San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-03-06

myself after TINS ana give III Il DOOll.
Pierce looked blank for moment.
But. confound it, after we've taken
all this trouble to save your skin you
want to remain here and go through it
all over again.
mo; there will be no trouble. Be
sides | want you to stay here for awhile
IA wear or so, old fellow, eh3 and get
into our ways. You'll like the place.
Wonderful trout fishing. splendid snipe
shooting. fine climate. Oh you'll enjoy
it, know"
Then, growing earnest, he outlined his
plan to Pierce. 1t was, in brief, to di-
vide about fifty thousand dollars among
the men who had been hired for the ex-
petition, and retaining Whitley and
Sheriff Woodruff dismiss them all.
He would then call together the chief
men of the city and form board of
directors under hfs own presidency, lay
ing before them a scheme of manage
ment which he was sure would inure to
the benefit of all.
The city would simply he a great
stock company, capitalized from its own
priestly savings, and its earnings would
be divided among the people. There
were rich mines to be worked, and
which alone would make the people
wealthy; in fact, the more he thought
of it the more feasible it seemed, and he
grew enthusiastic at the prospect.
Although Pierce was not 50 sanguine,
he still felt that with unknown millions
in bank almost any scheme could be car
ried out. and he felt~like trying the eX.
pertinent. He looked dubious. however
understand me- added Eric. -
mean business 1t is not al pure philal
thropy by any means. l know we will
have to buck against ignorance, super
stitiOn and fear; also there will be Il rush
Of outsiders, spectators. land grabberS
and others here that must be checked.
The government will perhaps interfere;
the state certainty will We will need
all our wits and more to manage things,
and even the success Of the plan may he
our undoing. for when they are all cdu-
Gated twenty years hence other interests
will perhaps be more powerful"
And therefore it would be wise"
interpOsed Pierce, "for us to place away
in some good solid securities few mil
lions for the use Of original charter men,
bers, as it We're, in case the board Of d.
rectors is voted out Of Office some time
in the future
Just so, Eric answered, "and Ikla-
pei himself would say the same. At
least it is no more than other discover
ers and cOnquerers have always done"
''Only they took all there was in
sight" said Pierce, land we propose to
take only small percentage. Are
Whitley and Woodruff in this at ALL"
perhaps it is better that they remain
Outside-for the present anyway" Eric
answered, laughing.
That night the inhabitants of Atz-
Ian in great meeting elected Gilbert
their governor. The voting was by ac-
clamatiOn, and the whole proceeding
did not take fifteen minutes. He was
summoned and made a speech to them,
unfolding his ideas in the simplest man
ner so that they cOmprehended his
scheme readily. They We're quick to see
the advantages Of the plan, although
they had no mOnOpolistic corporations
as examples to teach them the power of
combination. But he laid great stress
upon the difficult nature of the task, and
again and again laid before them the ne
cessity of constant toll, ceaseless vigi-
lance and tireless patience.
Most of all, above all, work. work.
no g e
of the world; the aim and end of living
aye, It's life itself"
The next day the wagon train came
into the city, and the Atzlans crowded
about the canvas covered wagons, filled
with mingled curiosity and fear. The
horses terrified them by their every ac,
ton; the wagons amazed them; their
eyes were tired before the dav passed
with staring at the marvels that were
displayed on every hand. Many of them
made most advantageous bargains. ex.
changing gold and silver ornaments
mere baubels, for the rare things the
strangers brought. Their greatest de,
sire was for the axes, hatchets and hunt.
ing and pOcketknives. But some queer
trades were made. One aged chief had
obtained a pair of eyeglasses and was
beside himself with delight at the res
tOratiOn of his vision, while another rev
eled in the possession of a compass anC
spent his time showing the unerrinl
needle to his astOnished friends
. Eric had cautioned them not to be to-
liberal in their dealings with the whit,
men, and also tried to prevent their be
ing swindled, and endeavored to proven
too palpable swindling on his mems part
but it was nearly impossible. The tenn
tation was too great on both sides to b.