Chapter 35: Donal’s Proposal
Davey wasn’t one for heavy drinking—that had been the old Davey’s vice—but he still ordered a glass of whiskey.
After the Six-Point Cabin job, Arthur had earned five hundred dollars. Even if he’d handed over half, he’d still have more than two hundred left.
But Davey suspected Arthur hadn’t handed in a cent.
Generous as ever, Arthur declared that tonight’s drinks were on him.
He pulled out a twenty-dollar bill, and the whiskey flowed freely, one glass after another.
Mac, of course, drank whatever was put in front of him, while poor Lenny—still shaken from what happened in Strawberry—started drinking along too.
“Mr. Callander, Mr. Graf would like to speak with you.”
The voice came from a police officer Davey recognized—one who’d attended his banquet—but the man wasn’t in uniform this time.
The “Mr. Graf” he mentioned was none other than the deputy sheriff.
Davey glanced at Arthur, Lenny, and Mac, who were all deep into their drinks, then nodded slightly.
Following the officer, he slipped out through the saloon’s back door.
Before long, they stopped in front of a two-story house.
As soon as Davey approached, Deputy Sheriff Graf stepped outside to greet him.
“Mr. Callander, my apologies for disturbing you,” Graf said, looking a bit uneasy. “Donal asked me to arrange this meeting. He wishes to speak with you.”
Davey frowned. “Donal? The one from the O’Driscoll Gang? The man who once threatened Mr. Calloway’s people? Mr. Graf, do you realize what you’re saying?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Or are there O’Driscolls hiding in that house right now, waiting to ambush me?”
Davey made no move to go inside—he wasn’t about to walk into a trap.
Graf shook his head. “Mr. Callander, Donal came alone. He just wants to talk.”
Davey replied coolly, “If he wants to talk, he can come out. We’ll speak elsewhere.”
Graf nodded and went back inside. A moment later, he returned with a man following behind.
Unlike most gang members, Donal didn’t look rough or mean. He wore a suit and tie—though anyone who could write threatening letters was hardly an innocent man.
“Mr. Callander, this is Mr. Donal,” Graf said with a brief introduction. Then he turned to Donal. “I’ve done as you asked. What happens next is between you two.”
It was obvious Donal had something on Graf—some leverage that made the deputy do his bidding.
Davey, however, couldn’t have cared less.
Graf gave Davey a polite nod and left the two men alone.
“My apologies, Mr. Callander,” Donal began. “That misunderstanding earlier was my fault.”
“Let’s move somewhere private—perhaps your place, Mr. Callander?” he suggested politely. Donal hadn’t expected Davey to be so cautious—it wasn’t the behavior of a typical cowboy.
“No need,” Davey said. “We’ll walk and talk.”
He glanced sideways. “I have to admit, I’m curious. You know I’m with the Van der Linde Gang, and you’re an O’Driscoll. Aren’t you afraid I’ll just shoot you where you stand?”
As they walked, Donal kept a respectful distance beside him.
“Mr. Callander,” he said, “I may be part of the O’Driscoll Gang, but not everyone in it is loyal to Colm.”
“Most of us just use the gang’s name to do business. We pay a cut to Colm to stay out of trouble, but we’re not bound to him.”
Davey smirked. “So, Donal, are you saying you want to switch sides? Join the Van der Linde Gang?”
“No, Mr. Callander,” Donal said quickly. “I’m not looking to defect—I’m here to propose a partnership.”
He hesitated before continuing, “Deputy Graf told me you’re setting up a moonshine operation. My trade is in pharmaceuticals. Our businesses don’t conflict.”
“If you’ll allow me to continue running my operation, I’m willing to pay you one hundred dollars a month as protection money.”
Davey raised a brow. “So you can pay Graf two hundred a month, but I only get one hundred? That about right, Mr. Donal?”
Donal’s face paled. “No, Mr. Callander, that’s not what I meant! The clinic’s medical alcohol was one of my biggest income sources. We don’t make moonshine ourselves—but we sell alcohol to those who do.”
“Now that all the medical alcohol goes to you, our profits have dropped sharply. A hundred dollars a month is truly the best I can offer.”
Davey gave a small nod. He didn’t doubt the man’s words—he’d seen plenty of entries for medical alcohol in the ledgers he’d reviewed earlier.
“What makes you think I’d agree to this partnership?” Davey asked curiously.
Donal paused, then said, “Because the light of civilization from the East is spreading westward. The old, brutal ways won’t survive much longer.”
“The Van der Linde Gang and the O’Driscolls have been enemies for years, but neither deals in business.”
“Mr. Callander, though you’re part of the Van der Linde Gang, you’ve already started running a real enterprise—moonshine.”
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