The Company Town

THE COMPANY TOWN

the Legend of Alchemy, Nevada

By Carson Merrick

MARTIAN PUBLISHING

Copyright © 2019 by Martian Publishing Company

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved.

No portion of this volume may

be reproduced in any format

without the express written

permission of the copyright holder.

This is a work of fiction.

Any resemblance to persons or

organizations, living or extinct,

is entirely coincidental.

CHAPTER ONE

The sign on the edge of the town said

ALCHEMY

Company Town of the Alchemy Mine

The newcomer looked from the sign to the buildings beyond. The town seemed out of place here, in the middle of nowhere. Most mining towns he had seen were nothing more than half a dozen buildings or so and a lot of tents. This one had the pretense of civilization.

He had been in the area for only two weeks but already had staked a small claim that had already struck a small vein of silver.

Since this was a mining town, they probably had an assay office. Hopefully one that did not accept ore from only the company holdings.

Entering the town, he passed a few residences and the church before coming upon the bank. And right across the street was the Assay Office.

A clerk looked up as he entered.

Good afternoon. May I help you?

Yes. I was wondering if you took in from people other than the company mine.

The fellow grinned. "Son, we'll take quality ore from anyone who's got such to offer. What have you got there?'

He hefted his saddlebag up and set it on the counter. After undoing the straps, he held it open for the assayer to see inside.

The fellow examined the contents and grinned. Yes, I do believe we can do business.

It took a while to conclude their business. Then he went in search of the general store which he found in the next block adjacent to the town's hotel.

Morning, stranger. The balding shopkeeper looked up as he entered the general store, peering intently over his wire-rimmed spectacles.

Good morning, sir. I realize this is a company town but do you have any objections to selling to outsiders?

The man grinned. I never refuse paying customers, company or not. His laugh was closer to a bark. Truth be told, the company people usually put it all on credit which leaves me to keep track of all the paperwork! He wiped his hands on a towel and extended one. James McGillicuddy, at your service.

Matt Nichols. He shook. Thanks.

So, what are you going to need today? He moved behind the counter in Matt's direction, watching the stranger look along the shelves lining the wall, looking for what he wanted. Might be easier to say what you need, son. The looking may take a while.

Well, I was just looking at all the variety you had here. Not what I would have expected from a small town store.

Heck. This is a company town, you know, and we have to deal with the miners as well as the managers. All their tastes differ, as you might guess, and we have to cater to all of them.

Matt nodded. Ah! Yes, I can see your point. He gave up looking at the shelves and pulled a list from his pocket. I'm gonna need some beans, a side of pork…

As he read, the shopkeeper made a few notes of his own and started moving to assemble the items close to hand. When the list was finished, he said, Is your wagon out front?

No, I've just got my horse.

The storekeeper looked over the list and nodded. I'll have Lem bring these items around front for you. He went to the rear doorway.

Lem! After a moment, a youth appeared. Get these things for this fellow and bring them around front. Then help this gentleman load his horse. There's a good lad.

He came back to the counter, wiping his hands, taking a pencil from his pocket and scribbling on the slip of paper. Your total is $6.50. Will that be charge… He laughed and shook his head. Sorry. I'm so used to asking that question. That will be cash, of course.

Matt had already dug it out of his pocket and counted the bills out. He looked worriedly at the small amount remaining as his hand went back into the pocket.

Thanks, son. Lem should be along in a minute to help you get all this loaded up. He leaned on the counter. In the meantime, what brings you to Alchemy anyways?

Oh, just thought I would try my hand at mining. Read about the silver rush that went on several years back and thought that maybe there might be some of it left.

Yes, he chuckled, seems there's still a bit left for the taking, though seemingly not as much as there once was. Just in the last year I've seen a dozen operations close down when they hit the end of their veins.

Matt nodded. Yes, and I'm lucky to have found one everyone overlooked. It may not be too much but it seems enough to suit my needs.

Been at it long, have you?

Matt shook his head. A couple of weeks. He shrugged. Too early to tell if there's enough to retire to Frisco with, if you know what I mean.

Absolutely. Isn't that what we'd all like to do? He looked around the store. Tried my hand at it once – when I was younger, mind you – and today I work for the company. Everyone's dreams turns out a bit different than when they start, I guess.

Matt nodded. I reckon so. He saw the young man, Lem, poke his head in the front door. Well, Matt continued, thanks for your help and I might be back in several months, if I'm still in the neighborhood.

And good luck, son. We all need a bit of that.

Matt started for the door but stopped and turned back. Excuse me. Is this the post office too?

No, son, McGillicuddy tipped his head to the right. That would be in the hotel next door.

Thank you, sir.

After seeing to the loading of his horse, he unhitched the horse from the post in front of the mercantile and walked it fifty paces eastward before tying it to the post in front of the hotel.

Inside, the clerk behind the counter greeted him.

Excuse me, Matt said, I have a letter to mail and will need to purchase a stamp.

Sure thing. He reached under the counter and brought up a tray. Tearing off a single stamp, he passed it over. That'll be two cents.

While digging in his pocket for the money, he asked, If a letter was mailed to me here, at General Delivery, would I be able to pick it up?

Absolutely! This may be a company town but this is still the United States Post Office.

Thanks! After giving him two pennies, Matt said, Could I also bother you for the use of a pencil? I need to add a postscript.

Sure. He reached along the counter and grabbed a pencil.

Thank you. While Matt leaned over the letter, the clerk went about his regular business.

Matt wrote: P.S. Frances, you can write me back at General Delivery, Alchemy, Nevada. Hope to hear from you soon. Matt.

He quickly re-read the earlier part of the letter to see if he would have to scratch anything out. It had been started over a month ago while he was still in Dodge City.

Satisfied at the content, he folded it back into its envelope and sealed it. After affixing the stamp, he handed it to the clerk.

Thank you, sir.

No problem. Come back anytime.

Loaded with supplies, the horse's speed on the return trip was about half what it had been going into town. Matt had enough time to ponder the wisdom of his decision. He wondered if he was accomplishing anything here. Especially in regards to his sister.

Life in Boston had been good. His brothers and sisters had seemed to thrive there but his mother had always noticed he was different. She called him her fragile son. It had not set well with his father but he had rather quickly observed Matt had no interest in banking.

Fragile or not, he had to get out of Boston and try to make his own way in the world although he had no idea what that might mean, or where he might find it.

He first went to Chicago, a bustling booming place on the Great Lakes, but he had trouble fitting in. Then he tried the slower paced St. Louis but the feeling had followed him and he itched to keep moving.

He tried herding cattle in Dodge City in Kansas but even that life seemed a bit fast for him. Now, though, even racking his brain he could not recall exactly which parts of the long slow cattle drive seemed too fast for him.

The feeling of not fitting in had kept him moving.

At some small town in Colorado he had heard about the recent mining boom in Nevada and thought spending all that time alone, by himself, digging in the ground… well that just might be enough nothing to sooth his fragile soul.

The journey had brought him into the vicinity of Alchemy and something about the place just felt right to him. After searching around the hills a while, he found a promising spot and staked his claim.

Being several miles from the town, he was close enough to go for supplies on an as-needed basis but not so close that he might feel compelled to be involved with the community.

It was an arrangement that appealed to him.

The mining, however, was hard work. Even though he had a rather uncanny ability to know where to dig to find the silver, the work was quite a bit more demanding than anything he had undertaken before. As a banker, he would have had to deal with the commodity on the opposite end of the production line.

But here, at least, he had far less people to encounter.

Gauging the Sun, he might actually have a couple of more good hours of mining before it got too dark to see his hand in front of his face.

He pulled on the rein. Come on, Hermione, let's pick up the pace a little.

She cocked her head to the side, one large eye trying to figure if he was joking, and neighed loudly, shaking her mane.

He grinned and shrugged. Okay, have it your way.

Looking around at the landscape, he thought what a far remove from where he had started. Even Dodge City had not been this desolate. The prairie had abundant life, lots of grazing lands for cattle and more than a few farms in operation.

Here, of course, the climate would not support much in the way of grass much less anything fit for human consumption. If it was not for the mines, he doubted there would be anyone in the area.

He could understand the draw of the area for the Mormons who had come out west; the isolation gave them the freedom to live however they wanted. By force of numbers alone they were turning the desert into their own version of paradise.

This particular region did not beckon to that sort of hardy souls. No, it seemed greed was the only reason to find oneself in this desert.

Once again, he reviewed his decision to leave the comforts of Boston for this small piece of Purgatory. Sure, the winters were a bit rough at times but overall it was a pleasant environment.

Pleasant on the outside, for certain, but the tensions at home had risen to such a level that he could no longer see himself continuing there. The carrot offered again and again of a manager's position at the bank could not entice him to remain.

If only they had not extended their mistreatment to his younger sister.

Did other families have these same problems, he wondered?

Coming over the final rise before his campsite, he sighed heavily. With Frances stuck over a thousand miles away, there was little comfort he could give her at the moment. Hopefully, the letter he had sent from Dodge City before he left and the one he just posted would keep her spirits up.

That is, if his Father or Mother even allowed her to receive the letters.

~~~~

CHAPTER TWO

It had been a week since his sojourn to Alchemy. Another typical day of mining had ended. The vein was not a large one and would probably play out soon enough but for one person it was enough to keep him at it. Most of the really big veins – those necessitating entire companies of men – had probably all been uncovered.

Not worried about his future in that regard, Matt busied himself making some dinner of beans and chunks of pork, dusting off his clothing while the food cooked over the campfire.

Hallo!

He looked up to see a man limping up the rise, waving his hat overhead, and leading a horse who was limping a bit as well. Not something one liked to see so far out in the middle of nowhere. Matt waved his own hat in response, wondering what brought someone this far off the beaten track.

The Sun was sitting on the horizon, its smolder beginning to lessen, before the fellow made it to the small campsite. I hope you don't mind the interruption, the fellow started.

Not at all, Matt smiled and motioned to the fellow, please pull up a piece of ground and get a load off your feet.

Thanks. He eased himself down slowly, leaning on a rock for support. Yee, doggies, that feels good!

I was just making some coffee. Matt squatted down by the fire. So, what happened to you?

The visitor took his hat off, dusted it against his knee and set it down on the ground. My mammy'd tan my hide for sure. Where are my manners? He reached a hand up. Dan Bridges.

Matt Nichols. He shook the hand. And I hope you like beans.

Dan laughed and spread his hands. Hey, I'm a miner, aren't I?

Well, I'm not really sure about that…

My manners again! He shook his head. Yes, I'm a miner. Work for the Alchemy Mine. Don't know if you've heard of it…?

He nodded. Yes, I've been to Alchemy. They got a nice mercantile there. Gotta get supplies from somewhere.

Of course! Silly me. Anyway, Nellie here spooked a few miles back and stumbled. I got thrown clear of her but banged up my leg. Fortunately, Nellie's not injured and nothing's broke on me, near's I can tell. Leastaways it don't hurt near enough to be broke. And I ain't too far from home. Although I had hoped to get home tonight, I don't think it's possible. Sure was lucky I happened on your camp.

A bit of luck. I'm sure you wouldn't like to sleep out in the open.

Not around here, anyway. And not a place to travel at night either; ground's not nearly level enough – have another nasty fall, sure 'nuff. And, we got some real nasty critters hereabouts. He shifted his leg, wincing. But I'll be fine when I get back to town and see the doctor.

Oh? You have a doctor there?

Dan's eyes widened. Of course. It's a company town you know, and there is a mine in operation, he shrugged, so we naturally have a doctor. There's always mining accidents, you know.

Yes, I suppose so. Never really thought much about it, you know.

Eyebrows rose. Why? Do you have a need for a doctor? I don't know he'll see you… I mean, since you don't work for the company and… another shrug, it is a company town.

And everybody there works for the company?

A nod. In one way or another.

Matt considered a moment. You know if they're doin' any hiring down at the mine? He poured some coffee from the pot, setting a cup near Dan and setting his on the ground near his feet.

Nah. Don't think there's any hiring going on. He looked sidewise at Matt. Last I heard anythin', the word was goin' 'round there might even be layoffs.

I see. Matt threw the stick he had been fiddling with into the fire. Not that I need the work just yet… Got most of what I need right here. But, his turn to shrug, prob'ly gonna need some more supplies before too long. Any chance of finding some part time, maybe with one of the ranchers nearby or one of the shopkeepers?

The fellow shook his head. Don't know any of the ranchers in these parts. They keep away from the town – 'cause it's a company town, y'know – and we keep away from them, pretty much.

Hmm, guess I'll have to find something before too long. Maybe my stake here will pan out.

Oh, trying your hand at mining, are ya?

Just a small dig up the canyon a ways. Haven't found much yet.

The stranger glanced up the canyon in the direction indicated and did a quick double-take. His eyes remained fixed in the distance. You got a rifle handy? Mine's back with my horse.

Why? What's the trouble? He glanced around the twilit surroundings.

Dan's voice