Digging Dirt

Black Hat 

Checked into the hotel 

And went for the casino bar. 

He ordered 

 And took a chair. 

Listened to the loud gossip 

Something about 

 An accident. 

More about A Christmas Gala 

And upcoming events. 

He smirked 

 It would be easy 

As eating apple pie 

To win the trust 

 Of the town folk. 

Black Hat swallowed 

 His drink and paid. 

Then strolled out 

 To learn more 

 About the town.

___________________

"Quaint little town 

 You got here." 

Black Hat slid into a stool 

"I'll have a Whiskey 

 On the rocks".

CS stopped wiping the bar 

And sized him up 

While pouring out the drink.

"It sure is 

 And we call it home. 

Haven't seen you around 

Are you here to stay 

 Or are you passing through?"

Black Hat sipped his drink 

And crunched up the ice. 

"I am planning on staying 

 I got some business

With the Mayor 

 But he's not to be found. 

The gracious Mrs. Heckler 

 Is as helpful as a 

Needle in a haystack".

"Ha! Ha! Ha! 

There's no one in this town 

Who can get past Mrs. Heckler. 

Besides the mayor and the sheriff." 

CS continued

Wiping and talking 

"The Mayor is back in town 

Is a father to twins 

There's also been a mudslide." 

And a Christmas Gala Event 

All keeping him busy."

Black Hat got the information 

he needed to know 

he stuck around 

 making small talk 

 paid well and soon left.

____________________________

Half past Ten 

Black Hat climbed 

 The steps of Town Hall. 

Mrs. Heckler waved him in 

 Before he spoke

she had informed 

 The mayor well in advance.

The introductions quickly made 

They got down to business.

"I am a businessman 

Of well standing From Carson City. 

I have a business proposition. 

I want to buy the land East of Tent City."

"That land is small 

 And extremely dry 

No good for farming." 

The mayor questioned.

"I need it to make a warehouse 

To store my goods for export. 

That land is right 

 Beside the railway track 

And across the riverway. 

Both means of transport 

Easily accessible. 

 I'll be easily able to expand 

My business."

"But what is that to BG?" 

The mayor countered. 

Black Hat smiled 

"Employment for folks

In Tent city."

The mayor looked skeptical 

But listen patiently.

"C'mon Mayor, 

The folks of Tent City 

 Have been a burden 

On BG; 

 Financially and economically. 

Jobs and Housing 

Would lift the pressure 

And make everyone happy."

The mayor considered 

 and agreed to discuss 

 it with the council. 

If they agreed 

 Then the announced 

 Would be made 

 At the Christmas Gala. 

Black Hat informed 

That he would be returning 

To Carson City 

But would be back 

 A day before the Gala. 

Meanwhile his men 

Would stay at the property 

If the deal fell through 

They would leave immediately.