“Yes, I believe it did.” Luke shook off the sad memories. “Tell me what you’ve been doing since the war.”

“I’ve worked for a number of powerful men. I have a talent for organization and detail. Many have found me useful for these reasons.”

“But you never stayed with just one?”

If the question concerned Sedgwick, he didn’t show it. He kept his gaze fixed on Luke. “I’m afraid it had to do with my health. I tried various areas to live, but often it didn’t agree with my condition.”

“Which is?”

“Trouble with my lungs, I’m afraid. Some areas just seem to irritate them more than others.”

“What made you think Duluth would be an acceptable place to live?”

Sedgwick smiled. “Because I grew up there. I had no trouble whatsoever as a boy. In fact, it wasn’t until I became an adult and went off to school in the East that I even learned of my condition. I never let my parents know about it for fear of worrying them.”

“And who are your parents?”

“Pastor and Mrs. Sedgwick. They oversee a small church that grew with the town. My father was actually a fisherman prior to becoming a pastor. He felt God’s call much as Peter the disciple did.”

Luke smiled. Knowing Sedgwick came from people of faith put him at ease. “I’m a man of God myself. My faith has always been very important to me. It’s seen me through a lot of bad times.”

“Oh, to be sure,” Sedgwick said, giving an enthusiastic nod. “A man without God cannot hope to make anything of himself.”

“So, tell me what you know about Duluth and this railroad,” Luke said, changing the subject.

“Duluth is a small community. There are several small villages along Lake Superior, and all are very much in close contact. Duluth has, in fact, absorbed several of those villages, and they now call themselves one. There is an abundance of logging going on, as the forests are vast, and fishing and other businesses related to the lake have sprung up over the years. There are some tremendous boat builders, for example. The railroad coming is the best of all. It will ensure the city grows and survives. Across the bay is the real trouble. Superior, Wisconsin, wants to be the big city of the area, and they feel that with Mr. Cooke bypassing them with the railroad, they have been irreparably snubbed. They are still working to change Mr. Cooke’s mind.”

“That won’t happen. Mr. Cooke has made it quite clear that Duluth is the terminus of his choice for the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad. It lines up perfectly with his plans for the Northern Pacific line, which will end in Tacoma in the Territory of Washington. Instead of fighting his decision, perhaps they’d be better off to show how they can work with Duluth.”