The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-05
A Trio of Old CaIifornianS
Fooled by a Clever
FrenChman.
MILLIONS WERE INVOLVED.
The Plot Disclosed to Leland STAN
ford at the Last Moment by
ShreWd Boy.

open arms by San Francisco society. He
was man of a most engaging manner.
and Nine Paraf, his wife was beautiful
woman, fascinating and genial. The
Parafs were invited everywhere. The
senior Paraf was known as one of the most
celebrated chemists in Paris. 1t was from
him that Alfred received his scientific edu-
cation, and he had assisted him in those
experiments which had won for both their
laurels in the scientific world.
The Parafs were extravagant to degree.
Nothing in town was too good for them.
Madame's dresses came from Paris, and
Monsieur's chef of the kitchen was an ar
fist in his line whom Paraf had brought
with him from the French capital. They
entertained most lavishly, and were in
| vited, in return, to all the big houses in
| town and country. Nine. Parafs beauty
and musical skill, and Monsieur's anec-
| dotes of the gay world abroad made the
| pair the delight and ornament of the circles
| they frequented.
| One fine evening in August Mons. Paraf
and Leland Stanford were enjoying their
cigars as they paced up and down the
smooth lawn OF Palo Alto.
you have great possibilities, Governor,
in this country" said Paraf. at is, in my
mind, the richest mineral country in the
world"
eyes" rejoined the Governor, ''we have
| gold and silver i'll abundance, but no tin of
any consequence"
| Paraf smiled mysteriously.
Are you sure of that, Governor" he
| said. II ask the question because | beg to
differ from you. l think [ know where l
can find plenty of tin within fifty miles of
San Francisco"
Stanford smiled incredulously.
I'M 10
some one has been deceiving you. In the
desire to give the Golden State big name
they have imposed upon you"
'What would you say" said the chem
list, "if L were to prove to you, to your
complete satisfaction and those of any
scientific gentleman whom you might Sc
lect, that there are millions of dollars
worth of tin within the City limits of San
Francisco"
81 should be very much astonished'
was all that Stanford could say, but his
face wore smile which meant, if trans
! lated, somebody has been giving you a
| big fill, my French friend"
A week after this conversation single
buggy containing Governor Stanford and
! Mr.. Paraf drove rapidly in from the Po-
| trero. In the bottom of the vehicle was
small sack holding about ten pounds of
mud taken by Parafs own hands from
that locality. The buggy halted on the
| SOulnSdSl COIIler OI CdluOTDld ana Mont
| gomery streets, and Stanford and Paraf
| entered the Safe Deposit building, Paraf
carrying the sack. Two gentlemen, who
| had evidently been waiting for them, fol-
lowed them upstairs. One was Henry F.
| Williams and the other Edward l.. Gould,
who was one of the most prominent law
! yers in San Francisco at this time.
The quartet knocked at the door of
room on the top story and were admitted
| by keen-looking lad of some 16 wears.
The room was fitted up as laboratory,
| and the furnace was going as If prepared
! for some experiment With the assistance
of the boy Paraf made an assay of the clay
from the sack. His companions watched
| for the result with breathless interest. and
well they might, for millions, nay billions,
of dollars were in the balance. The retort
was taken from the furnace, and Paraf,
with shout of Joy, held up a small mug
get of tin. Stanford, who had removed his
coat to assist in the business, embraced
| Williams, and the grave and usually sedate
! Gould performed dance around the room
in the exuberance of his Joy.
| The problem was solved; wealth untold
was theirs and with all the power which
| unbounded millions could confer. Science
in their eyes at hat moment was godlike,
for had it not wrought a miracle of the
| most astonishing character? And Paraf
the agent, through whose intermediary
this wonder had been wrought, was their
benefactor. And now how to work and use
the proceeds of those colossal POSSESSIONS?
Monte Crlsto was pauper compared with
those multi-millionaires.
II, ;" cried Stanford, exultingly, twill
build in San Francisco a conservatory of
music which will brlngall the artists of the
world to these shores. [ will offer prizes
for merit which will send the foremost
artists of the universe hither, and have
Dresden, Paris and Munich at the feet of
San Francisco supplicating the loan of our
professors. Ny conservatory will cover
acres, and l will surround it with beautiful
homes for the reception of those who are
enjoying It's benefits"
Il, said Williams "have one purpose
in view which | shall carry out to the
bitter end | shall be the avenger of
Ralston. 1 will buy up all the stock of the
Bank of California, and when the quarterly
meeting is held l will walk in and vote
that stock and tell his enemies to get out
that l have no further use for them"
Schoolboys on the threshold of a summer
vacation were not more frivolous than
those middle-aged men laying out their
plans for the future. Edward Gould alone
was cool.
money Gould?'' shouted Stanford.
Il will wait till I get it, )" rejoined Mr..
Gould, without enthusiasm.
The next thing was to form company.
Here was difficulty. Stanford had all the
money necessary for the acquisition and
opening of the mine. 1t was not ques-
ton of sinking shafts, because this won
derful yield of tin was all found on the sur
face.
To perfect the necessary papers was the
first instruction that Lawyer Gould re-
ceived, and then the billiolaires washed
their hands and put on their coats and
went to dinner.
! For over a month those experiments
were almost of daily occurrence. Every
| test proved more successful than the pre-
ceding one. But it was noticed by Mr.
| Gould, who was the coolest-headed of all
| that the results were invariably re-
moved from the retorts by Paraf himself
| Voluminous papers were drawn up and
all the formule of the company prepared
! But while the interests OF the organization
were to be looked after by Governor Stan
| ford affairs OF immediate Importance called
Mr.. Paraf to France.
While they regretted the unavoidable
absence of Mr.. Paraf, his associates as
sured him that no time would be lost in
carrying out the details of the scheme.
! Furthermore, he was instructed to act as a
sort of advance agent for the conservatory
and make out list of the available artists