Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-08-14
MnnlIng For a NIarkel.

DFOOhlyu Edklo.l
II say, stranger, you wouldn't like
to put little money out at four hun
dred thousand per cent interest,
would you?' asked a seedy- looking
customer, edging his way through a
crowd of advertisers to the cashier S
desk, in the Eagle counting-room,
yesterday.
II don't know" replied the cashier,
cycling him suspiciously, what have
you got?"
Got What have got? | have
got the deepest, widest, straightest
ledge in the territory Of Colorado"
I'm not buying any mining stock,
said the cashier, running up a column
of figures.
Right you amt" calculated the
millionaire. Leastwise, you ain
buying any stock in mine, cause it
amt for sale. / wouldn't part with a
half share in that ledge for all the
money a cooper could barrel in eight
years But I've got some quartz here
that's going to make your eyes bile
over when you see it. Be careful how
you look now. | seen seven men
fairly blinded by this chunk O. wealth
before nine clock this morning. just
throw your hand to your forehead,
SOS to kind O shade your squints,
while | turn one end loose. See this
now" And he turned back the paper
around a piece of limestone and let it
project slowly. Are you getting ac-
customed to it pardner? Think you
dare take wink at the whole racket ?
See the silver glisten all along here ?
That's the dirt I'm diggin, and I'm
going to let you have this stuff econ
omical. You can get this corner lot
away from me for four hundred dol
lars, l was offered thousand, but
I've saved it for you stranger, cause
| knowed you was a deservin young
man"
"Where'd you find that dornick?"
asked the cashier, contemptuously.
"Outen my ledge right in the Ter
ritory of Colorado. Amt she hand
some piece Of gilt? Look at them
speckles, stranger; let your lashes rest
on them speckles offuture wealth and
ambition gratifed, and then reason to
yourself that you're going to get it for
$400."
Don't want it." responded the
cashier, earelessly, hunting through
his fgurers for an error,
"She pans $4,000 ounces to the ton,
81 800 to the ounce. Would you please
Gale late that for me in money, strang-
err | have been fgurin' SO much
that | lost all run Of these small ae-
counts"
"Sixty.four million eight hundred
thousand dollars" replied the cashier.
"Jist SO. And this yere quarter Sec
tion of rollin' in luxury, what do you
estimate its weight?"
six or eight pounds" said the
cashier, cycling the rock.
Never mind a pound or two, call it
six" said the seedy man that's
ninety six ounces. That would make
this lump of human happiness worth
hundred and fifty odd thousand
Gimme $75."
"0h, go throw it away said the
cashier. Il don't want it at all. +"
"Im tired Of carryin' it around"
observed the seedy man. I've got so
much of this key to bliss that | don't
mind partin' with it cheap-say four
dollars"
Get out with you. l cant bother
with you any more. | don't want your
cobble stone at any price" calculated
the exasperated cashier.
Say, stranger" pleaded the seedy
man, after moments pause. Il want
to step up the street and pay the
mortgage off the church my poor old
mother goes to. Could you lock this
round on the ladder TO accomplish
hopes in your vault until | come back.
[ won't be more'n hour and "a"
The nexr instant he rolled off the
curbstone, with his piece of cheap
pavement rattling round his head.
II don't believe anybody'll inter
fere with it here" he sighed as he
brushed off his clothes and dropped
the rock into the nose bag of a truck
horse. Il reckon it's safe. say" he
continued, sticking his head into the
counting-room door and hailing the
cashier again, 81 say, pardner, you
would not mind keeping an eye on
this horse for an hour and a half,
while step up to the church"
Then the deepening shadows of the