The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-08-06
"But we are on the very brink Of

could have prevented the accomplish
ments of our designs. If you desert
me nov I am simply ruined"
swell, I'll stick to you a few months
longer, not because I care anything
about you. I have no time for SYM
pathy with individuals; besides it
isn't business. I only care for the
success of movements. If your
scheme could be carried through it
would save me several millions; that
would be a clear pickup. If you
fail [ shall try a scheme of my own.
One thing is sure: Warde must be
got away from here. I'll try and get
him IN opening in New York"
Late that afternoon Warde al
across Hillsman, who had just got
up The debauch of the night before
had told plainly upon him, his flushed
face and bloodshot eyes bearing con-
elusive evidence against him. He did
not allude at all to~the meeting of
the previous evening, and it was evil
dent that dissipation had drawn a
veil over all that had happened and
left in his mind merely a blank.
Warde was considerably relieved on
this score, for at present he did not
a L to complicate matters by having
to consider Frank as an element in
them.
At eight o'clock Warde and Mr.. Ev-
erett were again closeted together,
and the paper that had caused such a
vast amount of trouble was taken
from the safe and carefully read. 1t
was dated 20 years before the time
of this story. The handwriting was
bold and plain. The following we're
the contents in full:
AGREEMENT BETWEEN JOHN T.
John T. Wright has this day made. the
following transfers of property with the
subjoined understanding with James
Franklin: The Wright homestead, 500
acres, all improvements. The Magnolia
plantation, 1000 acres, in - parish,
Louisiana. The Coahoma plantation, s.
$40 acres, in Mississippi. The Queen City
plantation, 1850 acres, in Arkansas. A
lot on Maine and Boulevard in the city
of Nilus, 50 by $50 feet. A lot on Linden
street, near the Bayou, 100 by 200 feet.
A lot on Front row, near Madison, 40 by
$50 feet, with improvements. All to the
Shelby Real Estate and Investment COM
pany. A tract of land in Young county,
Texas, 6,957 acres, to the Shelby County
Real Estate and Investment company.
A tract of land in - county, Colorado,
5000 acres. To the Diamond Mining COM
pany of Denver, Col.
These transfers are made to protect
the said John r. Wright from sundry
suits at law, which threaten to grow
out of the difficulty that terminated in
the death of jeremiah Baxter at the
hands of the said Wright. Regretting as
he does the necessity of taking human
life, the said Wright is not willing that
his estate shall be sacrificed and the
welfare of his family jeoparded; and
these transfers are made with the dis
tinct understanding that whenever the
said Wright desires to revest these vari-
Gus properties in his own name the said
James Franklin will take steps to at
once. turn over all the papers with which
he is intrusted, and that he will at once
secure said Wright in the possession of
his property. The consideration alleged
in these various deeds was never paid
over. James Franklin binds himself as a
man of homo and a friend of John T.
Wright to faithfully fulfill the terms of
this agreement whenever the said Wright
so desires. JOHN T.. WRIGHT.
JAMES FRANKLIN.
"That is certainly one of the most
remarkable documents that it has
ever been my fortune to consider"
said the lawyer, his keen eyes snap
ping with relish for a novelty in le-
gal literature. "Have you any idea
what the paper is worth?"
81 should say two or three hundred
thousand dollars" said Irving.
1T is nearer ten or twelve mil
%lions," declared the lawyer.
Irving's eyes betrayed a dazed sur
prise as he gaspingly repeated the
words after Mr.. Everett. The latter
smiled and said: 81 haven't the
slightest doubt that Frederick Meri-
vale would give at least 1 1000, 900 for
the rights secured in the Wright es-
tate by this paper"
"But-how can it be?" asked Irving
in a whisper.
Before I explain this part, let me
tell you this; that the Shelby County
Real Estate & Investment
and the Diamond Mining company of
Colorado are virtually and practically
James Franklin. These facts were
discovered by Fenton, who at nv
suggestion has examined the records
in the registers Office, and learned
the exact state Of the case. It was
easy sailing about the real estate
company, but the facts concerning
the mining company were harder to
get at. 1t became necessary to have
Il thorough investigation, and with
this end in view Fenton went to Colo
RADIO and there he soon learned that
the local incorporators in the Dia-
mond Mining company were dunn
mics, and that James Franklin owned
a large proportion of the stock.
These two companies were evidently
created by Wright and Franklin for
the purpose of more thoroughly con
cealing the real nature of the trans
fers made. Fenton paid a visit to
the Colorado tract of land, and it
proved to be in the heart of a rich
mining section. Originally Wright
had bought it for a song and had
looked upon it as avery indifferent
speculation; but in 20 years great
changes have been wrought, mines of
vast richness have been worked, and
now it turns out that the eyes of all
the gold diggers in Colorado are
turned grecdily toward this tract of