Swindle

Mrs. Chapman came driving a team on the hurry. She had all four kids in the wagon with her. Eldon had stepped out of the barn ready to head to the house for dinner. She pulled the team up and said, “Eldon it’s Freddie. I don’t know what he’s up to. He took his gun. I’m wrung out worried ‘bout what he’s doing.”

Grace had come out on the porch to see what was happening. When she saw Mrs. Chapman and all the kids she hurried over. Now Tom was ambling along following Grace. Eldon saw them and said to Grace “Better take the kids in the house and set places for them. Tom unhitch her team and take care of them. Now, Nettie what’s happened?”

“Freddie went with a bunch that drove over to Peoria on Tuesday. They heard there was a trial on the bank and thought something could be done. They never let them in the courthouse, after they had waited all day, a deputy come out and said everyone had left. The case was over, and they should all go home. Suggesting they stay peaceable, or they could be arrested. They felt cheated and not worth spit. Freddie’s been mumbling and not sleeping since he got back. This morning he got his gun and took the truck. He said something or someone had to end, either him or Neeley Tubbs. I loaded the kids and come down hoping you might go find him.”

“I understand everyone was cheated. I banked in Camden mostly cause my friend from school got a job there after his short army stint. Ten cents on the dollar is all any of us got on our money in the Franklin Bank. Just had a small account, but I know how bad it’s been for everyone. Where do you think he’s gone? Did he drive into Franklin to confront Neely?”

“I don’t know Eldon, more afraid he’ll shoot hisself.”

“I will go look for him.”

Tom was standing holding the horses ready to lead them over to water. “Dad you should go up to the Hayes Place where the draw comes running to join the crick.”

“Why Tom?”

“I’ve seen Mr. Chapman up there in the last couple of years. He told me he and Uncle Harvey used to hunt, skip rocks, catch turtles, many fun things when they were boys. Mr. Chapman said it made him feel good to walk back over there.”

“OK sounds as good a place to start as any. Nettie, you let Grace take care of you. I will get in the car and start off for Freddie.”

1924 Model T

Eldon hoped he didn’t kill Neely. Neely was a poor pathetic wreck of a man. It wouldn’t help anyone. Neely wasn’t the one who skinned everyone. He was the one who was talking a bluff and hiding what was going on. He drove up to the Hayes Place. The road gate was open with the cows moved over to the north pasture. He drove in to get over to the fence by the draw. As he got up the hill, he could see Freddie’s truck. Freddie had gotten a hold of an old Liberty truck. He didn’t have a car, used that truck for everything.

Eldon hoped he hadn’t shot himself. He didn’t like grisly things. He couldn’t imagine having to tell Nettie. Surely Freddie would know it would ruin his kids. He shut the car off beside Freddie’s truck. Fords were better in the mud, and he had a Ford. He began walking then climbed over the gate. He supposed he should start down towards the creek and head up the draw. Tom had been right. He and others could have been chasing all over, if his boy hadn’t suggested he start here on the Hayes Place. Tom, even at ten, was often right on things. He watched and listened, then offered a well thought out opinion. He began to head up the draw. It was easy to imagine the joy two boys could have here. Building dams, watching tadpoles, trying to grab a bullfrog. He could also hear Mrs. Hayes sending them out to the horse trough to wash the mud off before coming inside. He had always liked his in-laws. It was bad timing to have tried that old Spenser place. Then the bank decided to ruin all their customers’ accounts, loans, and farms. He started to think about Grace when she was the young Miss Hayes. He stopped, then stood still. A shot echoing down the draw froze him for a moment. Then a second shot and after a little while a third. He began moving quicker to get up there. He had a good idea of where the shots were fired. He was relieved surely if Freddie was shooting at himself, he wouldn’t have missed three times.

He had scrambled up the bluff and now he could come back down to a level wider area in the draw. The water ran shallow there. Light reflected off the rippling water as it flowed over a rocky ford. This area was just below a big spring. The stream flowed down the draw. The bluff behind it went up very sharply. He saw Freddie and hollered, “Hey Freddie what’s you shooting at?”

“I was imaging that stump over there was old mealy mouth Neely. I don’t think I’ve hit him yet. Maybe a flesh wound.”

Creek

“I know, but old Neely didn’t mastermind the swindle. Look how he lives now. Hiding in that new house he built, broke and afraid. I think he paid some fines to stay out of jail. He keeps the blinds shut never goes out, cowering and miserable. You got a much better life with Nettie and your kids.”

“I think he paid some big bribes to stay out of jail. He lied to me so many times saying everything was solid. He showed me memos pointed out where I stood on payments. My title was sold; my payments were squat. I am told now some association in Chicago owns my farm. Fancy men stole all the money; we didn’t get nothing. We stood there waiting to be heard; we had a right. They looked at us like we were dirt, thieves, or beggars. We were the workers done the work; we was robbed. We all felt like dry spit. I ought to put Neely out of his misery. Show them a man can be pushed just so far.”

“Show them you were ready for prison or a noose. Neely is miserable enough. You got a good wife and four kids that’s what matters, that’s what makes you a man, a respectable man.”

“I know; it is why I’m up here trying to sort things out. Just not right makes me not want to live through it.”

“Neely’s brother came back the important man having worked in the Chicago and St Louis banks. He was important, knew important people. He’s off in the city. His wife was connected to other bank families. He knew how to hide on paper. Now the courts are stamping it done. What’s legal may not be right, but it’s done now. I think they bought their way out, with other people’s money. Are you losing your farm?”

“I don’t have a farm. Bigshot saying, they were going to let me farm it, made me choke.”

“Well, it ain’t fair, but farming a farm you know will still feed your family. There will be an opportunity. Along this draw and down by the spring the Hayes family found many arrow heads.”

“Harvey and I found a few when we played over here.”

“Indians didn’t quit this land because they chose to. If you was an injun, bet you’d say it weren’t fair. But if a tribe could still come here and put up a camp, I reckon they’d still do it.”

“You’re not telling me stealing land is OK cause the Indians got run off are you?”

“No, I’m telling you life ain’t always fair. I’m telling you what’s important is your family and doing right by them.”

“I suppose, don’t make this medicine any sweeter.”

“Why don’t you bring the family over Sunday. Your kids like to play with my boys. You bring what papers you got. We’ll go in my office after dinner, and I’ll go through them with you. Maybe there is something to learn they haven’t told you.”

“Eldon you’re good with numbers, but I don’t think they missed much. I think they butchered the whole hog.”

“It won’t hurt to look.”

“No maybe a different eye can help. It would feel good to shoot Neely, but I reckon no good would come of it.”

“No Freddie it wouldn’t. I want you to give me your gun. I’ll give it back to you on Sunday after we have gone over all the legal things.”

“You take it; I will try to calm down.”

“You hug your kids tonight and think about what’s best for them.”

“Suppose Nettie come down to your place?”

“She brought the kids in your wagon.”

“I’ll go home. I got work waiting. I’m farming it this year. Tell her to come home. I’ll be there. Here’s the gun and my box of shells.”

“See you Sunday a good family gathering always pleases Grace. It will start healing, end hurting over a past we can’t change.”

“Thank you, Eldon it is mighty kind, of you.”

“A family Sunday with good neighbors is a fine time.”

Neely Tubbs lived out his life hiding behind his drapes. Rarely seen outside his house, even as an old man he was more a phantom than a neighbor. Neely’s brother well no one ever saw him again at least not in Franklin. Some said he had gone to jail, but most folks thought he hadn’t. Some said he lived in a mansion in Chicago, others thought he had a job in St Louis. Harvey Hayes who worked for an engineering firm in Rock Island was sure he saw Lewis in California running a real estate and insurance firm. Everyone was sure of one thing; Lewis Tubbs would reside in Hell longer than any other place.