Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-02-21
NUMBER s.

supposed they were dying TO hear his
story.
The lips Of the two twitched little
and hardly perceptible pallor indicat-
I'd passing nervousness.
"Wben the Scotsman got TO tho
mine," Oswald began, "the manager
took him TO Gold Queen, No. ], a. you
-or as we-arranged. He remained un.
derground 4s hours. The manager was
cautioned not to lose sight Of him for .
moment, but he gave in after 36 hours
and went home to bed, as the Scot look
ed like spending week in the bowels
of the earth. When the manager re-
turned, i2 hours later, he found Gaskell
just coming to the surface. In reply TO
his inquiry he said he had completed
his investigation and would take some
rest Whether this was merely blind
TO put the manager of his guard or
whether he changed his mind ! don't
know, but after he had seen the other
descend the mine and had had some
breakfast he took the map which You
gave him ont of his valise and proceed.
I'd very carefully TO compare it-irst,
with the boundaries Of the No. mine.
which some loafing miner pointed ont
TO him nc his request, and then with
the map of the same mine hanging in
the company's office and which the
manager had stupidity omitted 10 re-
move.
''As nearly rs can be computed. it
took that fellow just about FIVE min
utes to detect the trick. OF co2rse this
is mere guesswork, for the man himself
was as silent as clam. The profundity
Of his silence when he uDraveled our
tangled plots arouses my admiration.
After he learned the game be plac-
Idly descended mine No. 2, the one Of
which he really held the option. He
remained in that mine just l6 hours,
and all that time the manager conclud.
ed he was in bed and asleep. I'm sure
I don't know why. except on the as
sumption that D man must sleep some
time.
with the assistance Of an old Mexi.
can miner, who practically lives down
in that mine in one Of the shafts, be
thoroughly explored the mine, more es-
pecially at that part which Is in q
straight lius with the rich vein in
! No. J..
He had to all Appearances some
queer theory about that vein, for he and
the old Mexican worked for more than
l2 hours cutting in It's direction. The
result Of these efforts was Gt was ascer.
tanned after the purcbase) that while
the Mexican slept Gaskell struck con-
tinuation Of the vein belonging TO No.
/. Having satisfied himself that he bad
struck the true vein and after taking
out several specimens Of the ore be care
fully covered up his find, awole the
old man and returned to the surface.
"You will understand the discovery
Gaskell had made when tell you that
from the vein in No to where IL was
identified In No. Is just 700 yards, OF
which $50 run through the land Of No
2, so that eleven Ourteenths Of the great
vein belong 10 the mine that Gaskell
bought
well, gentlemen, Gaskell sold that
mine TO his syndicate-it was his own
venture--for $3.50, 900, half cash, half
stock, and his syndicate sold il to the
public for 81, 500, 900. The new COM
pany has already taken $500, 600 ont Of
the mine in four months working with
the prospec; Of taking out 20 times rs
much in the next two years. The Scots
mans profit Of s325, 900 taken In stock
is now worth $1,000, 900 in the mar
ket 4"
Marble and his associates gazed at
each other fixedly for q minute, and.
although their eyes spoke volumes, no
word was uttered. The situation was
altogether too deep for words. With
one impulse they rose in grim silence
from the table II find the air in this
room suffocating. finally ejaculated
Gilbey. LET US CO."
As the now silent trio passed into the
vestibule in making their exit TO Fifth
avenue Oswald shattered his preternat-
/ ural calm by calculating, Great Jupi-
| ter" The exclamation was not surpris-
ing. for there. coming toward them.
was Mr.. Gaskell, the man they bad
dome their best 10 swindle, and his
| bride, the beautiful and queenly Madge.
For q moment II wavering ia the ranks
Of the three was perceptible and just
the suspicion Of desire TO stampede,
but the expression on the experts face
measured them.
"My dear" he said, addressing his
wife, "let me present to you some
friends Of mine who once rendered me
n very great ,ervice-somewhat inad-
yertently, it is true"-a faint shiyer
shook the thrce-'but nevertheless .
genuine service. They helped me TO win
what wanted most on earth" And his
eyes rested fondly on his wife.
Mrs. Gaskell commented TO Der hus-
band afterward on the strange. shy
modesty which almost prevented the
three gentlemen from meeting her gaze,
and his smiling reply was. They
couldn't stand the battery, dear "
After the three friends had escaped
into the street, Oswald, probably for
the first time in his life. wore crest
fallen air. "Boys, he said, "he carries
too many guns for us all round. Just
think Of il He has never even mentioned
to her the-to put it mildly-somewhat
peculiar part We took in that mining
deal.
"How do you know that"
Because you can always tell by the
expression in woman's eyes when you
are presented to her how her husband
has been in the habit Of speaking about
you TO her I would rather have faced
hair trigger revolver than those great
gray eyes IL she had known our game.
Mr.. Gaskell has taken other 80 day
options since his marriage, and some OF
/ them have proved very valuable. but he
never expects to find one to equal that
marvellous pair by which he won both
fortune anu bride in 1883.