Connecticut western news., 1884-10-01
NOT EXACTLY BEDROCK.
A Little Story of Mining Life in California
 In the Early Days.


 In California, in the days of the Com stock excitement, when all kinds of wild cats were being hoated on the market and rapidly bought by an indiscrimi- hating public, a MT. Davis bought a claim. This claim did not cost Mir. Davis much, whatever it cost the pub lie, and it was known by the name of the Bob Tail Consolidated. The speculative Mir. D. lost no time in doing what many a man under like circum- stances had done before, and has done since-he organized company and sold some of the stock. To very particular friend of his he sold large block of 10000 shares at S1 per share.
 For some time the mine amounted to nothing, and after few 25-cent assess ments had been levied, the stock would really not have been cheap as a gift.
 For this reason Mir. Davis and the friend to whom he sold the 10, 900 shares as good thing, were not on speaking OhO ddIB hOWONO4s bhC to his utter and complete astonishment, received note, asking him to call at once at the residence of Mir. Davis. He went, and found Mir. Davis in bed. The table was covered with medicine bottles, and Mir. Davis looked as if his head had been reposing in sack of flour.
 "Jim," said Davis, in & hoarse and feeble voice, "I did you dirty trick a few months ago in selling you them ere Bob Tails, for I knowed you couldn't afford the money, and, heaven knows, they've not brought me no luck"
 "Well," said Jim, "what has been done cannot be undone now" at the same time gazing compassionately upon the sickly form of the prostrate Davis. "No, no," urged Davis. "I have done you wrong. The doctor says haven't many hours to live, and before I die want to undo as far as I can the injury done you; where are them shares? ?"
 "Got 'em down at my office, was the reply.
 "You bring 'em up here as soon as you can," said Davis, "and will give you the money that you paid for 'sm. |" Muttering expressions of grief, and with eyes rapidly becoming moist with tears, Jim rushed of to the office and brought up ''them ere shares" The shares were handed to Davis, who, with an expression as if it were his last earthly transaction, handed his friend $l0,0O0 in currency.
 "I never thought you meant to do me wrong," said Jim, speaking as if he was about to choke, "and do hope you will soon be better, old man." Jim then re- tired with his hands full of greenbacks and his eyes full of tears.
 
 No sooner had he left the room than Davis, suddenly recovering, jumped out of bed and did war dance on the floor. Wiping the flour from his face, and taking the rag of his throat, he re- marked to confidant: "Well, guess I had him that time ?"
 "I guess you did," replied the con- fdant.
 
 The following morning the news was bIazoned forth in all directions that the Bob Tail Con" had struck the greatest body of ore ever seen on the Pacific coast, and the shares bounded up from 75 cents, the last assessment unpaid, to ST, The last time Mir. Davis was seen he was living at the Hoffman House in New York, feasting on the fat of the land. He was then the largest in- dividuaI holder of Bob Tail Cons, "and drawing princely revenue in the form of monthly dividends from the property. But once again Davis and his friend are not on speaking terms. s.-FEnancia NetOS