The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-03-05


AS to the managership OF the mine. OF
/ course. I thought Mr.. Kenyon would desire
| to come back TO London. If he is content
! to stay abroad. and really wants to stay
there. | wish you would tell him that Mr..
Smith Is exceedingly pleased to know he
is willing to take charge of the mine. 1t
| would not look buSnesSlike on the part of
| Mr. Smith to say he is to name his own
| salary. but unfortunately Mr.. Smith Is
| very ignorant as to what a proper salary
| should be, so will you kindly settle that
| question? You know the usual salary for
such an occupation. Please write down
that figure and add $500 year to it. Tell
| Mr.. Kenyon the amount named is the sal
airy Mr. Smith assigns to him.
Pray be very careful in the wording OF
the letters, so that Mr. Kenyon will not
have any idea who Mr.. Smith Is Yours
| truly. EDITH LoNGwoRTH."
When Wentworth received this letter,
being a man. he did not know whether
Miss LongwoTth was pleased or not.
However. he speedily wrote to John,
telling him he was appointed manager
OF the mine. and that MIR. Smith was
very pleased TO have him in that capac-
ity. He named the salary, but said if
il was not enough. no doubt MIR. Smith
was 40 anxious for his services that the
amount would be increased.
John. when he got the letter. was
more than satisfied.
AT the same time Wentworth had
been reading his letters. John had re-
reIved those which had been sent him
when the mine was bought. He was re-
Iieved TO find that Melville was not.
after all. the owner. and he went TO
work with will. intending 10 put in
TWO or three years of his life with hard
Ia Dor in developing the resources of the
property. The first fortnight, before
hP received any letters. he did nothing
hut make himself acquainted with the
way work was being carried on there.
He found many things 10 improve. 'fhe
machinery had been allowed to run
down, and the mea worked in the list
less way men do when they are under
no particular supervision. The man
ager of the mine was very anxious
about his position. john told him the
property had changed hands. but UNI til
be had further news from. England
he could not tell just what would be
done. When the letters came John
took hold with a vim. and there was soon
a decided improvement in the way af-
fairs were going. He allowed the old
manager to remain as a sort Of SUBJ
manager. but that Individual soon found
out the easy times OF the Austrian Min
ing company were forever gone.
Kenyon had TO take one or two. long
trips in Canada and the United States
Ucts of the mine. but. as general rule,
his time was Spent entirely in the log
TiIlage near the river. When u year
had passed he was able to write very
jubilant letter tn Wentworth. You
STE" he said, after all the mine was
worth the 200.I 100 we asked for-it. 1t
pays. even the FIRST year, ten per cent.
en- that amount. This will give back
all the mine has cost, and l think, |
George, the honest thing for ue TO do
would be to let the whole proceeds go
to Mr.. Smith this year, who advanced
the money at q critical time. This viii
recoup him for his own outlay, because
the working capital has NOT been
'ouched. The mica has more then |
paid the working of the mine, and all |
the rest is clear profit. Therefore, # |
you are willing, we will let oRr third
go this year, and then we can take our |
large dividend next year With clear !
iDclose The balance
sheet"
To this letter there came an answer |
in due time from Wentworth who said |
that he had placed Johns proposal be
fore Mr.. Smith. but it seemed the gen.
was Sd pleased with, tine profit |
able investment he had made that he |
would hear of no other division of the |
profits but that of share and share allie |
He appeared to be very mucE touched |
by the offer John bad made, and Ee-
spected him for making II. but the pro-
posed resembling on his part and Went
worth's was thing not to be thought |
of. This being the case>John sent 4 let |
ter and a very large cheek to his father. |
The moment of posting that letter was.
doubtless one of the happiest of his life. |
aud this ends the formidable array of /
letters which appears in this chapter.