New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-05
A VENEZUELA MINE.


OF his profession us a mining engineer. and OF q
small but secure yearly income, he promised tslrly
70 climb the ladder Of fortune: but his first EN-
pioyment In the mines of Durango, Old Mexico,
reused q taste for change and adventure that
never after could safe itself and thenccforth ms
life was one Of almost constant movement. Win
very little excuse for it in the shape OF money
added 70 his purse.
tries he visited. Suffice IT TO say that one spring
he found himself in London. Just back TO clSlIiLa
ton from Siberia and China. and possessed ny Oh
unusual inclination to rest awhile.
Henry Raynor had never sunk his character
among hls MANY strange associates indeed, oeneatn
his easy careicssuess and restless energy Snere s
an almost naughty Independence and sell respect
Once more among dress coats and neckues he re-
sumed the conventional customs OF gentleman.
and as one he was gladly received among pi'" TS
people as an entertaining and valued guest mus
he chanced TO meet again the former OWL na-or
the Durango mine If which he had Dech Hau 1.
Of capital wealthy influential. dcVoIeu 70 puS,
ness but he heartily enjoyed the society OF liehlS
Raynor and being shrcwd judge OF ch"I"o'e4'
never attempted 10 play the patron. .o
The two men were seated III Agncws mouse
one murky chilly evening. smoking ana M MI
bv drawing word sketches Of strange customs,
peoplc and places, while the elder man was INC
image of n contentcd listener, seeing imaginative
of the scenes described In the smoke OF his
cigar. He broke into low laugh al the otler
account of an adventure more RIDICULOUS thah
risky but commented upon 1t by saying ,
Upon my word, Raynor. you have collected
mnterial enough u make hrSt-ratc story teller
of yourself but as that can't be your amoltlon,
may ask what is your object IN being such a
phenomenal Clobe-tr ottcrp Unless you intend to
make your fortune by book of travels, it seems
to me you are sQuanderlng your talents
{" Am ~" retorted Raynor, dryly. Are not
all nv old friends and school-fellows squanderlng
health vitality, conscience, on more idloto OBJ
jects than mine, which has been only nnocuous
enjoyment of life? l come home after
seven years travcl, stronger, more capable men;
tally and physically than ever, to find ;nat Fred
Lawson, who was at the head OF my class ID
hue lrsn mo-
James Gore is now nervous dyspeptc, VINO can
think of nothing by Wall Street Speculauons; ana
ycu, Mr.. Agncw, when last saw you, were not so
rich as yOu are now, but you did not wear
spectacles, complain Of being too fieshy, or have
all the hair worn off the top of your head py
business anXietics." >,
~ doubt il / could have kept the hair on my
head by riSking my whole scalp, ms you nave
done, but the balance seems III your favor, GER
tainy The fact IS, wanted TO sound you as
TO the possibility of your going into harness
like others-for good pecuniary consideration
Of course
A quick flicker Of emotion passed over the
younger mans face. and he swept the golden
chestnut hair back from his forehead-a trlck OF
gesture habitual TO him when moved. lie had
line face, with a broad, frank brow, gray eyes
as serenely bright as they were keen, and we'll
cut features The firm outlines of his
lips and chm, concealed by neither
beard nor mustachC, indicating tranquil self
reliance
Tell me what sort of harness you meant for
Mr. Agnew remained silent instant, gazing
meditatvely at his cigar as he knocked the ashes
Off
1t is nothing pleasant have to propose, I'M
less its being profitable should make II So he sad
slowly. In fact it has proved highly dSi-
greeable 10 those we have 50 far employed L
suppose you know | an part owner III "a silver
mining venture in South America? Well. 1t has
proved elephant on our hands-valuable but
very hard to manas? We have expended over p,
speaks well for the mine thar much of il has
come back 10 us In spite OF all disadvantages
The trouble is TO find proper men TO send out
not laborers those are to be found the spot,
poor in quality but cheap and plentiful what
Is wanted is manager with knowcdgc, energy
and determination At first we had Follansbcc
you remember him, | think. He died, poor
fellow, in a most exa$eratlnG way, while three
large vessels were lying in Puerto SAINT" Buy, and
not l.alf ore enough TO load them yet brought
down from the mountains Then we sent out
Robert Carter, who threw up his place and
came home in less than o year; sad he didn't
want to die like dog in the woods, among a lot
of savagcS whose Spanish cihberiSh he couldn
understand All stun and non>en>e, as you know
was out there myself last year, and 1t Is not SO
bad
Where is this placer asked Raynor; and
who is in charge now -
Piedras de Plata is several thousand feet above
the sea, and sixty miles from the coast, In Ven
ezuela. The man now in charge is William Brad
ford, Cornshman, who, fancy, thinks h Is to
rule the roost out there in future. but his past
record was too shady to permit our trusting him.
You see we have had to take what could get,
so far, and this man knows his business. Now
you can guess what we want At present every
pound Of that ore has to be carried to the coast
over q rugged mountain road, on donkey or mule
back-ano very backs they too; by
We nave plenty Of capital, and will build nail
road to Puerto Santo when once we have thu
mines under proper control-yOur control, for
instance
Il have failed to understand SO far why the
place is so intolerablc"
why, it's the isolation, the total absence OF
intellectual society," OF any decent amusement; o,
anywhere within a hundred miles; letters and
papers sent out by sailing vessels are over
month old when received The climate IS coo
and healthy, and there is plenty Of good food
EXCEPT that beef and bakers bread are scarce
I really don't wish TO mislead you, and thlnE
d is no bad place in which TO earn 5000 pounds
sterling q year-clear gain every cent OF II, foi
YOUR expenses would be nil, and. OF course you
would be master their, as we should truSt you 40
Rsynor smiled and glanced quickly at hi,
compsn MON as he said, My consideration OF youI
offer will be greatly influenced ny the lac' 'ii"'
I am engaged TO be married.
Engaged! You? Bless my soul, | would as
koop have expected 10 hear OF the Napdefihe
Jews marriage" exclaimed the other, WITH hoheS
surprise.
II have no doubt if that person existed, he
would be a very much married man, SAID The
other l know no just cause or lmpcllmcn'
why l should not enter the holy state OF matTl
mony, and l have a very fair excuse FOR DONG
90. .o , INNS, .on :.,.,0,,,e Won
20 we'll, ! suppose must congfa'ula~ you
and consider my proposal declined
ION the contrary, l may accept it, for The
Nake Of Miss Carew'
Silence fell on the two men for o space, un
broken by Mr. Agnew, because he saw the look
Of troubled thou ht the others handsome face
Raynor spoke at last, tone Of strong feeling
In his voice:
The girl l hops to marry has no property OF
her own, but lives with wealthy aunt. | will
not take my wife from luxurious home 10 one
OF poverty or discomfort. My income, though
m yall my a.,
what want for her. Still l know a way Il
increase II II IT can be diverted from ny OWE
pectstion Of marrying in less time" lie uaused
instant, but the habit OF quick decision acTuireG
during a life in which hesitation and destrnctio ION
were often Synonymous, carried him on and GO
II your company will be satisfied AT nv stinm Iat