Chapter 6:

Beneath the shade of a large tree is Henry F. Potter. The miserly mogul, at the turn of the century, has thinning, dark hair, a mustache and his face bears fewer wrinkles. However, his disability remains and his face wears the familiar, sullen scowl. At this moment, Henry sits in his wicker wheelchair, with his assistant nearby. He is talking with, or rather talking at, Bedford Fall's top government official, Mayor Ned Meyer. "...and you know as well as I do that we overspend on policeman's salaries. 'Increase their budget', you say! Why, the ones we have can't even turn out my deadbeat tenants in a timely fashion..."

August and Thomas witness the exchange from a distance. Thomas shakes his head, "This just isn't going to work, Hab! My pairing is pointless! I've seen the cure for progress, and its name is Potter."

August summarizes their predicament, "Then that leaves us but one option...and lucky day, he appears to be headed in our direction!"

Approaching from the opposite end of the park is the tall gentleman who lives at 320 Sycamore. He greets and is greeted warmly by the townsfolk as they pass. The tall gentleman approaches Potter and the Mayor.

Potter's tone is unrelenting, despite the approach of the man from 320 Sycamore, "…And you would do well to heed my warnings!"

The tall pedestrian tips his hat toward Ned, "Mayor."

The mayor, who wears a suit with a wide green sash, responds, "Good day, Nathan. You are here just in time to hear Henry's critique of my fiscal management."

Potter cannot prevent himself from correcting the mayor, "Mis-management, in my opinion! Unfettered malfeasance!"

Tipping his hat now to Henry, Nathan counters, "Mr. Potter is, if nothing else, generous with his time and his opinions."

Nathan's words stung, but Potter was not ready to back down, "Yes. Always the joker. Here you stand, two of the biggest spendthrifts in the state of New York, making sport of me. Here, Nathan, wasn't it two years ago to the day that you outbid me for that tract of unbridled wilderness south of the Falls?"

"Guilty as charged," Nathan admits.

Henry pressed his case, "As I recall, you paid a small fortune. And what have you done with that tract? Nothing! It remains as wild and without value as the day you purchased it."

Nathan cannot resist a sharp rebuke, "And, at about the same time, if memory serves, you managed to pry the Harvest Lake area from a still-grieving widow Thoms."

Potter grumbles and fidgets.

Having found a sore spot, Nathan continues to poke at it, "Which you promptly turned into the largest and most unsightly excavation!" Nathan chuckles, "I feared that the Panama Canal was to be routed through Bedford Falls!"

Potter's expression is agitated and indignant.

Nathan summarizes with a brutal confession, "Henry, the only intention I ever had for the property I purchased was to keep it away from you. Having now seen how you can leave your mark in the earth, I believe that I have salvaged both the property's value and dignity."

Potter, unable to defend himself, retreats in a huff, "All the hot air around here, someone should open a balloon stand." Then, motioning to his hired man he snapped, "Let's go."

Granville and the Mayor exchange glances. An assistant to the Mayor appears and whispers in the Mayor's ear, spurring him to action, "Seems that this festival doesn't run itself. Pardon me, while I dispense with my official duties."

Granville tips his hat to the Mayor. Kraft and Campbell, who have been waiting in the wings, see that Granville is alone and venture to approach him. Thomas initiates the conversation, 'Good day, Mr. Granville."

"And, to you gentlemen," Nathan responded. Are you well?"

August, glancing nervously between Thomas and Nathan wastes little time explaining their intrusion, "Quite well, thank you. If you can spare a few moments, Dr. Campbell and I would like to propose a business venture that we believe will be well received by our community."

While Nathan did not become wealthy by freely distributing capital, he understood opportunities for wise investments were a matter of awareness and timing. He frequently took interest in the schemes and dreams of his fellow citizens, "Indeed! I would be interested to hear it. If the day after tomorrow would not be too long to wait, I'll ask you gentlemen and your lovely wives to join Charlotte and I. We will dine, for who can conduct any good business on an empty stomach? Then, after dinner, we'll discuss your initiative."

Thomas and August seem surprised by Nathan's offer. Thomas grinned, "Certainly. Thank you, sir!" Almost simultaneously, August reached forward to shake the entrepreneur's hand, "It would be our honor!"

As Nathan continues up the path, the two friends laugh and congratulate themselves on their good fortune. The military band reaches a crescendo as Mayor Meyer ascends the steps of the bandstand to the cheers of the townspeople.

The mayor raises his hands to quiet the crowd, "If there ever was a treat for the senses, it is our annual summer celebration: the aroma of Mrs. Meehan's honey-glazed chicken, the sound of sparklers, propelled by the active feet of the Harris and Norquist children, the sight of Mr. Halfort devouring yet another apple turnover from the table of the Glenn sisters."

Mr. Halfort, his mouth full of pastry, acknowledges the Mayor as laughter ripples through the crowd.

The mayor continues, "We gather to celebrate many things, including our town's rich history. Legends remind us that true leaders often emerge when the need for them is greatest. The legend of Lewis Bedford is a perfect example."

The two friends, having heard this particular speech before, turn to look at each other, and say simultaneously with a hint of sarcasm, "Leapin' Looey Bedford!"

He may have given this speech a dozen times or more, yet the mayor was determined to tell this tale as if he were sharing it for the first time, "Nearly 300 years ago, when Native Americans were the only people who wandered this heavily wooded region, Lewis joined an expedition from Tarrytown as a lowly supply carrier. Incidentally, Lewis did not want to be on this, or any, expedition. He was a lad raised in the city, but left to escape trouble with local authorities. As the expedition progressed further into uncharted lands, the top three expedition leaders fell ill and died. The remaining group were uncertain regarding how to proceed. They quarreled. As the entire expedition faced certain calamity, Lewis – a lad of only sixteen, and a greenhorn - leapt into action. When he led his group to safety over yonder hills and into this placid valley, he was honored as a hero!"

Thomas was very familiar with the mayor's speaking style. As the crowd cheered, he looked at August and began a countdown, "Three, two, one." Then the mayor and the two compadres said simultaneously, "Let us never forget, let us never forget!"

August chuckled, "And, let us never forget, my good man, that if we don't soon return to the spot where we left our families, we may be forced to leave town like ol' Leapin' Looey."