The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-05-16
Wien he got through with that hole

- Soc BIOuuus WHICH udu Uccu uuk 1OI
. swindle. and had never given up five
dollars worth Of ore, there were 'indi-
cations" to make mans hair stand on
end. There was no sudden outburst OF
excitement over the new bonanza. In
fact everything was kept very quiet,
and paradise" still passed for a hole
in the ground. When the proper tims
came the major began to throw out
hints. His wife was the first to receive
them. he had heard on the quiet
that "Paradise" was panning out to
beat the band and he almost tore his
hair when he remembered that he had
sold It for a song. Mrs. Wharton was
told to keep quiet about it while her
husband planned to buy in, and of
course she told everybody about the
big strike. The news was public prop
erty in two days. The major was sar-
castically commiserated for not hold
ing on, and Clark was warmly con-
graduated for not abandoning the
hole too soon. There were dozen
men ready to buy it II it was really a
good thing. but paradise" was not for
sale-not just then.
1t was only when Boston capitalist
who was travelling over the west with
his wife, passed that way and heard of
"the coming" that Clark would even
consent to talk about sale. He didn't
know much about mines himself, but
from what little he did know he judged
that the mine was fairish investment.
He might be induced to sell it, but he
had n little rather hang on. He was in
this undecided state when two or three
parties were quoted as offering thump-
ing big figures. That was where the
majors fine Italian hand came in. He
was doing his share of the work, but
doing it on the outside. The Bostonian
wasn't averse to picking up a good
thing at bargain, even if it was far
from home, and he soon began to talk
business. The bait wasn't jumped at,
however. An expert was secured to
make investigation and report, and the
Bostonian took a whirl further west
"hlC waning.
1t was at this juncture that Mrs.
Wharton was summoned to receive a
legacy left her. 1t was sum large
enough to permit the major to return
tohis lofty principles and stick to them
for life, or as long as he continued to
buy and sell mines, but, having taken
hold Of Paradise" he was bound to
see her through. Ifhe could beat some
body out Of $50 900 by working off that
"salted" mine it would be just retribu-
tlon for what he had suffered by being
honest. His wife had heard more about
the mine than all others in the state.
Day after day the major had bemoaned
his foolishness in not knowing enough
to hang onto a good thing, and be-
walled the fact that he hadn't the mon
ey to buy an interest in the biggest hit
OF the decade. II that legacy had only
come q few weeks sooner! If the Bos-
tonian would only turn to redwood
lands or a California fruit farm and
surrender his option on Paradise"
But things didn't come the majors
way. A few days after his wife left
home the Bostonian returned. The ex-
pert's report was ready. 1t was glow
ing. It left nothing to be desired ex-
cept Q transfer Of ownership. A check
was drawn and the papers were passed,
and as the new owner departed for
home to complete his arrangements for
turning out ton or two of silver daily,
Maj. Wharton beamed upon Clark and
Fifty thousand big dollars apiece!"
he said, as he rubbed his hands and
beamed some more. Didn't tell you
SO? AS honest, square-toed men we
were going to the dogs. AS up-to-date
chaps we have made scoop at the first
go-off. Let's look around for another
hole"
Mrs. Wharton received her legacy in
All the way from west to east
she was thinking of the Paradise"
mine and wondering if her money
get the major at least quar-
ter interest. There was n delay of
three or four days in Buffalo, and she
was almost In despair. When she
finally got the money she telegraphed
the good news and advised her husband
not to lose a good thing. He laughed
as he read the telegram. He wasn't
anygood things thus far. When
the wife reached Chicago on her return
trip. she stopped for day to order
some dresses. To offset the delay she
sent another telegram to brace up the
major. It was while she was lunching
and thinking Of bonanza silver mines
and various sorts of dresses, that she
heard seesIas near her speaking Of the
PaSoAsA" NWas he Bost oman snd
bio ~. 1AsAsssvssy was ssos made
that tAs1i1s - sAsaCsi Aa.AA Ars.
Whartso Was sSsTss0s WttA despair
Tor Q Ds0sot. 3hsA - 0s4s move
which basinsss mal Weul1 lNvs Assi-
.ated over. She introduced herself AID
wanted to know If the new purchaser
wouldn't sell out for a satisfactory
bonus. For the last day or two there
lad been creeping into the Boston
mans mind feeling that he had bet
,er have invested his hundred thousand