Title: Crazier Than a Two Ring Circus
Author: J. Moen
Feedback: Would be appreciated!
Rating: PG-13
Summary: A small circus comes to Silver City.
Disclaimer: Peacemakers and its characters are sole property of USA Networks in
association with Michael R. Joyce Productions. This is a work of fan fiction.
No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 1
Before he stepped into Luci's saloon, Marshal Stone paused to glance at a poster for a circus coming to Silver City. Various acts were depicted: clowns, a dog and pony show, a contortionist, a one man bicycle band, fire jugglers, daring aerialists, and exotic animals. The sideshow attractions were listed across the bottom. He also noticed a bicycle leaning against the saloon storefront beyond the doors. No doubt its owner was inside escaping the afternoon heat. Although bicycles were fast becoming a popular American recreation, the roads in the area were too rough to make riding very enjoyable.
Stone had an uneasy feeling the outlook for a peaceful week was quickly making a turn for the worst. A circus was never welcome news for him. People started acting foolishly when the circus came to town. Youngsters would try to mimic the acts and hurt themselves. Some people would adopt "holier-than-thou" attitudes concerning the circus folk, calling them freaks or, at the least, belittle them for abnormal lives. However, they would buy tickets anyway. He, himself, didn't know exactly how to relate to circus people. They had a different perspective on the world. Most times, though, they were more law abiding than ordinary citizens. Hopefully, he was worrying for nothing.
A cold beer would definitely improve his mood. Walking up to the bar, he asked for his drink and looked around at the other men relaxing in the saloon. He noticed a skinny man wearing a bowler hat and goggles hanging around his neck, sitting at a table nearby. The man's trouser legs were wrapped close to the ankles with twine. He was sipping a sarsaparilla soda.
"Must be the bicycle fellow," Stone thought, "Seems like an odd duck."
He approached the man. "Welcome to Silver City. I'm Marshal Jared Stone," he began.
The man interrupted, "Is there a law against having my bicycle on the sidewalk? I'll remove it immediately, sir."
"Settle down, man. You haven't done anything illegal unless you have a guilty conscience and want to confess," Stone replied.
"Oh no, no, no, no," the man responded, "I'm Henri Porter," and he offered his hand.
Stone shook his hand and sat down. "You living in the area?"
"I'm from Denver, Mr. Marshal, sir. I'm just out for a ride," Porter said. He took several, quick sips of his soda.
"You rode your bicycle here from Denver!" Stone said incredulously, "What the hell for?"
"I'm preparing to ride across the United States. I feel my greatest challenge will be the mountains." Porter's eyes kept darting to the marshal badge.
"No doubt," Stone interjected.
"So if I can't beat the mountains, I probably should give up. I don't want to make the trip to the coast if there's a chance my venture will fail," Porter continued.
"Have you ever considered a motorbike? Detective Finch has one but he can't ride it in town.too dangerous. He might sell it to you," said Stone.
"No, I intend to make it on my own power," Porter boasted
"Well, OK, good luck to you." Stone swallowed the last of his beer. He rose, slightly touched the brim of his hat and left the saloon.
Outside a large crowd had gathered in front of the train station. Stone spotted Katie down the street near his office. She beckoned him over. "The circus train is due any minute now. Mayor Smith said there'll be a parade through town on the way to the meadow. Most folks are planning a picnic supper to watch the big top go up," Katie exclaimed.
Stone grumbled incomprehensibly.
Katie sighed. Marshal Stone was a perpetual pessimist. "Maybe the clowns can cheer you up."
"I'd prefer a slow afternoon of fishing. Have you seen Finch lately?"
"In his laboratory. He had his nose in a book about genetics," answered Katie.
Detective Finch was intently reading a textbook with his feet propped up on a lab table. He didn't even look up when Stone came in. He held up his index finger to signal I'll-be-with-you-in-a-minute, not wanting to lose his train of thought.
"I want to discuss business. Reading can wait," Stone said.
"Being informed on the latest scientific research is part of business," Finch said, perturbed at Stone's impatience, "but go ahead."
"When I was in Cold Spring, Chipper said a Colorado dispatch came in concerning a fraudulent land scheme. The report had a description of the flimflam man and his typical methods used to trick unsuspecting folks into paying for nonexistent land. Do you have it? It's not at the office."
"Did you look on your desk?" asked Finch, "There was a big pile of papers on it."
"Well, of course, I checked my desk. And I was gone for a week so stuff piled up," Stone griped. "It's your job to see the paperwork is taken care of in my absence."
"Paperwork is low priority compared to scientific inquiry," countered Finch.
"Tell that to the people tricked out of their hard earned money," Stone said angrily, paused, and then continued. "I met a nervous stranger at Luci's who might fit the con man's description. Chip remembers something about the trousers that was unusual but he can't remember the exact detail."
Music from a band drifted in the open windows. "The parade has started," said Finch. He put the book down and headed for the door.
"Hold on, Finch!" shouted Stone.
"I don't know where that dispatch is," Finch said over his shoulder.
Stone followed Finch out. "Aw, Finch, not you too." Then it occurred to him. "Maybe I'm just too old to be excited by a circus anymore."
Stone had already read the daily logbook entries for the past week upon his return to Silver City last night. There were only minor problems which were dealt with satisfactorily and didn't require follow up action. ("Shoulda been plenty of spare time to keep up with the paperwork," he groused.) He began sorting the correspondence into two piles: needs an answer and just information. He made another pile for the federal and state dispatches, and wanted bulletins. He didn't find the one about the bogus land scheme. He looked through all the desk drawers. He even looked under the desk and made a mental note to have Chip clean up the dust motes tomorrow.
Stone stared at the piles of work. He took off his reading glasses and rubbed his eyes. He had already avoided the boring task by lingering over supper. Actually, he wanted to nail the papers to a tree for target practice. The wanted posters would be more eye-catching with bullet holes in them.
Two hours later, he was tackling the "needs an answer" pile, the one requiring the most concentration. Suddenly the office door burst open. Stone jerked back in his chair.
"Marshal, there's been a murder at the circus!" Katie said, "Finch will meet us there."
Author: J. Moen
Feedback: Would be appreciated!
Rating: PG-13
Summary: A small circus comes to Silver City.
Disclaimer: Peacemakers and its characters are sole property of USA Networks in
association with Michael R. Joyce Productions. This is a work of fan fiction.
No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 1
Before he stepped into Luci's saloon, Marshal Stone paused to glance at a poster for a circus coming to Silver City. Various acts were depicted: clowns, a dog and pony show, a contortionist, a one man bicycle band, fire jugglers, daring aerialists, and exotic animals. The sideshow attractions were listed across the bottom. He also noticed a bicycle leaning against the saloon storefront beyond the doors. No doubt its owner was inside escaping the afternoon heat. Although bicycles were fast becoming a popular American recreation, the roads in the area were too rough to make riding very enjoyable.
Stone had an uneasy feeling the outlook for a peaceful week was quickly making a turn for the worst. A circus was never welcome news for him. People started acting foolishly when the circus came to town. Youngsters would try to mimic the acts and hurt themselves. Some people would adopt "holier-than-thou" attitudes concerning the circus folk, calling them freaks or, at the least, belittle them for abnormal lives. However, they would buy tickets anyway. He, himself, didn't know exactly how to relate to circus people. They had a different perspective on the world. Most times, though, they were more law abiding than ordinary citizens. Hopefully, he was worrying for nothing.
A cold beer would definitely improve his mood. Walking up to the bar, he asked for his drink and looked around at the other men relaxing in the saloon. He noticed a skinny man wearing a bowler hat and goggles hanging around his neck, sitting at a table nearby. The man's trouser legs were wrapped close to the ankles with twine. He was sipping a sarsaparilla soda.
"Must be the bicycle fellow," Stone thought, "Seems like an odd duck."
He approached the man. "Welcome to Silver City. I'm Marshal Jared Stone," he began.
The man interrupted, "Is there a law against having my bicycle on the sidewalk? I'll remove it immediately, sir."
"Settle down, man. You haven't done anything illegal unless you have a guilty conscience and want to confess," Stone replied.
"Oh no, no, no, no," the man responded, "I'm Henri Porter," and he offered his hand.
Stone shook his hand and sat down. "You living in the area?"
"I'm from Denver, Mr. Marshal, sir. I'm just out for a ride," Porter said. He took several, quick sips of his soda.
"You rode your bicycle here from Denver!" Stone said incredulously, "What the hell for?"
"I'm preparing to ride across the United States. I feel my greatest challenge will be the mountains." Porter's eyes kept darting to the marshal badge.
"No doubt," Stone interjected.
"So if I can't beat the mountains, I probably should give up. I don't want to make the trip to the coast if there's a chance my venture will fail," Porter continued.
"Have you ever considered a motorbike? Detective Finch has one but he can't ride it in town.too dangerous. He might sell it to you," said Stone.
"No, I intend to make it on my own power," Porter boasted
"Well, OK, good luck to you." Stone swallowed the last of his beer. He rose, slightly touched the brim of his hat and left the saloon.
Outside a large crowd had gathered in front of the train station. Stone spotted Katie down the street near his office. She beckoned him over. "The circus train is due any minute now. Mayor Smith said there'll be a parade through town on the way to the meadow. Most folks are planning a picnic supper to watch the big top go up," Katie exclaimed.
Stone grumbled incomprehensibly.
Katie sighed. Marshal Stone was a perpetual pessimist. "Maybe the clowns can cheer you up."
"I'd prefer a slow afternoon of fishing. Have you seen Finch lately?"
"In his laboratory. He had his nose in a book about genetics," answered Katie.
Detective Finch was intently reading a textbook with his feet propped up on a lab table. He didn't even look up when Stone came in. He held up his index finger to signal I'll-be-with-you-in-a-minute, not wanting to lose his train of thought.
"I want to discuss business. Reading can wait," Stone said.
"Being informed on the latest scientific research is part of business," Finch said, perturbed at Stone's impatience, "but go ahead."
"When I was in Cold Spring, Chipper said a Colorado dispatch came in concerning a fraudulent land scheme. The report had a description of the flimflam man and his typical methods used to trick unsuspecting folks into paying for nonexistent land. Do you have it? It's not at the office."
"Did you look on your desk?" asked Finch, "There was a big pile of papers on it."
"Well, of course, I checked my desk. And I was gone for a week so stuff piled up," Stone griped. "It's your job to see the paperwork is taken care of in my absence."
"Paperwork is low priority compared to scientific inquiry," countered Finch.
"Tell that to the people tricked out of their hard earned money," Stone said angrily, paused, and then continued. "I met a nervous stranger at Luci's who might fit the con man's description. Chip remembers something about the trousers that was unusual but he can't remember the exact detail."
Music from a band drifted in the open windows. "The parade has started," said Finch. He put the book down and headed for the door.
"Hold on, Finch!" shouted Stone.
"I don't know where that dispatch is," Finch said over his shoulder.
Stone followed Finch out. "Aw, Finch, not you too." Then it occurred to him. "Maybe I'm just too old to be excited by a circus anymore."
Stone had already read the daily logbook entries for the past week upon his return to Silver City last night. There were only minor problems which were dealt with satisfactorily and didn't require follow up action. ("Shoulda been plenty of spare time to keep up with the paperwork," he groused.) He began sorting the correspondence into two piles: needs an answer and just information. He made another pile for the federal and state dispatches, and wanted bulletins. He didn't find the one about the bogus land scheme. He looked through all the desk drawers. He even looked under the desk and made a mental note to have Chip clean up the dust motes tomorrow.
Stone stared at the piles of work. He took off his reading glasses and rubbed his eyes. He had already avoided the boring task by lingering over supper. Actually, he wanted to nail the papers to a tree for target practice. The wanted posters would be more eye-catching with bullet holes in them.
Two hours later, he was tackling the "needs an answer" pile, the one requiring the most concentration. Suddenly the office door burst open. Stone jerked back in his chair.
"Marshal, there's been a murder at the circus!" Katie said, "Finch will meet us there."