Just Common

Westward

Folks, we a get started here just one quick pour a whisky.
So let's begin!

Yessum we rode west out a Newport News, that cool mornin. The sun just up, fresh dew on the grass. No hurry just a slow pace, weren't headed any place really just on our ways. Felt good not cooped up, just the horses an of course my boy, Chester.

We rode near three hours, found us good oak tree or was it a maple ta rest under a touch. I pulled out my atlas ta see where I thought we should head ta. I asked, Chester, ever been ta emporia? Chester he shook his head, an say, no never been. Well think we head that a ways, find us way there an we head out here after I have myself some biscuits Beth fixed up fer us.

Folks, fer those ya that don't know how, this second ride is done , the Ranger in trainin makes most the decisions on the Law. Of course with guidance from his trainer.
That ways when they ready, they can decide without worry a bein wrong. The first one I might decide, just so he knows my thoughts on the Law.

Those few days befer emporia, was quiet no Law ta worry with. Hell don't think they was even a stage pass us. Nice time ta get ta know each other, found out Chester has a sense of humor an is quiet like myself. Don't talk much folks, I know I carry on like blame bird first sign warm weather. Ta just conversat hell ain't much good with that. I can talk a story now, not much else. Sorry on track now Common.

Folks about Adams Grove, think it was, first Law that needed tended ta. This one I never ran inta befer. So even I had think on it a bit hard.

Adams Grove, the Law

Folks, when we gots inta town, told Chester ta check in with the Constable as is proper. I was goin ta the Saloon fer an ale. Meet there after checkin in. Folks Chester just got sat down, an got his ale. When a commotion started outside. Seems the General Store had a shoutin match goin on, that looked like it turn ta might more than shoutin. We saw the Constable runnin that way, I say Chester best take a walk that way.

Folks, my rule a thumb is don't butt in, till it doesn't look good fer the Constable or he asks me ta. The bystanders start gatherin inta groups shoutin at each other abouts who is right. Folks the Constable yells, they is a Ranger Here! I can send fer him! Folks I just yell, Common Howard Ranger! Ranger Howard folks! Please quiet down! Constable say now ya two Jack an Ben, both ya my office, the rest of ya head home or what ever ya were doin. Then he say Ranger think I'll need yar help.

Folks like I said never run inta this befer, so pay close attention. Here is what that commotion was all abouts.

Well, about two weeks back, Ben came in ta pay on his line a credit. He owed think it was fifty Lincoln. He paid five on that fifty. Told Jack he would pay the rest, next month after his pay came in. He told Ben it be hundred Lincoln next month he owed, because it been year on the payoff. Folks that ain't the least bit legal, most man can charge is a fourth what is owed more. So he could only charge eleven an quarter Lincoln. Since it was less than half it a been eleven Lincoln.

Seems Ben got mad slammed the door behind him broke the glass. Folks Ben came in apologized, say he replace the glass proper like, after he pay off his debt. Ben is a blacksmith so he put bars in front the broken window an boarded off that window. Till repairs could be made.

The day he payed off his debt he rode out ta the glazer ta get new glass. That trip was a two day ride, he just returned taday. Now this is the different part.

Folks, Ben left that glass with the owner. Went got his tools ta put that glass in. Well Folks that glass was broke when Ben returned. So that is the strange part. But now hold on, gets even stranger.

The owner claimed the glass was defective, he broke it, he say because it didn't look right. Then demanded a new one. Folks never heard a defective glass befer.
Told Chester ta get all that broke glass, we were goin ta put it tagether like a puzzle. They were both given orders ta stay home, not ta leave. We would investigate this after I looked at the glass.

Folks, the kicker, puttin that glass tagether won't show a thin. Just want ta get the owner ta worry some. Get ta the real truth.

Folks, that glass didn't have bubbles or anyyhin that looked defective abouts it. The owner was had, now fer the truth.

Folks, I talk ta Ben first, here is his story. He say, Ranger Jack knows I do work Ranger Command Gunsmiths make parts fer them plus parts fer the printers and such. Get my monthly pay from them. That way I can pay him and the people I owe. Durin the winter it slows a might.
He just don't like waitin fer his trinkets. He always tacks more than right on the end. I just pay it an let it be. I've got the papers from his lines of credit. I saw get those fer me. So I gots those papers. Can't wait ta talk ta Jack.

Chester was payin close attention he even asked a few questions.

Folks, let Chester handle Jack, why he wanted ta. Think he handled it might proper also.

Chester, say Jack can ya explain a few thins? Jack say what is that Ranger. Best play I ever seen folks, Chester laid down one those papers, say can you explain why ya charged over a forth on this line a credit? Befer he could answer it went an this one an this one. Folks they was ten a those papers. Then Chester say, just how many more town folk ya done this ta?

Folks, Jack done committed one those crimes I get bunched up over! One's I'm apt ta give the death penalty fer, an not second guess it. Jack say I gets what owed me! They can't afford thins ain't my problem.

I tell the Constable ta get Ben, me an Chester goin talk this over, then we render a decision.

Chester say, Pa Ben ain't done a thin wrong, he tried ta make right his mistake. Now that Jack, I need ta think on him some as ta what ta do. I say Son think on it a spell then we a talk. Folks hate ta kill Jack, but he has crossed me. But ifin I can find way ta hurt him good an possibly make him loose some trinkets. Might just wave the death penalty.

I tell myself could make him pay back all those trinkets. Law say I can as far back as six year. Tell myself three year all of it next three only the over charge. Trinkets back on that glass, plus his time. This is the kicker no over charge on any line a credit till he sells the store or death. Ten days in stocks.

Chester, left came back with his Law book, say Pa I figured it out. This should do. I say well tell me, boy.

Destruction of private property, fine of hundred Lincoln, the replacement of property or its value plus half of said value. Pa that for the glass, then I found this on the over charge. Folks the Law changed some, death plus all over charge up to ten year. I ask ya tell me the verdict.

Folks, Chester's first verdict read ta the charged.

Ben this Ranger, finds no fault with ya. Ya tried to make thins right. So other than that ya are not guilty of any charge.

Jack this Ranger, finds ya guilty of destruction of private property of Ben's one piece of glass. Ya can't argue that it was yars it was not installed on yar property. Hundred Lincoln fine, plus ten Lincoln for the glass and four Lincoln fer his time, total of hundred and fourteen Lincoln.

The over charge fees, ya shall pay back the last 8 year of it and the line of credit. Total of six hundred Lincoln. Jack do ya have seven hundred and fourteen Lincoln?

Jack, say no I don't have that! I owe on my goods for the store. Chester say ifin ya didn't have the trinkets ta spend ya don't need it. Ranger that would break me! I don't keep that kind of trinkets. Chester, say I knew that, remember I looked yar books over. Judgment, the store goes on the market. After the Constable finds out how many others ya took more trinkets than allowed, an they get back that over charge. Ya pay the fine an the value of the glass. What is left if any is yars, then I would think of leavin town. Constable will see ta this judgement. Jack shouted this is wrong! Chester added five days in stocks this case is closed.

Folks I think Chester might make damn fine Ranger. Bit over long. So that be it till next time.