Book 9, page 11
Back in the main room, Bill opened the last door and saw a nice sized closet. The cabin’s floor was made of dark hard wood and a large round colorful rug was situated between the bed and the bathroom. “Now for the test,” he said as he lay back on the bed. “Oooh, Matt, you did it again: soft yet firm.”
Bill sat up and checked his watch, “Matt should be home by now.” He reached into the valise and took out his hairbrush, popped the communication device open and on the keypad typed: GREETINGS MATT. ALL’S WELL HERE. JUST WANT TO TEST THE COMMUNICATIONS. BILL.
Two minutes later the unit vibrated as a message came in on the small screen: MATT HERE, SIR. COMMUNICATIONS ARE FINE. CHEERS AND GOOD LUCK. MATT.
Bill put the unit back in the valise and after putting his clothes away, decided to stroll the deck. Although it was close to four o’clock, the sun was still hot and bright as he pulled the lid of his hat down to block the sun’s rays from his eyes. He saw that many of the passengers were already strolling the deck or waving to friends on shore. He leaned against the rail and lit a cigar as he thought, That’s a nice sea breeze coming off the water. Too bad I can’t take advantage of it with all of these clothes on. He shook his head as he took a long pull on the cigar, That’s one of the problems of living in this era: There’s no such thing as wearing shorts, open shirt and flip-flops. So, Bill, just grin and bare it.
At four o’clock sharp, the Clayton blasted its steam whistle and the screws at her rear turned the dark waters white with foam. Bill walked over to the right, or starboard side of the ship, as she pulled away from her slip at the dock and pointed her nose south. I need a change of scenery, Bill thought with a smile as the ship went down the Hudson River. The New Jersey skyline doesn’t seem to get the play that the New York skyline gets and I think that’s wrong.
The ship accelerated as they passed the Statue of Liberty and Bill changed sides to see her. He was pleased to see that the male passengers had removed their hats and he joined them.
Bill went back to his cabin to get ready for dinner and saw that someone had passed a menu under his door. Well, he thought with a smile at the relaxed way things were handled, this certainly is not a trip to England. He sat at the round table and went over the menu. Watercress salad with ship’s dressing, Tomato soup, Roasted chicken with honey dressing or Strip steak, Small potatoes or mashed with brown beef gravy, Baby sweet peas, Mushrooms in butter sauce, Roasted carrots, Sweet rolls and butter, Coffee, Tea, Ice cream or Vanilla and chocolate cake. White or red wine will be served with dinner.
Dinner is served at seven fifteen.
Well, he thought, as he looked the menu over, I just had steak so tonight’s meal will be the chicken. He patted his stomach and suddenly stood and said to himself, “Bill Scott, you are putting on the pounds! Let’s get you outside and start to fight it right away.” He removed his vest to stay as cool as he could and then went out to the deck and started walking. He walked briskly as he checked his watch periodically then stopped and went back to his cabin at seven o’clock. He washed up and then strolled slowly to the main dining room.
All of the windows and doors were open to catch the evening’s fresh air and soft music drifted out of the room. Once inside he saw the typical set up of round tables with ten chairs tucked under them. Bill gave a quick count and thought, ten chairs to a table and thirty tables equal 300 passengers, give or take a few.
He smiled at the decor that matched the cabins. The walls had bamboo going up to the height of a chair rail and a lush tropical island scene went from the chair rail to the ceiling. Coconut trees with large green palms along with white, red, yellow and blue flowers seemed to sprout from the bamboo and shoot up to the sky-blue ceiling. Colorful birds and butterflies flitted about or sat on branches of low-lying shrubs. The ceiling was painted a light to dark blue with white puffy clouds that had a gold edging as the sun rose behind them. Sea birds and butterflies were depicted in flight all around the room. The center of the room had a waterfall that splashed into a pond that seemed to meander about the entire room.
Wow, he thought as he looked around, this is outstanding! All they need here is Jimmy Buffet and his guitar. The room started to fill up and Bill picked a seat at a table against the wall. As he was about to sit two men and a woman reached the same table at the same time. Bill nodded and placed his hand on the back of the chair, which was against the wall. One of the men, a tall blonde haired, blue eyed man dressed in western attire asked, “Sir, might I talk you out of sitting there?”
Bill looked perplexed as the beautiful woman said, “Please excuse him, sir, he has a phobia against people walking behind him.”
Bill grinned and said, “No problem, please, sir, sit.”
“Mighty nice of you, partner.”
The woman was dressed elegantly and her brown hair was in long curls framing her very pretty face. She sat next to the blonde haired man and the other man, also tall but with dark features and a ready smile that lifted the ends of his brown mustache, sat on her other side. He offered his hand and said, as lines appeared at the corner of his brown eyes, either from smiling a lot or being out on the open range and squinting as the sun beat down, “Howdy, sir. I’m Don Pearson and my partner is Walter Jenkins and the pretty lady is Maryellen Strazza.”
They all shook hands as Bill said, “I’m Bill Scott. Pleased to meet you all.”
In a few minutes, the table was full as six businessmen took the available seats. Every one of them was well overweight and after introductions all around, they spoke to each other about business.
Walter shrugged his shoulders, “Never could understand money making talk. Best to be on the open range rather than in some dang blamed office.”
“I agree to that,” said Don.
Maryellen grinned and her brown eyes flashed as she said to the two men, “Boys we agreed no talk of money just relax and enjoy the good life.”
Bill grinned inwardly as the two men nodded and Walter said, “Yes, m’am.”
The waiter brought two bottles of wine, one white the other red. The four of them had the red while the businessmen had the white.
Don held up his glass and tried to do a toast but the businessmen were each talking at the same time. After a few tries Walter stood and said in an icy cold tone of voice that matched his cold blue eyes, “Gents, I do suggest that ya’ll raise a glass as my partner has a very short temper.”
The six men stopped and grabbed their glasses whether they had wine in them or not and raised them as Don said, “Thank you, gents. Now here’s to a safe an’ relaxing trip.”
They all touched glasses as Don said to his partner, “Thank you, Walter. You stopped me from being bad.”
“Amen,” Maryellen quipped as she rolled her eyes.
Don took a sip, looked at Bill and asked, “So, Bill might I ask your reason for this trip?”
“Going on to a riverboat and then a train ride to a place called Coffeeville, . . . “
Walter interjected, “That’s way over in Kansas. Right?”
“Yep. Surprised that anyone heard of the place.”
“Ah, we did some business there a few years back. Right, Don?” He did a quick wink that Bill caught.
“We’re in the banking business,” said Don, “and this is the first vacation we had in a long time, Bill.”
“And what’s your business, Bill,” asked Maryellen.
“Ahh, I’m in futures.”
“Futures,” she said, “isn’t that like banking?”
“My job is to take care of things so that my client’s futures improve.”
The waiter arrived and they gave their order. Fifteen minutes later another bottle of wine accompanied their food.
The four of them finished their dinner with a cup of coffee while the businessmen ordered a second helping of everything as they kept up their business talk.
“I suggest we retire to the bar where there is less talk of business,” said Don.
Bill, Walter and Maryellen agreed.
The lounge was half full and the small band played songs of the day as couples danced. Bill’s group took a table, which of course was against the wall.
“So,” asked Bill as he supplied both men with a Cuban cigar, “You three are going on vacation in New Orleans?”
Walter grinned and said, “Not really. We’re going to South America.”
Maryellen cut him off and explained, “What Walter means, Bill, is we are going to go to South America and see about a summer house. A place away from all of the hustle and bustle.”
“So you catch a ship out of New Orleans heading south?”
“Exactly,” added Don. “Maybe raise horses or something.”
Walter got up and went to the band, came back and sat as Maryellen said, “Walter, please don’t tell me you asked for a . . . “
“A high-kicker,” he answered taking her hand as the band did a western two-step dance.
“Oh my,” she said as she followed him to the dance floor and followed his lead. They were the only couple on the floor and everyone stood and watched them dance. A standing ovation accompanied them off the floor when it was over.
“I just had too,” Walter said as he downed his drink.
They stayed in the lounge until ten o’clock when Bill stood and said, “My friends, I’m afraid it’s my bedtime. Same table for breakfast?”
“Yep! Same table,” answered Maryellen.
Bill went to his room and after reading the instructions three times took one of the sit-down showers.
“Well,” he said as he toweled off, looking at the puddle around the shower, “it works, but just barely.”
He put on his evening wear, a long pullover, took a newspaper and lay back on his bed and glanced at the stories. He grinned as he read about his last mission.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Arthur Conan Doyle had submitted the first of six Sherlock Holmes stories to the Strand Magazine in April of 1891. These were followed by 1892's book of the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. The Strand's stories (which had begun with A Scandal in Bohemia) were followed by the Strand's request for further cases to be published, and he provided another six. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes contained all twelve stories. Mmmm, thought Bill, I wonder if Arthur Conan Doyle is a cover name that Doctor John Watson uses?
Bill put the paper down as he remembered the times he had with Shirley when they were together in his time. He grinned as he remembered the look on her face as a plane flew overhead. She was so vulnerable in my time. She was interested in everything and I can’t help but wonder if we have this mutual feeling of . . . well, of being more than friends because of the wonderful things she experienced with me. He sighed, Well, she will be back next month and I can’t wait! He shook his head. Must concentrate on this mission. He read the next article:
U.S. Cotton Crop Devastated
The boll weevil arrived in The United States and infested the cotton country from Texas eastwards destroying much of the south's staple crop and economy. The boll weevil measures an average length of six millimeters and feeds on cotton buds and flowers.
Bill decided to read another and then turn down the oil lamp and get some sleep.
Ellis Island Opens
The first Ellis Island Immigration Station has officially opened. That first day, three large ships were waiting to land, and 700 immigrants passed through Ellis Island. The first to be processed was Annie Moore, a 15-year-old girl from Cork, Ireland on January 1st 1892.
Bill reached up over the bed, lowered the oil lamp and as usual, fell asleep to the rhythm of the ship’s engines and the gentle roll of the ship.
The time traveler was up early and sticking to his promise, did a brisk walk along the ship’s deck, completing fifteen circuits before breakfast.
He sat at the same table as the night before and was joined by Don, Walter and Maryellen. They were happily surprised to find out that the six men from the night before usually sleep late and have brunch as they continued their business chats. Bill was famished after his walk and read the menu with gusto!
Eggs, over, soft or hard boiled, scrambled or yolk up; Cereal: hot or cold; Bacon, Ham, Steak cubes, Sausage, Black or White pudding; Potatoes; fried, string style, or mashed; Toast; white, black bread, rye, or muffins, hot or cold, butter and jelly, Coffee, tea, milk, fresh orange juice.
Bill chose the eggs over, orange juice, black pudding, bacon and buttered white toast.
As they ate, Maryellen said she noted that the ship offered skeet shooting off the fantail of the ship and she wanted to try her hand at it. Don and Walter’s eyes lit up and Don asked Bill to join them.
“I haven’t shot a shotgun in a few years, but, I’ll give it a try.”
At ten-thirty, the four of them stood at the rear of the ship. A gamesman and his helper unlocked a rolling wooden case and once open it displayed seven shotguns and five pistols.
“Now folks,” the gamesman said, “this sport can quickly become deadly so one must always believe the gun to be loaded and aimed outboard.” He loaded the tossing apparatus and aimed it high and downstream as he said, “My assistant shall send the clay disc downstream and I shall take the first shot. I plead with you all to observe all that I do.” He opened the shotgun, placed a round in the chamber and closed it, all the while aiming downstream. He looked at his assistant and shouted, “Pull!”
The young man yanked the lever that sent the clay disc in an arc high out behind the ship and the gamesman aimed and fired. The disc kept going until it fell into the water, much to his chagrin. “Oh,” he said as he opened the gun and placed another shell in, “First time can usually be a disappointment. You know, not shooting every day can play with a man’s timing.” He looked at his helper and with a nod called out, “Pull!” Once again the disc flew up and away and once again he fired his gun and once again the disc kept flying along unimpeded. He turned to his assistant and said, “Chauncey, are you sure the apparatus is in good working order?”
“Yes, sir,” came his answer as he loaded another clay disc. He pulled the lanyard at the gamesman’s call of, “Pull,” and it flew off as it was designed to do. This time, however, the disc exploded into hundreds of pieces as the pellets hit it. A happy faced gamesman nodded as he said, “See? Please don’t fret when you miss, it’s not as easy as it looks. Takes years sometime to master the gun. Now, who’s first?”
Don, Walter and Bill all stepped back a step as Walter said, “Maryellen, as it was you who suggested the idea, we feel that you should go first.”
She smiled broadly and took a shotgun out of the case, opened it and placed a shell in the chamber, then closed the gun again, all the time facing it downstream. The gamesman and his assistant were shocked as she pulled her long dress up to her knee and put her left foot on the railing for comfort.
“Ah, are you ready, m’am?” he asked.
Her answer was a loud, “Pull!”
The assistant pulled the lanyard and the disc shot out high and downstream where the ship’s turbulent air made it rock as it spun. Maryellen squeezed the trigger and the clay target exploded.
Bill, Don and Walter laughed as the gamesman and his assistant just stared at her.
“Oh, I enjoyed that,” she said as she opened the gun, removed the empty cartridge and slid another round into the chamber. She closed the gun with a firm snap, took an aiming stance and shouted, “Pull!” Once again the disc flew out and exploded as she fired at it. The gamesman was still stunned.
“Hey, guys,” she said turning to the three men, “you should try this, it’s fun.”
“I’m next,” called Walter as he selected a gun, loaded it and fired at the disc after calling ‘pull’ and it too disappeared into fragments over the water. He fired another five shots and downed everyone. Don insisted that Bill go next and he got to hit four out of five.
Then it was Don’s turn. He reached into the open case and with a grin took out a pistol. The gamesman grinned and said, “Mister, you won’t hit anything with that. You have a much better chance with the shotgun as its shells are loaded with pellets that spread out giving it a better chance for a hit. That pistol only fires one bullet at a time and it’s hard to aim a pistol on a rolling ship. Best you use the shotgun.”
Don took some bullets from a box in the case and said as he loaded the pistol, “Colt, Single Action Army with a five and one half inch barrel. Real pretty gun.” He looked at the assistant and said, “Son, will you do me a favor and send up six clay discs, one after the other for me?”
Bill watched as he put the pistol on the flat railing of the ship and shouted, “Pull!” The assistant pulled the lanyard and the clay disc shot out high and as it arced to the left Don quickly grabbed the pistol and fired once. All watched as it exploded and another was on the way. He turned slightly and fired again destroying it. He blew up the next four in succession and placed the pistol back on the rail.
“Nice,” said Walter picking the pistol up and loading it. He gave the same instructions to the assistant and using his right hand, destroyed the first disc and then switching to his left hand he got the second one. He kept switching until he was out of bullets. He grinned as he placed the pistol down.
“You’ve always been a showoff, Walter,” quipped Maryellen as she loaded it, turned to the assistant and said, “Just send one up, please.” He did and she blew it up as it was still climbing.
She placed the pistol back in the case and said to the gamesman, “Will you be here tomorrow?”
The man nodded and she said, “Now, boys. Are we done?”
Don answered for them, “I say we go and get a drink after all of this hard work.” The four laughed as they walked away from the totally stunned gamesman and his assistant.
