The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-06
in the mine in case wished to close out

in the mine in case wished to close out
during the year.
'.In order to raise the sum I needed put
mortgage 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 III case OF
tight times.
'sWe put in steam hosting works and
built a 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 Stirnlan was piunging into many
! speculations and was reported to be max
ing mint OF money, but times were ever
tight with US. One day he sent for me.
"'Eow dye 90, Thompson. Some one
must 90 into the field, as / want to run a
line through Muggin's Guich TO Romero, in
the San Luis country. WewaEt to freight
ous the coal and oar of that region, aud so
does the Aspen and Midland. Now. we
! must be in ahead of them, and must have
some one who viii 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 just
! 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 go?'
Tin three hours, if / can PICK out my
| own surveying party, and have the pay
! guaranteed to them that will secure
| them, said l.
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 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. & r. G.. attracted the at
tention of many of the stockholders Of the
railroad.
''As my year was nearly up, and the
shares would have to 90 on the market to
save my own and nay sisters property, you
may guess how close shave l ran for my
all, as | never could have redeemed the
property 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 stakeholder"
/ 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
NE prove myself" said !, most humbly.
"Well, my boy, don't mind telling you
that that was a cute, and to me new and
neat trick you displayed in making that
turn around that smash up yesterday. And
if you have q mind to come with me to
Carbonate l might find place there Oh a
logging gang at $50 per month and found.
You could test your college learning there;
and if you handled your men well, and did
rs well as | am sure you can do, you Will
soon find advancement, as the D. and r. q.
are building new lines out to new mines
and coal beds all the time. I want to get
clear of all engineering work, as l want to
travel"
Thanks, Mr.. Thompson; am only too
thankful to be allowed a place anywhere.
l 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 eli
gineer to logging gang for the ID. & r.
G. r. r. What a Dragging letter wrote
my half sister, Ida Avery, when / got into
Carbonate, Colo, that afternoon.
l had to purchase my outfit, and equipped
myself in broad white felt hat, blue fam
mel shirt, corduroy pants, a roll of blankets
and some reading matter. TheneXt morn
ing we were in camp at Willow Park. We
pitched our tents under a big cottonwood
tree, by the side of 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 steady diet
of pork and beans, beef and potatoes,
canned corn and tomatoes becomes weary
ing Soon came the task of ''fiuking" the
logs down the slide; no more time for
monotone and vapors.
There was a rush at headquarters, and l
was sent for and put in charge of the con-
struction gang on the line, and found my
self in position requiring knowledge,
skill and power to command and direct
two hundred men.
1t was three weeks before | was relieved,
and then to my great relief Mr.. Thompson
himself, whom | 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? Will it pass?" 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 friendless,
almost beardleSs college boy ask than to
be made engineer of the line of ohe D. and
Il. G. railroad up Thompson's Creek can
yon, at $50 per month, and be able to take
stock in Thompson's pet, the Mascot mine,
which Is proving bonanza, indeed.-M. J.
GortOn in independent.