The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-07-06
CHAPTER NIV-Continued.

crude implements it would be a waste
of time to attack the ledge, and they
determined to stick to the gravel until
Taylor returned. They had only dug
up a very small part of their claims as
yet.
The following day Tarbox saw a thin
column of smoke several miles away,
and said to Avery:
4There's more of them coming"
'They may not be coming here" re-
piled the old miner.
'Yes, they are" was the confident
rejoinder. These two men saw our
fire and followed it up. That party off
there probably has been following their
smoke, and so it goes. When one crow
finds anything to eat, you know, others
soon follow. The only wonder is that
we have kept the place to ourselves so
long. Therell be hundred men here
in a fortnight and a thousand in a
month";
About shutdown that night party of
four miners appeared from the woods,
and after a few words with the latest
corners staked off claims and went into
camp.
Day by day they continued to arrive,
but as yet there was room for all. There
was no rush, because all who came
found gold so plenty that they remained,
and at the end Of three weeks there
were not over threescore men on the
ground.
1t was now time for Dick Taylor to
return, and our friends began to be
anxious about him. Their fears were
groundless, however, for one afternoon
he made his appearance, mounted on a
horse and leading half dozen others.
With him were two well-dressed stran-
gers, who looked keenly about them as
they rode down the valley.
After greeting his friends, he intro
duced the strangers to the party and
said:
Il have brought these gentlemen out
to look at our claims. They represent
syndicate of rich capitalists
He then pointed out the exact location
of the claims, after which he took the
men to the cave and showed them the
bags of gold.
I'VE want to sell out the whole BUSH
ness" he said, bluntly. ''There's what
we have taken out. We haven't begun
to dig one-quarter of the claims. Take
look round and max us an. offer.''
"Wait moment" said Avery, step
ping forward with the piece of quartz
they had split open. ''See here, Dick,
we took this out of that ledge the day
you went away. Let them look at it
before they make any offer.''
"Let me see that!" exclaimed one of
the men. quickly, extending his hand
"Yon found that here?"
Come and III show you the spot"
They fouowed him in silence and the
younger man produced a small ham
mer with which he Clipped off a piece
OF the rock and examined it closely.
Then he gave the other a look which
was not lost on our friends and said,
with an affectation Of carelessness:
"There may be paying quartz here
and may not 1t would cost a fortune
to get machinery here and find OUT
But he was not dealing with ignorant
men, as he soon found out, for Taylor
remarked, quietly:
That specimen doesn't ie That
ledge of quartz is where all this gold
we've been digging came from. It's
worth a million to-day. Now, gentle
men, have no time to waste haggling
over the matter. We are no hogs, but
you mustn't take US for greenhorns.
We've done we'll here and want to get
out. Make US An offer tomorrow We
will give you until tomorrow night to
look around and see what you are. buy
ing"
His friends gave prompt assent tc
this proposition, and the two capitalists
had mo choice but to acquiesce as grace
fully as possible.
The following noon they came tc
Dick Tayor and offered him $50, 900 fol
the five claims. He laughed and re
piled:
do you think we are foolish? The,
are worth five times that amount
An hour later they offered $75, 900 anc
were refused.
Seeing that he was determined, tn,
elder man said:
I'VE are only authorized to expent
100000. Will you take that?"
After a short consultation the offe1
was accepted and preparations were a
once commenced for the journey t,
Dyea, where the formal transfer was tc
be made.
The younger of the buyers was to re-
main, at the spot to look after the claim.
while the other would go to Dyea with
them.
The following morning they loaded
their wealth on the horses and started
for civilization.
CHAPTER XIV. 49,
AN UNHOLY COMPACT.
When Hank Bowers read the derisiv,
message which he had found in one O;
the dummy bags of gold his rage wa.
frightful. Dashing his clenched fis-
against his head like a mailman. h.
fairly screamed:
TOO smart for me! Well see! II
have my revenge il I live! Your golt