The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-18
TIE THREE PARTNERS;
Or,
The Big Strike on Heavy Tree Hill.
BY BRET HARTE
Copyright. 1897. bu Bret Hdrte.
I.-CoNTINUED.

Barker. who was easily amused. had extract
Cd q certain amusement out Of Stacy's memo
rnndum. but he straiRhtonod himself with q
look OF eager confidence and snid: Certainly;
that's Just what IL is -business. Lord!
stacy. I'm all business now. I'm in every
ching. And I bank with you. though. perhaps.
you don't know; It's In you. branch at Marys'
willie. didn't want To say anything about II
TO you before. But Lord. you don't suppose
I'd hank anywhere else while you are in the
business-checks. dividends. and all that. but
n this matter I folt YOU knew. old chan. l
didn't want 10 talk 70 a banker nor TO a.bank.
but to Jim Stacy, ms old partner"
Barker" said Stacy CURLY, "how much
money nre you abort OFF"
AT this direct question Bankers always quick
color rose. but with an equally quick smile he
said, II don't know yet that I'm short at ALL"
But / do"
Look. here. Jim. why I'm Just overloaded
with shares and STOCKS" said Barker smiling.
Not one OF which you could realize on
without sacrifice. Barker. three years ago
you had $500 600 put to your account at San
Francisco"
Yes" said Barker. with q quiet reminiscent
laugh. II remember I wanted to draw 1t
out in one check to see how it would look"
And you've drawn out all In three years,
and 1t looks ID bad"
''IIow did you know it7" asked Barker. his
face beaming only with admiration of his
cor papion'e omniscience.
How did I know IT." retorted Stacy. II
know you. and / know the kind o. people who
have unloaded to yon."
Come Stacy" said Barker. i've only In
vested in shares and stocks like everybody else.
and then only on the best advice I could get
Like Van Ioo's, for instance that man who
wee here just now. the new manager OF the
Empire Ditch Company. And Carter. my own
Kitty's father. And when I was offered 50.-
600 West Extensions and was hesitating over
It. he told me you were In 1t, too-and that was
enough for me to buy it."
YES. but you didn't go into 1t at his figures"
NO. said Barker. with an eager smile.
"but you sold AT his figures. for I knew that
when ! found that you. my old partner. was in
{, don't you see. ! preferred to buy 1t through
your bank. and did at ITO. or course. you
wouldn'; have sold at that figure IL 1t wasn't
worth IL then. and neither 1 nor you are to
blame IL It dropped the next week to 90, don't
you see?'
Stacy's eyes hardened for q moment a. he
looked keenly into his former partners bright
gray ones. but there was no trace OF irony in
Bankers. On the contrary, a slight shade of
sadness came over them. NO." he said re-
fectivelv. II don't think I've ever been fool
fish or followed out my own ideas, except once
and that was extravaGant, ! admit. That
was my idea Of building q kind of refuge. you
know. on the site of our old cabin. whore poor
miners aud llayed-out p-ospectors waiting
for a ttrike could stay without paying any
thing. Well, ! SUI. $780, 600 in that. and
might lave lost more. only Carter-Kitty's
father-persuaded me-ne's an awful clever
old telios-into turning it into q kind ofbranch
hotel of Boomville. while using it as an hotel
to take poor chaps who couldn't pay at half
see. 30 "a to spare their pride: awfully pretty,
wasn't g? and make the hotel profit BY it."
he added eagerly 1t shows that things We're
better than had IMAGINED. Only the others
And you lost your 500. ooo," said Stacy
Fifty. thousand" said Barker. FOR. OF
course. It had 70 DO larger hotel than tho
rome into it except to save me from losing
zoo oAna yet made you lose $50. 900 instead of
"He gave his time and experience" said
sr All dsT Sa; 'S 81 a. & v Sa..a; go 81 Geo. %. said stacy stacy
business 10 with me to-day"
No" said Barker Frightening up; built
!: business; you know; Something IL the old
s sasEs VA" And It saI ali comes % yss gu; se ID n ssn. e ths
EE=!eei.i9f 5issh copesniy Ia; sSssdo sSsi the the
10 ASoN ltC0 LII ibuiu NJ pay.
dends now. You ought t. know. with $4,000
o. Barker sefts ei iSSxh S@ ''" "B nsn ii.ten. I found that I
eouid, buy np their whole plant and ali the ditch.
iiS up their bpslnessI" said Stacy asGast.
Dsmorest tod us. in the dear old days. 1 shes
!" a. s e 4aI nsasiy i, AS the %aS a.s :" Of % .alys g Ms's and G', sn.
EIneeTinR and levels. you know. An: here's
Tree EniIIThst's the good Of ,ths,S,
Why; B sh Spur viii DO in the line of the
bill for IN the Legislature,
Will nA n.r ssf' Dass.. p ssis Stacy 81 wll scs, = isEbinr that
pass rh"S .a ;s's s.r Ssssu :in, s ~, wa: .r sha, :, ..v would ss.I
It through. And az that is a rival bank Of yours Hs.
don't You see. l thought that 4 wo could get
,n's MnhiS that : 4, w rGaS, do tho Black Spur good
,on S Ssw NJ; ;Sd, ssr 4 S;i. ;;if; ss TOO late to consul.
S Ssrs 70 +, ists si 4; S SnS an. ! Gr i ..m back < out u But
chAie and put both hands In his pockets. Not
q cent. Barker; not a cent"
bank for it; But as this Was semsthinr Se:ws ss1
u.s. 4 aa f I AZ sn so% ri my yS S" h BARKER. as your
old partner. but also as the partner of n hun
dred other men. who have oven q greater right
TO ask me. And my answer is-not n cent"
Barker lookel at him with q pale. astonished
fare and slightly parted lips. stacy rose,
thrust his hands deeper in his pockets aid
standing before him went on.
Now look here. It's time Won should under
stand mo and yourself. Three years ago.
when our partnership was dissolved by acct
don't or mutual consent, We will say. we START
ed afresh. each IN our own hook. Through
foolishness and bad a dyice You have. in those
thvoe years. hopelessly involved yOrself as you
never would have done had We been partners.
and yet In your difficulty you ask me and M
which they have 10 concern"
Your rev partners?" stammered Barker.
'Yer. My new partners. for every man
who has n share. or a deposit. or an interest, or
q dollar In this b. nix is M Dartner-eSen you.
. your secnrltiSs ~ me branch. are ono;
you against yourself"
''Bnt money-you have private means?"
None to speculate with rs you wish me TO