The Savannah morning news., 1903-07-05

shaft on one claim with one cheap five
stamp mill In that way you could
at least pay expenses from the very
surface. After a little you can pay
more Then you might open up an
other claim. That would take time to
be sure; but what business does not
take time?'
His actual speech was of quite dr.
ferent tenor. When called before the
meeting by a special messenger, ana
asked to name the terms he was Ill
ing to offer, he replied quite simply:
Fifteen thousand dollars"
This was, of course, quite unthlnka-
BILE An animated discussion ensued
I'VE have spent over $4,000 said
Stevens, and we owe S26,OOO more
Then the claims are worth something,
surely. 1t would be better to hold the
property just as it stands, on the
chance of some future sale"
"Of the twenty thousand you Rave
spent" retorted Lafond. fifteen has
been spent uselessly. 1 mean not that
it was all waste, but that if had
been running the mine l could have
bought all l would need for five
thousand And as for the twenty-six
thousand you owe, what with bonuses
for fast work and contracts at high
price, it ought all to have been COM
pleted for fifteen thousand. And be-
sides. if it was l who had developed
the property, l would not have suEk
all these shafts before making the mill
TO work. l would have my mine to
pay before. I am making you the Of
fer of five thousand for the mine and
ten thousand for the works."
This argument carried some weight.
1t awaited to induce an acceptance of
Lafond's final offer of five thousand
cash. and the assumption of the TWEEN
ty-six thousand debt. A man in his
position and in his business could cast
ly reduce the latter item.
"Of course this is merely informal,
explained Stevens. I'VE have TO call
directors meeting yet to take final
action"
We hold controlling interest" add
ed Murphy, for the purpose of reassur-
ing Lafond.
Il understand" said the latter. And
now another thing. What are you go
ing to do about the camp itself?"
Stevens hesitated. Il suppose We'll
shut down and give Knapp his walk
ing papers," he answered at last.
THAT is Just it. 1 want that you
look out for my interests in that. If
you shut down. that gives the camp
bad name. and a bad name is of
all things in the West the worst. And
you know not that man Knapp. You
discharge him. Eth. we'll? He is an
CRY; ne is without law; he is reckless.
/ He is able to do that which he wishes
He can burn the buildings, break the
machinery. Who is it that will stop
him? No, when Knapp is discharged,
it must be that the deeds are in my
hands, so that 1 can protect my prop
erty.
An Gov, 49, 5,,.4ioo - +hir .nro,,,,aont
What would you suggest them"
asked the chairman.
How is it that you intend to dis
charge him." returned Lafond.
What do you mean?"
What is the formality? Do you Just
write and tell him he is discharged?'
"Oh! No; we call a directors n.4et-
ing, and pass resolutions to that eff
feet, a copy of which we send him.
We will do that at the same time we
authorize the sale to you"
Lafond drummed for a moment on
the polished table near his hand.
Eth. WE'LL he announced at last.
| '1et it be like this. When it is that
you have had your directors meet
ing and have passed your resolutions,
then you send your copy to me, and 1
will give it to Knapp. Thus 1 will
be on the ground to see that he makes
no trouble. And at the same time you
| send the deeds to this mamie rap
| idly scrubbed an address-"he is a
notary public at Rapid. You will have
time to look up his reliability. He
can hold the deeds until l pay to him
the $1,000 and sign a contract to take
the debt we spoke of. Is that salts
factory?"
quite" they agreed.
How long will it be before you fin
| iSh YOUR meetings ~
Ten days. 1t takes a weeks notice
for a special meeting"
On the way to South Dakota again
Lafond stared out of the windows with
| unseeing eyes in which lurked laugh
ter. Ten days" said he to himself
passing the fingers of one hand softly
over the palm of the other. His dark
bearded face in the twilight lost its
outlines against the upholstery Of the
Pullman. A nervous little bride or
her wedding trip to California grasped
her husbands arm.
What is it, dear?" inquired the
latter.
"Foolishness," she laughed, a little
forcedly. But see that mans eyes
Aren't they uncanny?"
Looks a bit like a maniac" admit
ted the groom, but it's this queer
light. Odd fellow. Looks as if he might