Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-05-15

1
(Continued.)
SELLING A PROSPECT.
Starlight was fading away in tn
rosy dawn of day, when Leech an,
Buff rode together in the quiet hamle
of Blue Rabbit Diggings, and not
sound was heard but the ripple O
Little Blue Rabbit creek, as it stol
down the crooked ravine, shining lik
silver thread in the pale light Of tn
fading moon. Not a cur barked-
not a chimney smoked and the ex
cashier, as he stood shivering in tn,
miners cabin. door, thought of tn,
warm parlor he had left iD Michigan
"Hallo! Jim l have brought ,
stranger with me; gentleman VIII,
Is an agent of The government living
at Prairie du CHEN, and who lost hi
way"
"Invite him in, Mr.. Buff" reptile.
jim, getting up. strangers ar,
ever welcome at my poor cabin
Please start fire, Mr.. Buff"
"Mr. White" inquired Buff, "hay.
you raised any mineral since / left ?.
mo, l have been beset all the time
by strangers from abroad, who ar,
trying to buy my lead. Buff, l wa.
strongly tempted to sell out to-day
what were you offered, Mr.. White?'
Mr.. Stokes says he will pay me
ten thousand FIVE hundred dollars. il
| will wait three days for him to raise
the money"
During this dialogue, the parties
had all assembled around the kind
ling fire.
"Gentlemen," says Leech, 81 have
some curiosity to see this lead you
speak of, and will call again after
breakfast. Mr.. Buff, be so good as to
show me the tavern"
Buff directed him to the tavern.
winking at him as they parted, as ii
to say, I'll attend to Whites case,
while you are absent.
Buff returned to the cabin.
"Honor among thieves!" said Buff,
giving him one of his fifty dollar bills.
"Ihis ID land shark has run away
from one of the banks down east with
bags of money defalcated, as they call
It, when a man with ruff1e shirt and
silk gloves on, steals. He paid me a
hundred dollars to help cheat you out
OF the lead. Now play your part
well, ana stick for nine thousand
dollars"
After breakfast, the three gentle.
men walked together to the mineral
hole.
"Jim," says Buff, "you think more
of your mineral hole than do. Now,
If this gentleman makes you a liberal
offer, you had better SELL"
81 do not know as / want to buy,"
said Leech, affecting carelessness. -
"You have already been offered a
great price for your leads'
81 CONSIDER" added Buff, "that
you ought to remember, Jim, when
you have money offered you, that you
are owing me something, and I want
my pdy,-I need it, and can't we'll
wait for you to speculate.
"Don't get uneasy, Mr.. Buff, about
your wages. l shall probably raise
mineral enough to pay you off, Mr..
Buff. You would not have asked me
for your wages, Mr.. Buff, If had not
struck this lead"
"You struck the lead, jim? Yes,
with my help! and it would be only
liberal in you 20 make me handsome
present"
| ,oih be liberal with sou, Buff
never you mind. But now tell me
candidly, Buff,as you are an old miner,
would you take fifteen thousand dol
lars for the lead p
slim, you know l am friend OF
yours +; but scorn to NEEDLE with
other mems bargains; 1 wW say,
though, Jim, mat l would take q
great deal less. Bat every man for
himself. There is not over thirty thou
sand to the foot"
Leecb came up from the mineral
hole with eyes as big as pealed onions.
swell Mr.. White, what is the le ast
you will sell for ?" says Leech, pale
with excitement.
"Ten thousand dollars" replied
Jim, the words faltering on his lips.
81 will give you nine, Mr.. White. u
81 will take it, MIR. .Leech. The
lead is yours"
"Mr. Buff" quoth Leech, paying
White a thousand dollar check on the
Suffolk Bank of Boston, "Mr. Buff
please witness that l pay Mr.. White
one thousand dollars, to bind this
bargain.
The parties went to a magistrate
and in one hour the conveyance was
made--the remaining eight thousand
dollars paid-and Mr.. Leech became
the proprietor of grated minera
hole.