The Bossier banner., 1895-01-03
CAPT. JANE.

II was early in the spring of 1850
that person walked into the store of
Chenery g. Hazeltine in Sacramento
and inquired for the head of the firm.
.Mr. Chenery made his appearance.
III want to purchase a load of goods
for the northern mines and l want to
purchase them entirely on credit l
own the six-mule team standing just
Oh the outside. l am, as you see,
dressed in male attire, but l am
woman. My name is Jane-plain
Jane. Women, you know, have no
rights in this world and it is not neces-
sary for them to bother about names.
! drove this same team across the
plains, arrived here last fall, took my
team to the Gordon ranch over on
Cache creek and cid work of one kind
and another to support myself while
the mules recuperated. They are
beauties, as you will see. They were
in better condition when they reached
Sacramento than any other team
saw, because l took care of them.
There is not a mule out of the six
which would not follow me around
like dog, if turned loose. They love
me, you see, because l am kind to
them My plan is to take up load OF
goods, sell them, return the money,
take up another load, repeating until
Iget rich and this firm gets richer
: than 1t is.''
Richard Chenery whistled, and the
whistle had big exclamation after it.
"Who are you, and where did you
come from?"
1T is not to our purpose to discuss
that point am here before you. l
am twenty. two years of age, am five
feet seven inches high, weigh one hum
dred and sixty-five pounds. l can lift
q barrel of flour into the wagon and
can cut a figure eight in the street
with six-horse team. will pull the
lines over the widest team ever
hitched up. / came across the plains,
stood my watch regularly, handled
gun in two fights with the Indians
and asked no odds of any man. am
here to make some money-get rich.
am going to get rich by my own ex-
ertions. Then it's mine, you see."
"Hazeltine, come here; l want to in
troduce you to this lady"
"Lady?"
"Yes, lady. Though not SO dressed
she is woman, and her name is Jane,
plain Jane; but by Jove, she is a cap
tainr'
Capt. Jane, your most obedient,"
said Mr.. Hazeltine, as he extended his
hand.
The situation and the request were
explained by Mr.. Chenery.
~ was hunting for team,' said Mr..
Hazeltine, land l can give her a load
to Shasta at ten cents a pound. That
team can easily carry nine thousand
pounds. The trip can be made in two
weeks, and, as the grass is green, there
will be but little expense. You can
come back here with one. thousand
dollars clear money and no risk
'Risk2" replied Capt Jane. do l
look like person afraid of risks? If
You gentlemen are afraid of risks,
why did you come to California? l
have risked my life-yes, risked what
every good woman holds dearer than
life, good name-for gold. Gold is
the worlds idol and ! am going to
have it or l will fill grave at the head
OF which some teamster will in kind
ness stick board with jane penciled
ON it"
Capt. Jane" said Mr.. Haz.ltine,
correctingly.
II accept the amendment and
thank you for the promotion. Women
have small vanities as we'll as men.
But, as was going to observe, I have
an idea that l can buy and sell to ad-
vantage. | have figured up just what
Iexpect to buy and what I expect to
pay. You will see that know prices
as well as you do. l have also figured
from what know goods will bring at
Shasta, quite margin over ten cents
pound. You see, took one of my
mules and rode up to Shasta. / know
what Is wanted. Look at that team,
look at the driver. Don't you think
we can get a load of goods to Shasta
as quickly as anybody else? Nothing
has passed up since was there"
This is good list of goods and it
looks like your figures are correct.
Your bill of goods here amounts to
i've thousand three hundred and sew
enty-five dollars. You would have to
bring, according to your own figures,
over eight thousand dollars in gold
dust"
more risk. eh? Do you see this?''
putting her hand on revolver at her