Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-12-24

you. What does Dennison mean?
What sort of interest has John T.
wright In the land? Answer at
once"
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; or else some mis-
carriage in the payment of taxes re-
sulting in sale of the land. of which
i know nothing. 1t is possible that
Wright may have some lien upon the
land. I will investigate, and if | find
that it can 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 would. Wipe out the
defect at once, whatever il is, no
matter what it costs. / 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 / was the principal
stakeholder. As you know, the land
had for long time been considered
practically worthless. | had almost
entirely lost sight of it and long con-
sidered it hopelessly worthless in
vestment. l put my shares of stock
away and never looked at them care
fully until few months ago, when
I discovered that a considerable pro-
portion of them had been lost, or, as
j now suspect, deliberately abstract
ed. Enough are missing to place me
in a minority, and ! suspect that
Wright, or some one behind him, had
engineered scheme for the purpose
of freezing me out; and | strongly
suspect that the hand Of some Colo
RADIO mining speculator is in it. II
you will back me up may be able TO
buy up some of the innocent stock
holders and bly-wth what I
already have-get a ma iority of the
existing stock. If | only had the
services of some good detectives and
some money to collect evidence, l
could easily defeat the damnable
scheme which has 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 own a ma
jority of the stock ] do not see what
is to be gained by any further cor
Tespondence on the subject. Unless,
therefore. you choose to make me a
definite proposition showing me how
we may get a clear title 10 the land,
] decline to bargain with you any
further"
Franklin then made a proposition
as follows:
ITO get half interest in the land
by purchasing il from other stock
holders will cost you somewhere be-
tween 100000 and $5,000,000. If
you are willing to help me recover
the stock stolen from me, which can
be done for say 100000 at the out
side, l will share it jointly with you.
BY a liberal expenditure we can OBJ
tain practically complete possession.
1t seems TO me that il is to your in
tcrcst TO ally yourself with me. 1t
may be necessary to do some fighting
in the courts, and to meet the CON
spirators at every point will require
money. If you will agree TO let me
draw on you to the extent Of 100000,
as occasion requires, |. on my part,
will agree to this: That within six
months we shall have exclusive pos
session, or if I fail by that time you
can have the equivalent Of the $780,
COO advanced ont of my stock
Merivale replied promptly:
"I would like to close this business
up as soon as possible. My mining
resources are all lying idle, and | am
losing money every day thereby. |
cannot wait six months. Make il
three months and state your agree
ment in writing, and I will see you
about it."
Franklin then wrote:
81 accept your amendment, and
hereby obligate myself within three
months to secure possession of the
tract in county, Colorado, for
you and myself jointly, or, on failure
to do so, to remuncrate you out of
my stock on condition that you will
honor my drafts to tho extent of
500, 900"
Merivale answered laconically:
1T is a go. Draw away"
This letter from Franklin to Meri-
vale may be interesting:
Send check for $1,000 to Thomas
Morris. Yokohama, Japan This is
for stock purchased through him.
Charge the amount to my account"
Just before Fenton left Colorado
for Nilus he induced Merivale to
write this letter to Franklin:
1T seems to me that if your stock
was stolen from you, the proper way
would be to steal it back Can't you
find anyone with nerve enough down
your way to do it? The three months
having expired, | shall come to Nilus
to settle matters at issue between us
If by the time / get there you have,
by hook or crook, got possession OF
the stock, all right. If not, [ must
have the 100000 worth of stock"
CrO BE Continued
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THE RED AND THE BLUE.