Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-12-09
7a0RNBRIGHPS SURPRISE
A STORY OF DELAY
IN LOVE.
BY JOHN HABBERToN.
CHAPTERIIr.

ranch; he sold some stock at good prices,
using the money to buy cheaply the
herds of two or three small operators
who were suddenly taken with "mning
FEVER" His plan was to hold all until
spring and then, when the herd and
grass were in fine condition 20 sell, there
would be no lack of buyers: for ranchine
still outranked any other industry in
the country in the eyes of capitalists.
To make assurance doubly sure, he post.
Eoned his winter visit to New York. Be-
fore the winter ended he was sadly glad
that he had remained on the ranch, for
wind and snow were so terrible and con-
tinuous that the greater part of nearly
every ones herd, including Toms, died,
and the remainder came out in condition
so bad that it seemed doubtful whether
the spring grass would pull them
through. And yet-such is the irony of
'fate-that detestcd preachers ranch was
spared; between natural and artificial
shelter the herd was saved from any but
thrilling loss! Everybody talked about it
talked about it to Tom--and asked il
he knew who that lucky preacher was
until the ruined, angry, desperate man
nearly lost his senses.
Only one thing was certain in the
general run OF business; he must give
up hope of being in position to ask
,Ettie Raytham to be his wife. Both
would soon be middle-aged people-ac-
cording to the standard of age which
men under thirty five adopt; he had been
a dismal failure in all the work he had
undertaken, so 1t was quite unlikely that
even old friends would care to have him
In business with them. He had plenty
OF friends who were doing well finan-
cia!ly-sOme who were profiting by ad-
vice they had asked of him in mining
and ranching. Tom had learned that
friendship seldom prompts one man to
share his business with another except
Tor quito as much cash as stranger
could be compelled to pay: business men
were not made that way. Some ono
might be good-natured enough to give
him clerkship which won d enabe him
to seem to be doing something, but he
had no intention of plrading with New
YOrk's army of wcll-born incompetents.
All that seemed left for him was to
knock about the West, with the hope of
again making something in mining or
ranching, but by the time lie could hope
to succeed he and Elite would have gray
hairs; he did not like to see gray haired
lovers.
For weeks he remained on his ranch,
longing for the time when he could sell
what remanol-if any one would buy
One day, while seriously wondering
whether to turn hermit or prospcctor,
he received letter, addressed in an un-
known hand and postmarked "New
York."
"Some new fool who wants advice
about ranching, l suppose" sighed Tom
to himself, as he slowly tore the end of
the envelope. ats the usual way:
greenhOrns always want to get into a
thing about the time that veterans are
trying to get out. / wonder if it is
some one l can unload upon, and-Great
Scott"
This exclamation burst forth as Tom
turned the letter and looked at the sig
nature. Then he dropped the letter on
the floor and stared bankly at it. FL
nally he recovered himself and stopped
to pick it up, saying:
Il don't see why should act as If it
were ratt'eSnake, even if it is signed
Wilke Straightcn. But what on earth
we'll, the quickest way to see why he
writes mo is to read it, suppose
Tom began with trcpidation; perhaps
the little schemar had at last captured
Elite Raytham; If so, he would BE- just
mean enough to write a sanctimonious
letter with great deal of old Adam in
it Tom read aloud, slowly, as follows:
NEW York, April 10, 1888.
Mr.. Thomas Thornbright:
SiR-Though our last communication with
each other was not entirely devoid OF bal
feeling, | know you fora honest man. and
therefore take the liberty OF consulting you
about n matter of business in which there
may be something to our mutual advantage
For some years have been Interested in
tho Double Bow Ranch, and recently ! have
become sole proprietor. The amount of
capital Is greater than any man should al
low to remain invested In property which
from time to time varies in value, and to
which he Is unable to give his personal at
tention. understand. also, that for several
reasons the business promises to bc less re-
than heretofore, and that the
recent great losses, through Indictment
weather, have had the effect Of depre Chatting
all such property.
WISH therefore, to sell out, and as be-
love my property is within hundred miles
OF you. In u region entirely devoted to the
and therefore likely to contain
some possible purchasers; and as at worst
the transaction should yield quite II large
to whoever may secure pur-
chaser. l write to ask II 1t will be convcn-
lent and agreeable to you to act for me.
aud the range privileges. but I shall be
glad to got thirty thousand dollars for
On this amount will pay you
u commission OF 10 per cent; should you
succeed In getting higher price, you are
quite welcome to retain all In excess Of
the above-na sum.
Trusting that the transaction may not
seem too unimpOrtant to merit your attcn-
ton, venture to inclose full power OF at
tOrney. Hoping for an early reply, l am,
very respectfully yours,
WILKE STRAIGHTEN.
Tom did not ags!n drop the letter; on
the contrary, he held it tightly as he
again looked blank. INDUCED in long,
low whistle, and exclaimed:
"Thirty thousand for the Double Bow
Ten per cent? l to be-let's
is it? Here it is: Should
you succeed in getting a higher price,
you are quite welcome to retain all in
excess Of the above-named sum- Why,
Double Bow is worth five times as much
'TwOuld have brought it last fall 1t
ought to bring more now, when it's
stood the test Of such winter. The
mans u toOl-about ranchihg at least;
yet this is the fellow I've been dreading
for years. Evidently there's been pair