Read Online To Kill the Duke by Sam Moffie, Vicki Contavespi - Free Book Online

for free,” Hughes offered.
    “The FEDS?” a very confused Powell said.
    “They own the land in the Escalante Valley. As a matter of fact, they own
all
the land, even under my house,” Hughes announced.
    “No way,” Powell countered “you’re the wealthiest man in the world!”
    “Property taxes kid. Even if you have no mortgage, the government still owns the land your property sits on. Long-term mortgages for the banks, added to always-escalating property taxes, are not a good deal for Joe and Sally bag-of-donuts,” Hughes lectured. “That is why, once a month, I pay off someone’s mortgage in a different state. At least that couple won’t have to deal with the stinking bank and without a mortgage payment, they can afford to pay the taxes, upkeep their homes, buy a few other things and keep their property.”
    A stunned Dick Powell broke out into a wide grin. “That’s fabulous boss. How come you don’t promote that to the world and get back at all those people who say you don’t do diddlysquat for the common man?”
    “I don’t need to trumpet the good things I do. My ego gets fed in many other ways,” Hughes said with a huge grin.
    “You know boss, the Indians had it right when it came to land,” Powell told Hughes. “John Ford told me that. He heard it from one of the many Indian chiefs he had talked to while filming a western.”
    “How’s that again?” an interested Hughes asked.
    “The Indians do not believe that anyone has a right to own the land,” Powell said.
    “Interesting. Explains why they were swindled for all their lands. I’m not big on owning real estate. Most of the time I buy and sell real estate for tax purposes. The best businesses are the ones that make things extremely well and employ lots of people… although I do love the film business. Speaking of films, are you excited about this one?”
    “I haven’t been more excited about making a movie,” Powell said… well, he lied a little. After all, Dick Powell had been a great actor and now he was a great producer.
    “Good.”
    Both Hughes and Powell settled into their swivel chairs as the plane continued to fly at breakneck speed over the area in which their movie was going to be filmed.
    Dick Powell noticed that his boss was in deep thought, which helped keep Dick’s mind off the fact that the chair he was sitting in was moving… a lot.
    “Dick, we’re going to land shortly and I want you to do as much business with the locals as you can,” said Hughes.
    “Great idea, boss. How do I get back?” Powell asked.
    “I rented you a nice car to drive back. I thought you could take some time doing what you have to on the local scene. I also arranged to have your wife flown down to meet you here tomorrow afternoon so you can drive back together… a mini-vacation if you will,” Hughes said.
    “That’s thinking ahead. I could use the companionship of my wife… not to mention a ‘mini-vacation,’” Powell said.
Glad I made those plans to take off a few days before I left
, he mused.
    “Just don’t bathe in the companionship for too long kid,” Hughes said.
    “Where are you going to next, boss?” Powell asked Hughes.
    “I suddenly have a hankering to buy some land around as many Indian Reservations as I can, so that no swindlers can come in and set up trading posts,” Hughes said. “The tax breaks are probably enormous,” he added.
    “Magnificent idea, boss,” Powell said.
    “I think so and don’t tell a soul,” Hughes cautioned his favorite movie-studio executive.
    And Dick Powell didn’t, for many reasons. One was he had a movie to make and he still didn’t have a male lead… let alone a female star with a nice rack.
    Once on the ground, he called Miss Burchett and relayed what he was up to, and told her to start the apparatus that was his crew. When he told her that he was going to be a few days, she asked him if he wanted her to cancel his appointment with John Wayne.
    “Crap,” he said under