The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1897-06-24

salary, but unfortunately MT. Smith ts
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 a year to II. Tell
Mr.. Kenyon the amount named Is the sal
nry Mr.. Smith assigns TO him.
Pray be very careful In the wording OF
the letters, so that Mr.. Kenyon will not
Rave any idea who Mr.. Smith is. Yours
truly. EDITH LoNswoRrH."
When Wentworth received this letter,
being a man, he did not know whether
Miss Longworth was pleased or not
However, he speedily wrote TO John,
telling him he was appointed manager
of the mine, and that Mr.. Smith was
very pleased to have him in that capac-
ity. He named the salary, but said If
it was not enough, no doubt Mr.. Smith
was so 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-
ceived those which had been sent hin,
when the mine was bought. He was re-
lieved to find that Melville was not,
after all, the owner, and he went TO
work with a will, intending to put in
two or three years of his life with hard
labor in developing the resources of the
property. The first fortnight. before
he received any letters, h, did nothing
hut make himself acquainted with the
way work was being carried on there.
He found many things to improve. The
machinery had been allowed to run
down, and the men 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 until
he had further news from England
he could not tell just what would be
done. When the letters came John
took hold with vim, and there was soon
a decided improvement in the way af-
fairs were going. He allowed the old
manager to remain as n sort of sub
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
to arrange for the disposal of the prod
ucts of the mine, but, as a general rule,
his time was spent entirely in the log
village near the river. When a year
had passed he was able to write very
jubilant letter to Wentworth. You
see," he said, latter all the mine was
worth the G200,O00 we asked for it. 1t
paws, even the first year, ten per cent.
on that amount. This will give back
all the mine has cost, and ] think,
George, the honest thing for us to do
would be to let the whole proceeds go
to Mr.. Smith this year, who advanced
the money at a critical time. This will
recoup him for his own outlay, because
the working capital has not been
touched. The mica has more then
paid the working of the mine, and all
the rest is clear profit. Wherefore, If
you are willing, we will let our third
GO this year, and then we can take our
large dividend next year with clear
conscience. / iRclose 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
tieman was SO pleased with the profit
able investment he had made that he
would hear of no other division of the
profits but that of share and share alike
He appeared TO be very much touched
by the offer John had made, and re-
spected him for making it, but the pro-
posed resembling on his part and Went
@orth's was a thing not to be thought
of. This being the case, John sent a let
ter and very large check 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.