The San Francisco call., 1895-10-16

about three miles distant. Gentlemen. give
you my solemn word that it was nearer fifteen,
and the path he referred to was q mere scratch
in the ground and steep. Well, bless you. we
were walking most of the time with our heads
down and had TO grab roots to stay on the
earth. Really, it was harder on my hat than
1t was on my Shoes Along about sunset, after
one OF the mules had gone over precipice, he
pointed out ramshackle cabin on the mountain
side and said that was the mine. 1t was dark
when we got there and we were so tired that
we turned in without eating supper. Luckily,
the mule that escaped breaking his neck was
loaded with the grub, so we had a pretty good
breakfast.
f'After we finished and had smoke the
man with the mine said that he was ready to
open up the whole works and show us through
With great solemnity he guided us to tunnel
a few yards from the house, and, with wave
of his hand invited US to enter. We lighted
our candles, ducked our heads and crawled in,
the owner following. The moment we brought
up at the end of the tunnel, which was about
twenty feet long. became satisfied that we
were in marble quarry, and that it didn't
contain enough gold to fill a child's tooth. 1
turned round and inquired what he meant by
springing such mine on me as gold prop
erty.
Didn't you know said 1, that as soon as
1 saw this hole in the ground l would quit
right here? Do you imagine that am throw
ing money away on marble quarries sixty
miles from civilization and a mile above the
level of the sea 1 thought you said this was
gold mine. You have simply lied to me, sir.
Why, wouldn't have this thing If you would
give it away. What good does it do you to
m1srepresent things to me like this J?
"The fellow looked at me moment" con-
tinued the major, "and then invited me to
stem Ontsidp xrbi did He took by the
arm with a serious expression on his face and
pointed up and down the canyon. do you see
the landscape before u.s., he said. Did you
ever see anything so worthless and uninyiting
in your life?' Informed him that never had.
DID you ever see spot on the earth so worth
less for mining purposes?' he continued. And
told him that it was the very heart OF the bad
lands. well, then, major he answered, don't
you think man has o right to lie like - to
get out of it?'
ave left the mule and the grub with him
through pity" continued the major, "and
walked back to civilization"
When Major Mclaughlin had finished his
yarn Captain w. II. Rodda, the well-known
mining man, who is soon to go to South Africa
to take charge of the Robinson mine, got up
and walked away without even saying good
by. "take cigar" or anything else Jacob
Neff, president of the Miners Association,
called him Lack, and Mr.. Rodda returned re-
luctantly.
whats your hurry?" inquired Mr.. Neff.
"Well, my friends, if you want to know" an
swered the captain, 81 will state that don't
care to be one of party where Frank Nc
Laughlin is received on an equal footing with
other men,"
'Indeed?" retorted the major, rising, with a
terrible ugly twinkle in his eye." You will
probably state your reasons more fully. de-
mand, sir, an explanation or an apology right
before these other gentleman, where you have
had the bad taste to insult me-"
Things were beginning to look dangerous,
but the captain kept his temper, and made
answer:
"Maior Frank Mclaughlin, will tell you nv