The impromptu parade broke up around Forty-first Street and seeing that it was a nice sunny day, Bill decided to walk home. However he found himself drifting off course and instead walked to 97 East 11th Street: Paddy Diamond’s Bar & Grill.
He looked at his pocket watch and seeing that it was 12:05, said to himself as he walked through the open double doors, “I bet Paddy has a nice lunch menu for today”.
The long bar was already half full with the regulars of this time period and when Bill happily saw that his favorite spot at the end of the 40 foot long mahogany bar was empty, he grabbed it. He removed his hat and gloves and placed them and his walking stick on the empty, backless, round stool next to him and as Paddy was busy at the other end of the bar, he took the time to check out his favorite drinking place.
Two of the three entrances of Diamond’s Bar & Grill
The long wooden bar had twenty plus stools, all backless with horsehair filled round cushions covered in red wool that will become red plastic over the years. Five large windows lined the street side of the bar and the three booths next to three of them gave a sitting customer a nice view of the carriages that rolled by as families took a leisurely ride on such a nice day. The sunlight that poured through the great windows was reflected and multiplied many times over by the large mirrors behind the bar. Those same mirrors reflected the light of the gas lamps attached to the wooden columns that held up the half dozen wooden shelves that displayed the wines and liquor available. A long, four-inch in diameter, brass foot rail ran down the length of the bar and the floor was decorated with hexagonal shaped black and white, one-inch tiles. At the rear of the bar was a smaller room abutting the street side window that held one booth. This was the room that the ladies sat in. Separating this room from the main bar was a wooden spindled arch and above that arch was the large moose head that gave Bill a smile whenever he visited Diamonds, in whichever time period, it was, as the head sported a few long cobwebs that flowed in the breeze whenever the front and the rear door in the ladies section was open.
On the floor behind the bar were sections of wooden duckboards running down the length of the bar. They were designed to keep the bar tender’s feet above any spilled drinks or water and the sound of heavy footsteps hitting those loose wooden boards alerted Bill that Paddy Diamond was heading towards him.
“Bill Scott!” the big man called out as he offered his hand, “How’ve ya been, lad?”
“Just great, Paddy, and you?” he answered as they shook hands.
“Just great! Why look at me, I’ve lost four pounds!”
Bill grinned as the six-foot plus, 260 pound man posed sideways. “Paddy, I do believe that you are hiding it beneath your apron.”
The big man laughed, which set his mop of white hair flopping around, “Ah, I can’t put anything past ya, Bill. What’ll ya have?”
“Did you cook up any eggs today?”
“That I did. How many an’ what do ya want ta wash them down with?”
“Two eggs and a cold glass of Schaefer beer.”
“On the way,” the big man said and the sound of his footsteps receded as he walked back down the bar.
He returned with a dish holding two shelled, hard-boiled eggs that slid around the round plate, and a large mug of beer. “Two chicken dinners and a cold beer,” he said as he wiped his hands on the front of his apron. He said, as a customer called him, “Back in a moment, Bill, I’ve got a thirsty customer down at the end of the stick.” He walked down the bar as Bill ate his eggs and sipped his beer. He grinned as he thought, One day I’m going to bring all the members of the 1800 Club here for a blowout party!
The time traveler decided to have a second beer along with a cigar and as he lit it, he felt a nibble at his pant’s leg and looked down to see his beagle, Samson, sniffing his shoe.
“Good afternoon, sir,” said Matt as he held the dog’s leash. “As Samson needed a walk I decided to visit Paddy Diamond for a sip of tea and as I knew you were in this time period I took a chance that I might bump into you.” Matt removed his tall black hat, dropped his gloves into it and placed it next to Bill’s. He wore his all black tux with a black bow tie, white shirt, collar and gray spats that reflected off his polished black shoes.
“Great, Matt,” Bill said as he leaned down and scratched his dog’s ears, “Can I get you something stronger?”
“No, thank you, sir, tea will be fine. I may be meeting with an old friend this evening.”
Once again Paddy’s arrival was announced by his footsteps on the loose duckboards.
“Paddy,” said Matt as he put out his hand, “Good to see you again, sir.”
“Same here, Matt. Like a brew?”
“Not today, Paddy. I’m hoping for an Irish green tea with a small cut of lemon and a drop of Tabasco.”
“Comin’ up, my friend.”
The two time travelers sat and chatted as Samson lay on the cool floor and napped. Matt had just finished his cup of tea when the beagle looked up sharply as someone tapped on one of the windows. Both men looked up as well and saw a pretty, slim, middle-aged woman smiling at them beneath her open parasol.
“I don’t know her,” said Bill as he turned to Matt.
Matt said as he nodded at the pretty woman, “Ahh, it’s a friend of mine, Miss Nicole Cappillo. I told her I might be here today and if she showed up we’d go for a stroll.”
Bill mentally raised his eyebrows as he said, “Well, go on then. Why not let me take Samson home and free you up so to speak?”
“That would be good, sir. I shan’t be late.”
“Matt, please take your time. I insist.” Our next dinner is tomorrow night. So enjoy yourself.”
Matt picked up his hat and gloves and said, “Thank you, sir. I shall.”
Bill and Samson both watched as he left the bar. Will Matt ever stop surprising me? he thought with a smile. He looked down at his dog and said with a grin, “Samson, I wonder how many other ‘friends’ Matt has when he takes you out for a walk in all of those various times?”
He paid the tab and after shaking hands with Paddy, left for home with his beagle. It seemed to take longer than usual to get home as the Sanitation Department was closed on Sundays so there was more horse waste on the streets to walk around. The smell of horse waste seemed worse than usual today, which led Bill to say as he looked down at Samson, “Pal, with that superior sense of smell that you have, I feel bad for you today. Let’s get you back home.”
Back in the club’s garden, Bill sat on his favorite stone bench and watched as the beagle sniffed a section of the area to try and find something that had dared to walk across his territory.
“Probably just a squirrel, Samson. And he’s long gone.”
Bill took out his TFM and punched in the date and time before he stood and retrieved the key from inside his starched shirt, opened the security door and stepped inside with his beagle.
DATELINE: MAY 5, 2014 PLACE: THE 1800 CLUB, NEW YORK CITY
As usual Samson was up the stairs in a flash and scratching at the door as Bill arrived on the landing. He unleashed him, opened the door and Samson bounded in and quickly settled down on the leather couch. The time traveler didn’t even take off his jacket when there was a knock on the same door he had just used.
Matt? he thought as he went to it. Naw, too soon. Must be Edmund. He opened the door and sure enough, it was his future grandson, Edmund Scott.
“Ed, how the heck are you?” he asked as they hugged.
“Just fine, Bill. Just fine, what about you?”
“Good, very good. So, is this a family visit or a mission?” he asked with a grin.
“A bit of both, grandp, ah, I mean Bill.” He held out a hologram tube and said, “The business side is in this hologram and the family part is me joining you in a cup of hot chocolate.”
“Great!” said Bill as he pointed to one of the leather chairs, “Grab a seat and I’ll whip them up.” He went to the small combination bar and efficient kit
chen and using his Keurig coffee maker, put in a cup of hot chocolate and soon had a mug of the hot drink. He made the second cup and sat opposite his grandson.
“Cheers,” Bill said as he held out his Donald Duck mug and clicked against Edmund’s plain mug.
“Cheers to you, Bill and how come I get this regular cup and you get that great Donald Duck one?”
Bill winked and answered, “You tell me your favorite Disney character and I’ll have one ready for you next time. Okay?”
“It’s okay and it’s Scrooge McDuck.”
They took a sip and Bill asked, “So, who’s Clara?”
Edmund’s face showed his surprise, “Clara? You mean Clara from my time?”
“Yep. Clara from your time.”
“How do you know her?”
Bill smiled as he answered, “Hey, just because a bunch of years separate us, that doesn’t mean that a grandfather can’t look out for his kin. Right?”
“You shock me at times,” his grandson answered with a warm smile.
“You know, she thinks that you’re cute.” He shrugged his shoulders and went on, “Then again, of course you are: you have my blood running in your veins.”
Edmund shook his head as he rolled his eyes. “Did she really say that she thought that I was cute?”
“Yep! We met in the garden as she was sending back a bot. Probably for this very same mission,” he said as he pointed to the hologram sitting on his desk. I understand that you two are having dinner tonight?”
Edmund grinned, “Wow! You are informed. Anyway, yes we are.” He looked at his watch and downed his drink before saying, “That was good, Bill, now I must run and get ready for tonight.”
“Hate to see you go, but I should take a look at this before it becomes reality.”
“I understand. Thanks again for the drink and maybe next time we can go back to the club for dinner. That was great.”
“You have a date, Ed.”
They both stood and at the open door hugged goodbye.
Bill took off his coat, kicked off his shoes and sat on the couch as he activated the hologram cylinder.
He watched it four times and opened a large book on the Titanic. He found two different photos of the iceberg, both wearing the telltale smear of red paint.
At ten o’clock Bill went down to the kitchen and made himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and fixed Samson a bowl of food. They were both finished when Matt entered the room.
“Sir, shall I whip something up for you? A steak with onions, peas and potatoes?”
“No thanks, Matt. I just finished two PB&J sandwiches and am ready for bed. Did you and the lady enjoy yourselves?”
“We did, sir. We strolled through Central Park and fed the pigeons.”
Bill smiled as the grandmother clock in the kitchen chimed ten times.
“I noticed a hologram cylinder on your parlor table as I entered the den. Is there a mission being planned, sir?”
Bill’s eyebrows furrowed and he asked, “Parlor table?”
“Yes, sir. The Victorian Parlor table that you refer to as your ‘coffee table’.”
“Ohhh, that Parlor table. Yes, my grandson Edmund was here and he passed me a mission cylinder.” He shook his head and said, “Sort of a tough one.’
“Anything that I can do to help, sir?”
“I’m not sure yet, Matt. Lets start off with tomorrow night’s dinner list. Will Rocko Perna be there? I think we need someone that’s handy with a sailing vessel of sorts.”
“I’ll go to my quarters and send the attendance list to you, sir. Have you started the newspaper yet?”
“No,” he answered with a shake of his head. “I’ll get on that before going to bed.” He looked at the clock and said, “In fact that’s what I’m going to do right away.”
“Fine, sir. Good evening then. Wake you at ten?”
“Naw. Better make that eight. I still have some reading to do.”
One hour later, Bill read the articles he had selected from the various newspapers of May 6, 1870.
Brooklyn Eagle
For Sale $3.00 Item Number 570
Off White, Hand Crocheted Baby Bedspread of a Little Boy Running Through High Grass Chasing A Butterfly With A Net.
This Off White Filet Crochet Baby Bedspread is absolutely adorable. It shows a hand crocheted filet crochet center of a little boy running barefoot through tall grass as he tries to catch a butterfly with his net.
The figure crochet area has new blue satin ribbon threaded through it with an antique bodkin. The area outside of the crochet center design is all hand crocheting. It is edged in a shell crochet edging. The piece measures 43" x 37 1/2". It is in excellent condition and is ready to use. It is soft as well as beautiful. Absolutely delightful for any new baby boy. What a great one of a kind baby gift
Brooklyn Eagle.
New York Times
February 25, 1870 The First African American Senator
On February 25, 1870, visitors in the Senate galleries burst into applause as senator-elect Hiram Revels, a Republican from Mississippi, entered the chamber to take his oath of office. Those present knew that they were witnessing an event of great historical significance. Revels was about to become the first African American to serve in the Senate and this newspaper fully endorses him. Born 42 years earlier to free black parents in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Revels became an educator and minister of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. During the Civil War, he helped form regiments of African American soldiers and established schools for freed slaves. After the war, Revels moved to Mississippi, where he won election to the state senate. In recognition of his hard work and leadership skills, his legislative colleagues elected him to one of Mississippi's vacant U.S. Senate seats as that state prepared to rejoin the Union.
New York Times
New York World
Children and Elders Alike Enjoy New York’s First Aquarium
The New York Aquarium at Battery's Castle Clinton in Lower Manhattan is the place to go to learn about aquatic life. The Aquarium's facility houses 150 specimens!
New York World
Bill grinned as he knew today's version of the Aquarium is home to over 350 species of aquatic wildlife and over 8,000 specimens. It lasted in the Battery until 1941 when it was relocated to Brooklyn’s Coney Island because of the construction of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel.
Well, I have a newspaper for tomorrow’s meeting, he thought as he cut and pasted the three articles into the club’s newspaper, joining them with the news of the day, horse race results, puzzles and gossip pieces. Finished, he sent it to Matt to be printed.
Now, for a shower and bed.
He took a shower and, wrapped in his tattered terry cloth robe, went to the open laptop and saw that Matt had sent him the menu for tomorrow’s dinner. Bill sat and gave it a look over. Not that I’d ever change any menu that Matt put together, he thought as he perused it onscreen.
Appetizers
Caesar Salad
Poached Egg, Parmesan, White Anchovy
Iceberg Salad
Jasper Hill Blue Cheese, North Country Apple-Wood Bacon, Red Onion, Tomato
Club’s Salad
Candied Hazelnut, Lemon Yogurt
Maple Brook Farms ‘Burrata’
Roasted Peach, Arugula, La Quercia Prosciutto, Grilled Red Onion
Tuna Tartare
Yuzu, Horse Radish, Olive Oil
Grilled Seafood
East Coast Oysters, West Coast Oysters, Little Neck Clams, Shrimp Cocktail, Poached Lobster, Colossal Crab
Blue Crab Cake
Three Sister’s Salad, Charred Pineapple, Piquillo Pepper Coulis
Club Cured Bacon
Heirloom Tomatoes, Spring Onion Pesto, Ranhofer sauce
Acquerello Risotto
Ruby Red Shrimp, Charred Corn, Preserved Meyer Lemon, Pea Shoots
Roasted Oysters
Diamond Jim Brady Style
Cage-Free Foie Gras
Chef’s Special Sauce
After Dinner
Tea, Coffee
Deserts
Ice Cream, Vanilla Fudge Cake, Lemon Curd Pie with Brown Sugar Sauce
I really must start to exercise again, he thought as he signed off.
Eight a.m. the next morning came fast, but easy, as he was woken by the smell of bacon, eggs and coffee.
“Good morning, sir,” said Matt as he set the breakfast tray on the table next to Bill’s bed.
”Good morning, Matt,” he answered with a squint as the drapes were pulled apart allowing the morning sun to fill the room. “Sleep well?”
Matt looked perplexed that someone would even think that he didn’t always sleep well. “Yes, sir, of course. And you?”
“Like a baby.”
“Actually, sir, it has been proven that babies sleep fitfully more often than not.”
It was Bill’s turn to look up and roll his eyes.
As soon as breakfast was over, Bill went back to the book on the Titanic to fine-tune the timeline he would have to keep too so as not to be seen by any passing ships.
After lunch, Bill asked Matt to come up and watch the hologram. Both men were silent after it ended. Finally Bill said, “So, as you saw, the painting ended up on that iceberg and the mission is to retrieve it before the berg breaks up in the warmer waters that it’s in now.” He faced his right-hand-man and went on. “Tonight I’m going to brief Rocko Perna and John Brand and ask them to join me on this mission. Rocko, because he is a sailor and will be in charge of renting the best boat for the job, and John, because I might need another person to help. As usual, I’d like you to set us all up with clothes and supplies as well as transportation.”
Matt nodded and closed his eyes momentarily, then said as he looked up at the ceiling, “Because Misters Perna and Brand have stepped back before and I needed to supply them with outfits and such, I have their measurements and will exhibit them after tonight’s club meeting. Would that meet your requirements, sir?”
Book 11 Page 18