Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-02-26

ertl LOT fo,OoU. his creditors were extreme
y anxious to secure the mine, so Frank
would accept anyterms that would satisfy
this claim and leave him a share in the
mine. ! talked the matter over with Judge
Stirman, an old friend, the railway super
intendent, and he proposed that we should
together buy the mine. / was to raise my
share Of the money on my real estate. In
three months time the judge would buy
up my notes, and would sign an agreement
70 give me my paper back for my interest
IN the mine in case wished to close out
during the year.
In order TO raise the sum needed put
mort gage on my sisters property, now
much increased in value, and on my ranch.
feeling secure in doing so, as / was assured
OF being released by the judge in case Of
tight times.
We put in steam hosting works and
built wagon road. The Mascot barely
paid expenses. One day we would strike
rich ore to blast through barren rock to-
morrow. Time was passing.
Judge Stirman was plunging into many
speculations and was reported to be max
ing mint Of money, but times were ever
tight with MS. One day he sent for me.
How dye do Thompson. Some one
must so into the field, as l want to run a
line through Muggin's Gulch TO Romero, in
the San Luis country We want to freight
out the coal and oar of that region, and so
does the Aspen and Midland. Now, we
must be in ahead of Them and must have
some one who will succeed. am author
lied to make terms with you. and if you
Will select your party and go right to work
we are prepared to push the Mascot lust
the same as If you were on the ground, and
you can hold your shares intact and have
the pay Of construction engineer to the
new line also. Can you gog
In three hours, il | can pick out nv
own surveying party, and have the pay
guaranteed to them that will secure
them, said J.
Agreed. Quick work to beat another
line and secure the right of way is the
measure TO win, Mr.. Thompson
Here was luck. | could redeem my
property and that of my sister. which
would be in a bad way should | not live.
and still keep my shares in the Mascot
mine. gladly took the field; and hard as
worked | won, and in securing the right
of way for the d. s. r. G. attracted tn. at
tention of many of the stockholders of the
railroad
AS my year was nearly up, and the
shares would have to 20 on the market to
save my own and my sisters property, you
may guess how close a shave / ran for my
all as l never could have redeemed the
had the mine failed. But she did
not fail, and l sold out cool hundred
thousand worth of shares, cash down, and
am still a stocl1holdern
drew deep breath when Mr. Thomp-
son finished his story, and sunk any pride
or hesitation, and boldly asked if there was
any place, however humble, for a green
college lad like myself.
Give me chance, Mr.. Thompson. Let
me prove myself" said l. most humbly.
well, my boy, don't mind telling you
that that was n cute, and to me new and
neat trick you displayed in making that
turn around that smash up yesterday. And
If you have mind to come with me to
Carbondale might find place there on a
logging gang at $50 per month and found.
You could test your college learning there;
and ifyou handled your men well, and did
as well as am sure you can do, you will
soon find advancement, as the ID. and r. G.
are building new lines out to new mines
and coal beds all the time. want to get
clear Of all engineering work, as l want to
travel.n
Thanks, Mr.. Thompson; am only too
to be allowed place anywhere
accept your offer gladly"
Here was luckl /, Cyril Avery, who had
struggled so long to be independent, was
on the high road to fortune, engaged en-
gineer to logging gang for the ID. s. r.
g. r. r. What Dragging letter wrote
my half sister, Ida Avery, when got into
Carbondale, Colo, that afternoon.
had to purchase my outfit, and equipped
myself in broad white felt hat, blue fan
mel shirt, corduroy pants, a roll Of blankets
aud some reading matter. The next morn
ing we were in camp at Willow Park We
pitched our tents under big cottonwood
tree, by the side of a clear little mountain
stream. The change was delightful at
first, but it always becomes tiresome. A
tent is so warm when it is warm, and so
cold when it is cold. Then a steady diet
Of pork and beans, beef and potatoes,
canned corn and tomatoes becomes weary
ing. Soon came the task Of "fluking" the
logs down the slide; no more time for
monotone and vapors.
There was a rush at headquarters, and ]
was sent for and put in charge of the con
struction gang on the line. and found my
self in a position requiring knowledge,
skill and power to command and direct
two hundred men.
Il was three weeks before I was relieved,
and then to my great relief Mr.. Thompson
himself, whom l had not seen since the
day of my arrival at Carbonate, rode
into camp, and shaking my hand heartily,
said;
How is that logging gang doing,
Avery?"
"How does this piece Of engineering do,
Mr.. Thompson? VIII it pass2" said l.
"Ay, they do tell me down at Stirman's
that you are the present engineer of this
line"
Thanks, Mr.. Thompson, all due to
You"
What better fortune could a friendless,
almost beardless, college boy ask than to
be made engineer Of the line Of the ID. and
r. G. railroad up Thompson's Creek can
yon, at $3.50 per month, and be able to take
stock in Thompson's pet, the Mascot mine,
which is proving a bonanza, indeed.-M. J.
Gorton in Independent
A Common Freak.
When p I. Barnum was in the museum
business in New York one Of his most
jovial friends was Gaylord Clark, a famous
litterateur in the days of our fathers. They