The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-03-21
SELLING A MINE.
BY MRS. ). GLADwYN JEBB.

Don Manuel Escordo had recently
tome INTO possession of a small silver
mine, and, according to the imHemorial
custom of mine owners, he was ex-
,Iemely anxious to sell 1t to some one
else.
Don Manuel began preliminaries by
preparing an expert, and this gentle
man prepared a report. few disa-
greeable people expressed entire dis
belief IN both; but, as Don Manuel had
found occasion to observe before, this
IS a sk,ptical age. AS matter of fact,
Lie held low opinion of that sagacity
upon which the world, and especially
the commercial world, so prided itself.
There was that exploded idea for in
stance. about there being always large
numbers of widows and orphans scat
tered about the globe, simply waiting
TO be aken in, and fraudulently en-
treated by any astute person who chose
; 10 take the trouble. For his part, al
slough he had often gone to great ex-
.rtion in attempting to turn an honest
penny at their expense. Don Manuel
had invariably found that the average
widow held fixed and inconvenisnt ideas
~. to interest, while an orphan had once
nearly succeeded in oserreaching Don
Manuel himself.
Alth ugh he sought diligently for a
purchaser for his latest acquisition,
during several months he sought in
vain. So unpromising seemed his quest
that he felt on the verge of despair;
when, at the last moment, beneficent
Providence threw an Englishman across
his path. Not an elderly, case-hardened
Englishman, either, but nice, fresh,
beardless youth, apparently but just
out of leading-strings. Moreover, as
though to prove that he had been sent
especially on Don Manuers behalf, he
bad plenty of money.
The lads name was Frank Jerning-
hama cognomen so completely be-
yond the capacity of the ordinary Mex
lean tongue that its owner came to be
known simply as Gel Amigo de Don
Manuel" The latter gentleman was
charmed by the bestowai of this title,
as it seemed to give him sort of pre-
scriptive right in his young friend, be-
cides serving to warn off any other
sdventurer who might be casting COW
stous eyes upon his prize. don Manuel
lost no time in bringing the merits
Of his Zine to the notice of his Amigo,
and in charging upon the fortune to be
derived from it. The report, which he
exhibited with pride, set forth that the
mine contained free-milling ore of a
high grade, and that in order to work
81 with satisfaction and profit a very
small capital, with but a trifling amount
OF labor, were all that would be re-
quired. In fact, after perusing this
document, it seemed impossible to feel
any other emotion than wonder that
Don Manuel could bring himself to
part with so promising a property.
There was, however, one trifing omis-
sion, which, had it been known, might
have altered somewhat the complexion
of affairs. This circumstance was that
for many years the mine had been full
of water, and that il was extremely
doubtful whether, even by the aid of
the costliest pumps, the flooding could
be altogether remedied.
But this depressing fact being care
fully withheld from the Amigo, he
cheerfully sold out several thousand
pounds worth of oonsols, in order to
put the money so obtained into this
very desirable investment. In extenua-
ton of his action. it should be tx-
planned that he had but recently come
of age, and was anxious to prove to his
late trustees that he was fit to be
trusted with the management of his
own affairs. Also, he had been brought
up by maiden aunt in that policy of
thinking no evil, which usually results
In its votaries suffering from a good
deal.
The wonder was how he ever got so
far as Mexico without being fieeccd.
His native shrewdness may have pro-
tected him to some extent, but when
Don Manuel got hold of him, matters
put on different aspect. When he
was first let into the secret of the ex
istence of the mine, he regarded IL as
. mark of confidence and esteem. sur
prising from comparative stranger.
Don Manuel fostered this view bv de-
claring that he had already several
good offers, on the ground that the peo-
pie making them did not intend work
ing the ore themselves. and he would
not lend his countenance to mere
speculation.
The Amigo blushed with pleasure
and paid half the purchase money in
advance. Before completing the pur-
chase, however, he was to accompany
Don Manuel on visit at inspection.