!)