The note was written in a scrawl

Chapter 21) The Poker card
Contents    Previous    Next chapter

Joel Winston had a solid business with the feed store.
Sales had gone up because his son-in-law Howard Ray was a big asset.
The problem was the small farms were getting bought up by big landholders who were pushing the sharecroppers off, and replacing mules with tractors. That was going to end the demand for small-time feed and fertilizer business since the new farms used fuel and oil, and could import large quantities of fertilizer from bigger, more diversified operations.

Changes were happening all over. The Sears Roebuck built a huge parking lot in Abbeyville.
Cars and people wanted to drive there instead of going to the old Woolworth's on the town square.

It was a matter of time before the peaceful little town of Trinity would die away.
The stores, little shops, farmers, repairmen, mothers and fathers and children would become obsolete by the mechanized world that was invading their paradise.

Joel's secretary brought a note into his office and left it on the desk. What's this?
I don't know, it's got your name but I can't make out what it says.
Who sent it? I don't know, it was on my desk after the mail was delivered.
Joel picked it up. It was a curious thing.
The note was handwritten in brown ink. The words were hard to read. And it changed slightly each time he read it, except more interesting each time. It seemed like a puzzle. One time the note was asking something, and then it was saying something.
It didn't seem to say much.
The one word that stuck out was Marlboro.
He spent half the morning reading and re-reading the thing again.
What did it mean? Who sent it?

Howard passed his office, and Joel asked him, did you drop off a note?
Howard said, no, but ... oh ... that reminds me, we have an appointment with Monty Gephart at Statewide Bank tomorrow in Abbeyville.
Oh yes, I forgot, said Joel. Good thing you walked by.

Howard was worried that his wife knew about the affair and hurried to his office and gave her a call. Her voice didn't sound like she knew anything, but he was relieved that he came straight back to the office instead of meeting the girl in Abbeyville.
Howard decided not to mention giving River Boy a ride to Churchail's.

Statewide Bank had gone national and Monty Gephart was under orders to call in the small accounts like Joel, and tell them the rates were going up, and minimums were getting increased.
The effect would force out small businesses in favor of larger ones that could buy in volume, and add new merchandise to their product mix. Which meant a larger parking lot and adaptation to the changes.
Statewide understood that towns like Trinity were dying, and wanted to hasten the process into more profitable venues.

Joel had no idea it was coming so soon. His family was at risk, and he almost forgot except Howard walked by his office and reminded him of the appointment.

By then the note had delivered its choice and would be forever lost inside Joel's desk drawer.

The next day Joel drove to Abbeyville, and Howard decided last minute to go along.
It was the right move. Howard was going to be a partner soon, and getting to know the bank manager was an important step.

The 30 mile drive was quick and the men talked about the new baby, but the trip seemed wasted when they got there because the bank was closed. There was a robbery attempt, and the front doors were locked.
A guard outside the bank recognized Joel and said, if you go around back, there is another entrance.
Joel said, thank you. Howard smiled and they walked around the back of the building and entered the door.

There were several bouncy and attractive women going up the stairs. They looked at Howard, checking him up and down as they passed. Howard smiled, and started following the girls up to the second floor.
Joel saw two businessmen going straight down the hallway, and said, wait Howard, I think it's down this way.
Howard looked back and said, no, let's go up here.
Joel went up while peering over the rail to see if he recognized anybody from the bank.

The secretaries went into an office with a sign that read, Jack Marlboro.
Howard and Joel followed in and were greeted by another attractive lady. Several ladies were sitting at desks with phones and the latest office gadgets, including at least five typewriters click clacking across the page and ringing the bell.
Joel asked, is this the bank? No, the girl answered, looking at Howard. This is Jack Marlboro's office.

Joel excused himself and was turning to leave but Howard wanted to linger.

Jack Marlboro popped in from an adjoining hallway.
Hey, Joel Winston. It's been a long time.
Joel looked over and said, oh, yes. Jack Marlboro. You used to work for Blue Stripe. I remember you.

Yes, I'm with Big Harvester now.
Conversation continued, and Jack invited them into his personal office.
Big Harvester was looking for distributors, but not small operations like Joel's.
What struck Jack however was Howard. Correct age, right look, good manners. Howard was a big strapping fellow that fit the Big Harvester image.

Jack mulled it over, fairly ignoring Joel's chit chat, before he laid it out.
He said, look fellas, we're going big. We're building big stores, and hiring the best local men for the job, since they know the local people.
Big parking lot. New products. More square footage. Farm machinery. Financing. You understand what I mean?
Everything is handled by Big Harvester out of Des Moines. They have 50 men that that take care of location, advertising, purchasing.
And understand this real clear because it's our advantage, Big Harvester offers the farmer the best rates. We beat anybody.

Leaning back in his chair, Jack said, tell me this, how'd you boys hear about us?
Joel said, uh well, somebody sent us a note yesterday.

In the back of his mind, Joel knew the old feed store had termite damage on the back side and needed heavy repairs. The expense was still a few years away, but he also saw business changing with bigger farms demanding lower prices. It was worrisome.
Howard was listening too. He understood that newer stores had big parking lots and more products. Sounded real interesting.

Jack asked, well how's business down there? You guys keeping ahead of it?
Joel was quick to answer and said, let me tell you, since Howard married my daughter and came to work at the store, business has been real good.
How long's that been now?
Joel fudged a bit and said, about four years.

Jack Marlboro noticed it. He underestimated Joel's sharp mind, but Howard was the future.
Then Jack added a bit of sobering news. The bank is going to raise your interest rate you know. They're doing it to everybody.
Joel shook his head, but when Jack nodded, he knew it was true.

Jack reached out and slapped Howard's knee, and said, Howard, you're the man we're looking for here at Big Harvester.
Joel, I'm sorry to put it like this, but Howard's got what we need.
We might be able to make a deal if Howard is the guy, and you step down a notch.

Wow. Did Jack just offer us new store? But wait a minute, Howard wasn't even a partner.
Joel knew that younger men liked doing business with Howard. Plus Howard liked the store. He wasn't dreaming of a different job.
The pieces fit pretty well in Joel's mind.
Joel started nodding, but forget him because Howard was all smiles. A smart young secretary walked in gleaming at Howard.
Jack said, let's go to lunch.
Several secretaries joined them.

The lunch counter had it all. Young businessmen, lawyers and women. Music.
Joel hardly recognized his own son-in-law, a decent church-going man having fun and talking to those secretaries with all that sex coming out of the jukebox.

Joel looked at Howard. Howard thought of his wife at home, and smiled.
Jack watched both men. He could see they had a solid partnership.

Jack reached across the table shook hands with Joel first and then Howard. It was the correct order. The deal was done. The men walked back to the office and left the secretaries behind at the counter.

Jack said, paperwork will take a couple weeks. We'll send two guys over to look at the books, and if everything's right, the surveyors want to get started next month. We already got locations in mind and want to move fast. The new federal highway is going in and we're going to open same time. Can you boys handle that?
Joel and Howard agreed. We're ready.

Business concluded, and agreement made, Joel and Howard walked back to the car in shock over what just happened. It was unbelievable, but they were part of the Big Harvester family now.

Joel was shaking his head smiling. Howard was bent over laughing, and then they both started laughing and yelling.
What are we going to tell our wives? I don't know. We're going to be rich? Followed by more laughing.
It took ten minutes to get back to the car, and they still couldn't stop laughing.
At last, they both reached a breath and rolled down the windows.
Whew. That was something.
That Jack Marlboro is a great guy. I remember him getting started with Blue Stripe, and look at him now with that big office and working for Harvester.

They pulled out and started driving back to Trinity. We have to find a way to tell our wives. That started them laughing again. Then Howard said, I don't even know why that's funny, causing them to laugh harder.

No more than a few miles outside of Abbeyville, a big blue DeSoto rolled past at high-speed.
The girl in the passenger seat turned around.
Howard said that looks like Joddie.
Joel said, no, it looks like Joddie but that's not their car. And Bob wouldn't drive like that.
Yeah, you're right.

Another car came over the hill behind them.
Howard turned around and saw a large heavy Negro at the wheel.
The big Buick passed them just as fast as the DeSoto.
Did you see that?
There was a Negro driving that car.
Howard said yeah. He must've robbed the bank.
Yeah that's the guy.
Why's he chasing the other car?
I dunno?

And do you believe that? He stole the car.
I don't recognize the car, wonder who he stole it from?
I don't know that car either.

A few seconds later, a third car, a big Oldsmobile passed them at high-speed.
Was that a Negro too? No he was white.
Look at that. Maybe we should pull off. People today drive way too fast.
No let's keep going, maybe we'll see them up ahead.
They better catch that Negro.

A few minutes later a police car came up with lights and siren and passed them.
Look, he's not going as fast.
No, he's not going fast enough to catch the Negro.

What can we do?
We should catch up and tell him a Negro stole that car.
No, the police know what they're doing. They'll catch him. Then he'll learn.

They should teach that boy a lesson for stealing somebody's car driving like that.
Yeah.
I'm glad there's no problems like that in Trinity.
I don't think anybody stole a car in town, do you?
Well I can tell you this, our new store's not going to have any Negroes.
That's right we don't need problems.

Five miles later they saw the police car stopped off the side. They slowed down and saw the DeSoto off the road.
Stop the car, stop the car.
For some reason, Joel was suddenly panicked that Joddie might be in the car and almost tipped his own car over the shoulder.
Howard said, hey hey, back up.
They got out and ran over. Howard was first there and saw Bob laying dead outside the driver door. His head was completely bloodied.

Joel screamed, oh my god, where's Joddie, running to the open passenger door and began searching around in the weeds for her.
Where'd she go? Joel ran down the hill yelling Joddie, Joddie, and ran into the bushes trying to find his daughter.
Howard and the policemen joined in, but the briars were so thick, nobody could go far.
She has to be here. She was in the car, where is she?

The one policeman noticed the DeSoto wasn't damaged, and said, it looks like they just ran off the road. The glass is not broken, and the car's still running. There's no dents. There's no blood in the car.

Joel said, there were two other cars with the bank robbers.

The policeman said, no they caught the bank robber. He's in jail. We saw these people run through town speeding and chased them.
What about the other two cars?
We didn't see any cars.

Joel said there was a Negro chasing them.
A Negro?
Yeah, he stole a Buick and was chasing Bob and Joddie.
You sure?
Howard jumped in, yes. There were two cars chasing Bob. The Buick and an Oldsmobile. The Negro was driving the Buick.

The second policeman yelled, hey look over here. Another car pulled off in the grass. Look, you can see the tracks go back up on the road.
Wait, Joddie must be in that car.

Joel was staggered. He couldn't think straight and was breathing hard. Howard helped him back in the car, and said, look we have to get back to Trinity. We'll get on the phone. We'll call the governor. We'll call everybody. The car was headed to Trinity, she's probably there.
You think Joddie is in Trinity?
Yeah, well she must have got a ride with the other car.
With a Negro?
Naw, the Oldsmobile.
The policeman said the car just ran off the road. Joddie's not here. We searched everywhere. Nobody went that way because of the stickers, and she's not on the other side either. If she was there, we would have seen her. No, she got a ride with the other car.

Joel wailed, yeah, but how did Bob die? The thoughts were overwhelming him in the summer heat. Where's Joddie, oh dear god. I know she's in trouble. This is horrible.
Howard said, it's okay, we'll be home in 10 minutes and we'll find her. She's ok. We'll send the boys back for the DeSoto to check everything, but I know she's in Trinity. Just hold on and we'll get home.

Contents      Top      Previous      Next Chapter   
Author Page