When Tycoon Harrington stopped at Centerville National Bank to visit with G. Shahan on the progress of the loan applicants, Shahan informed Harrington of the two widows applying for a loan.

“I don’t know what to do, Tycoon,” Shahan says. “They’ve already got the land outside Numa, they just want a loan for the pigs, fencing, and repairs to their old barn.”

“Yes,” the Tycoon said, “I know these women. Ms. Connie moved in with Ms. Christine a few years back after Ms. Christine was having trouble finding good farm hands. Now they work together and they get it done. Tenacious ladies, they are. If they say they can do it, then I believe them. Sign my name to their loan.”

Shahan also alerted the Tycoon that there were more applicants than parcels available, a challenge that Sufflebeem had also reported to the Baron. The Baron suggested that the least qualified applicants could sharecrop, either pigs or hogs, and advised B. Bushell to draw up these contracts as well. It was a lot of details for the bankers, but they burned the midnight oil making lists of those qualified for each type of contract.

Both Stufflebeam and Shahan mentioned that there were also a number of applicants with no credentials or collateral whatsoever. “Make a separate list of those folks,” The Baron said. “What we don’t want are those fellas that get the loan money then head straight to the tavern instead of the mercantile.”

As the applicants were informed of being accepted, a long line formed in front of B. Bushell Esquire’s office to sign the contracts and assigned an available parcel of their choice. With their signed contract they could return to the bank, open an account, and business could begin.

Baron Anderson gave the go-ahead to Foreman Wright to get the cash needed to fund this venture out of the ranch safe and take it to the banks. Harrington did the same, only being a little less trusting, he took the money to Shahan himself.

* * * * *

Teamster Thomas arrived at Cowan Mercantile with the other drivers and Jewett’s fleet of new Springfield wagons to deliver fencing supplies to the partitioned sections. It was a job that all involved knew would keep them busy for weeks. It wasn’t only the new leaseholders, but also the Two Dons who, because of the demand for land and encouragement from Baron Anderson, also marked off a few sections for leasing. The bankers, B. Bushell, Jewett, and Cowan all commented that they had never seen this much money exchange hands in their entire life in business. There were those dissenters, who complained that it was all a scam by Harrington and Anderson to reap huge profits and fill their own bank accounts with more cash. The Daily Iowegian reported on both the action and the dissenters, who protested outside the banks.

Baron Anderson was quoted as saying, “There is nothing in this world that is worth doing that won’t have bumps in the road and aggravated folks making those bumps. These folks against us have a right to their opinions and feelings, but that’s all they are. We will succeed and in the future that evidence will prove them all wrong.”

* * * * *

Tycoon Harrington and Baron Anderson met Doc Lain at the stockyard where one of Harringtons trains arrived with a car loaded with Yorkshire piglets.

“Where did these come from?” Doc Lain asked.

“Ottumwa,” the Baron replied. “The packing houses up there, most of them small, can’t keep up with the demand. Hog growers all over the countryside waiting to get their hogs to the market. And full train cars unloading at the stockyards and emptying pens everyday but slowly. So farmers were willing to sell to us.”

Doc Lain nodded. “I see. So this supply and demand issue, will our farmers face the same problem with buyers?”

‘Glad you asked, Doc,” the Baron said. “The Tycoon and I, as well as Stuffy, Shahan, Strickling, and Bushell, came together with some investors in Ottumwa to build a new state of the art packing plant only for hogs. Harrington and Strickling have the clout and connections to get the processed meat to surrounding cities and Chicago, and south to St. Joseph and Kansas City. The only way it will fail is if the folks in those cities don’t eat bacon and ham on a daily basis.”

“And what will this do to the local beef market?” The doc asked.

“There will always be demand for both,” the Baron said. “Growth in our cities will see to that.”

“Very well,” Doc Lain said. “This will be good information for our association meeting tonight. If you think it’s good timing.”

“Absolutely,” the Baron said. “Every bit of hope and faith we can give the folks of this county, the more likely they will succeed.”

* * * * *

J. Bonus was alerted by one of his security officers that a hobo had been caught hiding behind a stack of crates in a freight car. Bonus went to investigate, and they had the man detained and on his knees next to the tracks.

Bonus looked down at him. “What’s your name?”

“Meng, sir. Please, I beg you to have mercy.”

“You know the rules on our trains, right?”

“I do, sir, but I have nowhere to go. My plight is severe.”

“More than any other hobo we capture on our trains? Why is your story different?”

“I will tell you,” Meng said. “If you care to listen.”

Bonus listened to the man’s story and a wave of compassion swept through him. He was supposed to stay neutral, do his job, and not let these men get to him. But he remembered what Strickling said about their “Christian duty.” For this reason Bonus knew it was not for him to decide.

“His name is Meng, sir.” Bonus said. “My men found him hiding behind crates in a freight car. He is old and was trembling.”

“We’ve had other old, trembling hobos on our trains,” Strickling said, “why is this one different?

“He’s been without a home since ’71. He lost everything in the Great Chicago Fire, his hotel business, and his family perished. I can’t help but feel sorry for him.”

“Feeling sorry for him is not your job, Bonus.”

“You are correct sir,” Bonus said. “I will turn him into the constable if you wish, as is my job. But I thought I should tell you his story first.”

“So, you believe his story?”

“I do, sir. And I believe if we take him to Ms. Marty, she will know if he’s being truthful or full of whiskey and apple butter.”

“All right,” Strickling said. “Have your men take him to Ms. Marty’s shelter. If you are right, she will know soon enough.”

* * * * *

In the next episode of Centerville 1884: The new leaseholders are hard at work fencing and building shelters for their hogs. The Baron and the Tycoon meet with G. Eddy and R. Guffey to discuss the expansion of corn farming in Appanoose County. Ms. Christine and Ms. Connie get to work on the improvements to their farm and the arrival of their piglets. Ms. Marty informs Tycoon Strickling of her work with the hobos, and her feelings on Meng. Ms. Winona reports on developments in the upcoming presidential election.