Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-29

time He told me to break of any nego-
tiations I might have and go of fishing
matter would keep for a month, so 1 went
fishing. Thirty days later 1 came back.
only to find that Stratton had struck good
ore. and that he would not sell at any price.
lie took out several thousand dollars that
month. and now-wel. now every one
knows that the Independence mine is worth
millions"
StrattOn Would Not Sell.
Mr.. CClbrand. the manager Of the Mid
land railroad, told me the other day how
he tried to buy the Independence and fail
ed. l had asked him whether there was
any danger of Stratton losing his properly.
He replied:
Not a bit OF it. Stratton has had TO
fight hard to make fortune, and he is
not going to let it slip through his fingers.
! know that he has refused some big Of
buy it myself and failed. The offer came
to me from New York parties Mr.. Schley
of the big banking firm Of Moore & Schley
wanted the mine. and Schley wrote me
pay anything for it up to three million
dollars. He wrote that if 1 could bring
about a sale. no matter al what price or on
what conditions, he would give me $'o,WHI
for my trouble. He knew that 1 was ac-
quainted With Mr.. Stratton and thought
that / could succeed
Il don't wonder that you made the trial."
said I.
brand You can't pick up s5O,00o every
day. even here in Colorado. l was very
anxious to make the sale and l saw Mr..
Stratton at once. The mine had already
though there was not anything like millions
of dollars yet in sight. : told Mr.. STRAIT
ton that 1 had some eastern parties who
wanted to buy his mine. and that they
would pay big price ! did everything
l could to induce him to sell. l said:
Now, Mr. Stratton. here is a chance to
make yourself independent from now on.
You have been a poor man all your LIE
and You can row assure yourself OF riches
beyond the shadow of doubt. Your mine,
1T is true. promises well, but 1t may play
out. These men will give you the cash.
You put it in government bonds and
have more money than you can spend for
the rest of your life. What could you have
better than that"
II think the mine is better than that
replied Mr.. Stratton at least, these cap
italists seem to think So
Yes said l. but you have got to work
it TO get the money out. 1t Is not sure
thing, and if it were mining gold Is. You
know. fall of arnoyances. Now. why
cut of this country. Why don't you take
q trip Ground the world? You can go to
Paris or London and live like a lord on
the interest of the money that this sale
Will DTttS you
IL don't know replied Stratton. I
don't think 1 care much for travel.
,, like to stay at home
But stop moment. Mr.. stratton.
said l, and think what you could do with
all that money. You could cultivate any
hobby you pleased. There is a little isllnd
for sale off the coast of California which
| is said to he a second paradise. You could
purchase this island and build palace on
it and live like a king. Your life has been
one of hard work; why not take 1t easy
row? This money Will make almost any
thing possible. Haven't you some am
bition that you want to gratify?'
"' To tell you the truth replied Mr..
StIatton, L have only one ambition. and
that is TO own the richest mine in the world
and work It. I think I have 1t here. Youi
people cannot appreciate how I feel about
it. Even if 1 wished to sell the mine
should ask at least se06U. 900 for it
know II is worth that, but I also know
that your people would laugh at the idea.
l know. too. that if You made me offer
as large as that would not sell / would
deal with you just as quickly as with any