The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-09-03
CHAPTER XVII.
rom Meriyale to franklin.

From Merivale to Franklin:
II have just learned from Mr..
Moses Dennison that there is another
claimant to the land about which we
have been in correspondence. Of
ours I expect to have all titles
thoroughly examined by my attor-
neys before l close any bargain with
you. What does Dennison mean?
What sort of interest has John T..
Wright in the land? Answer at
cnce."
TO this Franklin replied:
II cannot learn from Wright the
grounds upon which he bases his
claim to ownership, unless there is
some flaw in the title of which he has
taken advantages; OF else some mis-
carriage in the payment of taxes re-
sulting in a sale of the land, of which
I know nothing. 1t is possible that
Wright may have some lien upon the
land. l. will Investigate, and if l find
that it car be wiped out for a reason
able sum of money, would you be
willing to supply the cash?"
TO this Mr.. Merivale wrote in re-
ply:
'Of course I would. Wipe out the
defect at once, whatever it is, no
matter what it costs. I am willing to
advance any sum necessary, with the
understanding that it is to be repaid
from the receipts Of the mine. Write
me at your earliest convenience the
exact nature of the defects, and let
me know the amount Of money you
need"
Franklin to Merivale:
"A good many years ago the Colo
RADIO tract was sold to a stock COM
pany in which l was the principal
stakeholder. AS you know, the land
had for a long time been considered
practically worthless. l had almost
entirely lost sight of it and long con-
sidered it a hopelessly worthless in
vestment. | put my shares of stock
away and never looked at them care
fully until a few months ago, when
l discovered that a considerable pro-
portion Of them had been lost, or, as
l now suspect, deliberately abstract
ed. Enough are missing to place me
in a minority, and I suspect that
Wright, or some one behind him, had
engineered a scheme for the
of freezing me out; and I strongly
suspect that the hand of some Colo
RADIO mining Spectator is in it. If
you will back me up I may be able to
buy up some of the innocent stock
hOIGarC and yncc11xy , r
already have-get a majority of the
existing stock. If I only had the
services of some good detectives and
some money to collect evidence, l
could easily defeat the damnable
scheme which las been organized
against me-
Merivale replied as follows:
Il am perfectly willing to spend
money to get possession of the new
land, but if you do not a ma
Jorlty of the stock 1 do not see what
is to be gained by any further cor
respondence on the subject. Unless,
therefore,, you choose to make me a
definite proposition showing me how
we may get a clear title to the land,
"SShAS: = " WIN you any
further"
Franklin then made a proposition
as follows:'
10 get a half interest in the land
by purchasing it from other stock
holders will cost you somewhere be-
tween 100000 and $1,000, 900. If
you are willing to help me
the stock stolen from me, which a
be done for say $4,000 at the out
side, I will share it jointly with you.
By a liberal expenditure we can OBJ
tain practically complete possession.
1t seems to me that it is to your in
terest to ally yourself with me. 1t
may be necessary to do some fighting
IN the courts, and to meet the con-
srlrators at every point will require
money. If you will agree to let me
drnw on you to the extent of 500, 900,
al occasion requires, I, on my part,
vau s2ree to this: That within six