The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-03
DEAD SHOT HORTON.

Ben Truubull was after a bad gang Of
which Dead Shot Horton was supposed to
be a member. But this was matter Of
doubt. One day Horton came to Trumbuu
and asked him to assay some nuggets.
Ben had brought with him from the
east an assaying outfit and in u short
time was able to announce that the mug
gets contained nearly 70 per cent Of pure
silver.
Its not for myself I care so much, Mr..
Trum bull. - Horton said in a husky voice.
s'Ib's grand news for the folks at home, for
mother and my little sisters And it's good
news for you, too Mr.. Trum bull, for, as I
said, I must have a partner, lad.
You see, I'm working here for the
Santa Maria Silver Mining company, and
the mines are just two miles across the
border in Mexioo-that makes them eight
miles from Cactus City. My business is
TO guard the silver ingots that are cast at
the mine and sent over here to Cactus City
every day in a mule wagon, locked up in a
big chest. The silver goes into the Cactus
City bank, and get my receipt for it.
Every evening I guard that chest Of ingots
till it is locked up in the bank, and every
morning see the chest taken back to the
mine"
''Empty?''. Ben asked.
ono, not empty, p Horton replied. t'Filled
with chemicals, quicksilver, all sorts Of
mine supplies
Gil IN gong over GtlaB elZUG miles
twice every day i have to look around
bit, and one day, while the mules were
resting, I made my find That was nearly
two months ago, but I've not been sure
till this day that ia struck the real stuff
for I was afraid to have my metal assayed
here in Cactus City. Anyhow I bought
the land for song It's just over the Dor
der in Mexico, and I can hardly believe
even now that it's all true.
f'They must be making money, " Ben
suggested. 81 should like to go out with
you some day and have look at the mine. y
"I'm sure I'd like to have you go, sir, -
Horton answered, sbut it's not possible
They don't allow any visitors to GO into
the mine nor 80 come about the place at
all.
For the next two weeks Ben and his
new friend were together nearly every
night, for Horton slept in Cactus City,
but every day Ben was out attending to
business, looking for some chance in the
mining way, as he said, meanwhile keep
ing an eye OF the Cactus City bank and
the people who visited it. Several times
he found it necessary to ride over to Fair
bank, where the inQOts were shipped By
rail, and at one time he disappeared en-
tirely for three days.
Horton, want you to come up to my
room before you start in the morning, "
he said to his friend soon after his mystic
rious disappearance. Don't fail me, will
you? It's very important for US both"
Horton promised, and shortly after day
light the next morning he was in Ben's
room.
'I'm going to ask you to do a very sur
prising thing for me, old fellow, Ben
said sitting up ia bed. There's a pencil
and paper on tho table. I want you to
send a note to the Cactus City bank PEG
pie saying that you are not able to go to
the mines today and that they must send
somebody else in your place. "
Not able to 20 to the mines % Horton
exclaimed. why, lad, you know
Hold on, z Ben interrupted again. "Iu
put it another way. You think a great
deal of your mother and sisters, I know.
For their sakes sit down and write the
note. -
Wonderingly Horton obeyed, and in q
few minutes the note was written and
sent. Ben carefully closed the door and
unfolded his important business.
IL am going to give you plan, Hor-
ton, p be said, that viii put money into
both of cur pockets. I suppose you know
that although the present value of silver
is very low, stin a silver dollar is worth
100 cents If you sell the silver from your
projected mine by weight, you will get,
say, 60 cents an ounce for it, If you coin
it into dollars yourself, you get 81 an
ounce"
But that would be- Horton inter
rupted.
"Hold on! Hear me out, - Ben contin-
ued. THAT would be counterfeiting, as
you were about to say, even though we
made tho dollars with pure silver 1t would
be in this country, where there is law
against it, But your silver lies just across
the border ia Mexico, where American
dollars could be made with comparative
safety. We could make them at the mine,
and then every day you could bring over
chest Of your ov7n silver dollars instead Of
somebody else's silver ingots- just think
how we could heap up the money! Think
of it, MANI
For more than a minute Horton did not
answer. Then he raised his head and re-
piled:
No, Mr.. Trumbull, I couldn't do it,
and you mustn + either"
Horizon, old fellow, you re as good as
gold. I was sure of it before, but since
I've tried you I am doubly sure
Ben went to tho window and looked out.
'Now, I don't have to be mysterious any
longer he said; ''look at this crowd in
the street. They are following the Cactus
City bank people, who have just been ar
rested. All the people on this side the Dor
der who had anything to do with the San
ia Maria mine are wearing handouts ex-
Cept yourself. I couldn t let you go out
and be arrested, Horton, old follow"
Arrested Horton exclaimed.
Its for counterfeiting. Thore is no
Santa Maria mine Horton Your entire
company is nothing but q gang of counter
feiters. The old mine was exhausted cen
turtles ago, and all they mine there now is
rock, just for appearances. I ought to
know, for have worked in the mine three
days this week. And the Cactus City bank
is only a blind All its officers are mem
bers of the gang. What you just now in
dignantly refused to do with your eyes
open you have been doing bHndly for the
last year.
But come, it is safe for as to go now.
Tomorrow am of for the east to raise