The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-09-03
Mystery Of the
Bayou Woods
BY WALKER
Copyright, 1903. by A. N. Kellogg NewspaperCo.
CHAPTER XEI.-CONTINUED.

CHAPTER XVI.-CoNTINUED.
Having gathered a great deal of
evidence here and done all that could
be done for the time, it was decided
that I should go to Colorado and find
out the actual facts about the min
ing tract. I made my way to the
mine adjoining the Wright tract, and
there I found a horde of miners wait
ing hungrily for the signal to begin
work in the new field. A great stony
wedge which marked one of the boun-
daries of the tract had, by some up
heaval centuries ago, been thrust
straight across the vein of gold. This
doubly rich vein, It had been found,
extended into the Wright tract. Ole
gold hunters told me that it was
probably the most valuable piece of
LAND in the state. and that it would
make it's n fabulously rich.
1T was my good fortune while l
was loafing about the mine to become
acquainted with Mr.. Frederick Meri-
vale, the chief stockholder in it. He
had come out from New York some
time before, when the report reached
him that his vein had run up against
a stone wall, and that the Jig was
up. The object of his journey was
to make a thorough investigation, To-
cate the severed thread of gold. and
purchase the land that continued it.
A very casual examination convinced
him that just over the wall of stone
lay the biggest bonanza in the state.
The next thing was to get hold of it.
Tt was registered in the name of the
Diamond Mining company, of which
Franklin was apparently the presi-
dent and chief stockholder. Well, Mer-
ivale wrote to Franklin and asked if
he wanted to sell. He did not get an
answer for some time. Franklin was
evidently Investigating through other
sources to see what was up. Finally
came the answer, which l have here
and will read:
"I would be willing to sell pro-
viding you can meet my price. The
tract referred to being now the most
promising gold land in the west, l
do not propose to part with it for a
song
Several letters passed between
them, and finally Merivalc made a
proposition that they should open
the mine as joint owners. He would
put in all the necessary appliances,
which he had near at hand; would
stand all the expenses, take all the
risks, and give Franklin half net of
the gold output the first year. After
that they were to share expenses and
profits together. A letter to this
effect is also in my possession.
FINALLY there came a hitch in the
transactions. Wright had learned
something of the value of his tract
through Moses Dennison, formerly
of this part of the country, but who
had moved to Colorado years before,
and who had purchased this very
tract for Mr.. Wright. Mr.. Dennisor
rather plumed himself in his sagacity
in having picked out such a big thing
20 years before, and he wrote to
Wright in a very enthusiastic man.
ner. Merivale got wind of the fact
through Dennison that Wright
claimed the ownership, and he wrote
to Franklin to know whether he
could give a clear title. By various
misrepresentation, which the letters
IN my possession set forth, Franklin
managed to get considerable sums
out of Meriyale, and with the money
thus obtained the work of thievery
and assassination was carried on.
II found Merivale to be a very good
sort OF a fellow, and straight as that
kind of man generally is. He was
tricky and cold-blooded when it came
to the manipulation of stocks. He
didn't care where he. hit provided he
had his w way, and he was not the
KIN OF, man to stop and shed any
tears over the corpses cast along the
shores OF finance by the flood of
speculation; but he wasn't a thief, a
murderer or an assassin, nor know
ingly a partner of He received
me very cordially, and when / had
got fairly acquainted with him l gave
him an inl1ling of my business, and
then } began to stuff him full of nv
suspicious and surmises regarding
Franklin. L satisfied him that Frank
lin had been using his money for
criminal projects, carried out to Sc"
cure unlawful possession of the prop.
erty I persuaded him thai Franklin
was deserving him in a most indie
tantiole manner. and that he 7sar