The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1889-09-07
AN ADVENTURE.
How 10 Majors Frustrated tho
~ Evil Designs Of a Criminal.

desk in a clear, running hand, which showed
that he was not unfamiliar with the use Of
apen.
AS he turned away TO be shown TO his
room the clerk glanced at the inscription.
$40 Majors, Lone Jack, Missouri" the en-.
try read.
10 was an interesting youth. He was
nothing more than country lad, yet his ex-
traordinary intelligence and business quail
ties endowed him with distinction due to
few boys Of his years.
Although tho days since his sixteenth
birthday could be numbered by the fingers
of his two hands, he had come to the city to
attend TO an important transaction which
required tact and sharp insight Into bust
ness, and involved large sum of money.
JOS father was the owner Of a large
stock farm, and every fall he shipped car
loads of fine cattle to the great packing
houses of Kansas City. 10 kept his ia
theirs books, and, thoroughly understanding
the business, he came to be intrusted with
some Of its most important features
This occasion was the first on whicih
had come to deal, single-handed, with the
4 cattle magnates; but his father had sent
him without any uneasiness, for he had
great confidence in the boys discretion and
judgment.
His duty consisted Of selling the beeves
in his charge at the very highest price it
was possible to obtain. The dealing was
with the shrewd buyers of the millionaire
packers, who were never 10th to take ad-
vantage of 'greenness" or business inca
pacity, and therefore his commission was
no sinecure or child's play.
10 had succeeded better than he had
dared to hope He had received from Fow-
lers house cent more per pound than his
father had received for fifty head two
weeks before, and the money--two thou
sand dollars in bills-reposed in his coat
pocket.
He had intended to deposit the money in
bank and return home that evening; but
20 late in the afternoon was it when his
contract was made that he found the bank
doors closed, and he resolved to remain
over In the city until the following day.
He did not consider 1t worth while to
leave the sum with the hotel clerk for safe
keeping, for the reason that no one would
suspect him, country boy, soberly
dressed, OF having any large amount of
money; and, besides, he did not intend
leaving the friendly warmth and light of
the hotel that night.
He ate his supper with an appetite born of
consciousness of duty we'll done, and then
passed an hour In the reading room. As he
laid aside his paper he was addressed by
blonde young man, who smiled on him
like brother.
Isn't this 10 Majorsl" he was asked.
Eyes. You seem to know me-" replied
Jo. you have the advantage. however,"
''Shake hands" said the young man, as he
drew up chair and seated himself beside
the boy. "Know youl OF course know
you'll Do you remember a young fellow who
stayed all night at your house, near Lone
Jack, two or three years agoi I'm that
chap. Do you rememberl"
mo, / don't know that l do,n 10 re-
sponded, thoughtfully IA good many fell
lows have stayed there, first and last, with
father or some of the hands.n
~<%Well, no matter. You were considerably
younger then, and Iwasn' There long enough
10 impress myself on your mind But rec
ognized you the moment l saw you. So
you are In the city for time2 Pm glad
you are at this hotel; we can be together
some. I've been here for week, and haven't
made the acquaintance Of anybody hardly,
and I'm glad to see familiar face"
The blonde young man chatted amiably,
and as 10 could see no harm in him, the two
were soon on quite friendly terms.
Now, the boy was up to the usual games of
confidence men, and had the stranger pro
duced a freight bill, or cards, or q certified
check, or asked q loan, he would have bid
den him 'good-evening'' at once. But when
the topic of conversation continued to be
any thing but money, any suspicious he NAV
have cherished gradually vanished.
The young man got to telling about play
that was being presented at one of the opera
houses, and 1t proved fascinating subject
to 10. who was fond of such amusemen,s.
He laughed heartily as the comical situations
were pictured to him. 1
Finally the young man felt in his pocket
and fshed out a tive-dollar bill.
Hey, Jop' he exclaimed, holding 1t up.
'',et's take in that show! We've nothing
else to do, and owe you nights expense
ior keeping me three years ago at your
mouse. What do you says" IL,
10 accepted the proposal at once. The ex-
perience Of attending theater was very
rare one with him, and for that reason was
all the more welcome.
"How far is the opera-house from herel'
he inquired, as they went out the door.
Not over block and a half" answered
MS friend. sits just down the street here.s
In anticipating the treat in store, 10 for
got the money in his pocket until he was
1alt square from the hotel
ne wa o. tae point of turning back and
oepositing il with the clerk, when he
changed his mind and walked on, thinking
tne idea foolish, as the theater was so near
md the route on such @ prominent street.
Inc young man continued his interesting
recital OF the plays merits, arousing more
ana more the boys curiosity an6 eagerness,
80 mat nc did not notice that they turned
into side street, which was not SO well
ngnted or so much Travelled as the one on
which the hotel was situated.