Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-11-07
DAILY SHORT STORY.
The Nudge Mining Company
lOriginal.l

left him small nilnnS property, ICON
cluded to go out and bok after it. But
the hay had to be gottin and the fruits
shipped, and it was three months be-
fore Silas started.
In Denver he fell intwith' drummer
who was inclined to make game iof the
simple farmer. One evening the.drum-
mer, being askedtin the rotunda of the
hotel where Silas was staying, "Who's
your countrywide friendT replied:
THAT fellow? That's Pinkerton's crack
detective. He's on the track of some
big rascality. What'do you think sof
his makeupT'
A man sitting nearfheard,the words,
started and walked quickly away.
That night, as Silas was going to
bed, there was a knock at his door, iand
man followed the knock.
I'm OH to Your game, ~ he said.
Reckon / don't understand you,
stranger" said Silas astonished.
81 know what you're Gere for. It's
a certain mining company"
"Well?" exclaimed Sims, with eyes
and mouth open.
'You can't fool me with that farmer
business. You're Il Pink erton man out
here to look after us fellows who are
getting up the Nudge Mining COM
pany. Now, you're off your; base. The
thing isn't swindle at all, but a bona
fide transaction. The only weak spot
in it is the Nudge property, which isn't
worth so an acre. The other proper
ties are all right. We got our deed to
the Nudge land from rascal who
faI hnf 10
beautifully. But we don't want any
suspicion cast on our company, and
were ready totdo the right thing about
this Nudge property"
"How much did you pay for itT
give hundred dollars. We had to
have it TO carry our ore through.
There is no other exit for a road from
our other properly. What were afraid
of is that if the transfer of the Nudge
property to us ina fraudulent manner
becomes known it will prevent our
floating the stock of our company"
You mean you're ready to pay me
somethin' fur goin' back home an max
in no inveStigaShun.''
"We'll take you in ON the ground
floor If you can engage that the real
Nudge heir, whom 1 suspect you repre-
sent, will give lis n Quibclaim deed to
his property. There's $3.OOO.OO0 of
stock. all of which we own. We're
going to put 100000 ofiit on the mar
ket at q dollar n share. Well give you
$4,000 more stock for the same pur-
pose"
Nudge was no fool. He thought for
some time and finally closed with the
man. A contract was drawn, notary
was routed out of his bed and all was
made complete.
II see," said the promoter, CHANGING
over the paper, that you have pur
everything in the name of the heir
"Jes' So" replied Silas.
"Well, then, he'll have either to call
for the stock or send you power of
attorney"
"Jes' So"
"Come to my office tomorrow and
will have n deed ready to be signed.
also n receipt for the stock. Nudge
will have to agree not to sell any of his
stock till the LIST of january, when
ours goes on the market, and then only
ut the rate of a thousand shares q
day."
"Jes' SOL
The promoter gave the supposed de-
tective n curious parting glance. as
though he wondered at his motive for
keeping up his country character. then
left him.
When the promoter entered his office
the next morning a. 10 o'clock, Silas
had been waiting for him three hours.
The papers were ready.
"Send these papers to Silas Nudge"
said the promoter, and when they're
presented here, duly executed, Wen de-
liver the stock
Silas took the papers and studied
them for a long while. Finally he
asked:
"Hev you got the stock ready"
'It's in that SAFE
"Git it OUT
but you don't expect us to deliver
it till you produce Mudge's receipts?"
"Git it out" repeated Silas.
The promoter brought out the stock.
"What'll you give fur it In cashT'
Cash? Why, let me see-50 per
cent of par"
"I'Il take it,
The promoter. still believing that
for some purpose of his own the sup
posed detective was keeping up his
character of countryman. drew n check
for $4,000.
Don't want that. want the
money"
81 can have it certified"
''Don't want nothin' certified. Gimme
the bills"
The promoter went to the bank him.
self and brought back twenty-five one
thousand dollar bills. Silas put one
hand on the pile and with the other
signed the papers.
''Silas MudSe?' exclaimed the pro-
moter.
"Jes' So"
Silas showed the bills into his capa-
cious pocket and moved toward the