The copper era., 1903-11-05

started northeast and in some ter
DAYS had crossed the Little Colorado
heading for the high table lard-
which we were sure was in New Mex
leo. Mr.. Arnold was not very com
municatiye. We asked no questions.
30 when we got to camp by some good
water in long draw with low hills Ol
grey soil with grama grass and cedar
wood in plenty, he said he would not
trouble US further. He thanked Us
much and paid Us well. We wished
them good lucA and goodbye and rode
home through the cold OF those
/ February days and wondered. In the
summer we went into northern Sonora
20 trade for cattle and would bring
them TO MaricOpa Wells for Hooker,
government beef contractor. We
got very little news in those days.
I We heard though that there had been
big find OF diamonds in northern
Arizona, Professor Lannin had him
self been out aud pronounced it an
other South Africa. Bill Lent had
raised company and stock was at
high premium. but it never occurred to
me to think OF Arnold and Slack in
the connection. one day when about
to start down the little jerk water
outfit that brought the mail in those
days drove up going east? | gave a
start for there sure pop sat Boo Slack
groOmed up and hair fixed city style,
pale and neryeou5 too, but sure him.
why where are you going" | said.
mo farther now. How lucky. Wait
till | get drink and bite to eat" and
sitting behind Noore's corral | was
told that it. was they who had made
the diamond plant but it had been
frost bitten before it had time to bloom
much. Had | not heard? No. | was
acquainted on the gulf, would | take
him down and get him across to La
Paz that he could go to Cape St. Lucas
to take the Panama steamer and my
reward should be a reward that made
me jump. Yes yOu bet. He got me
horse from Moore and started with It's
down next day for Altar Now Capt.
Gaines was with us the genial Pike,
he bad all the late news and the
papers the story OF the diamond fields
in full. How Larufn had stood in
with the play, and must have taken
heap of fixing and help to plant it,
but that U. 5. Expert King, how quick
hn toll fbnrn il
nothing like government expert.
but he got there so quick though.
From Altar Slack and | rode to La
bertard on the gulf and by luck found
a fishing boat. We turned our horses
loose and hired the fisherman to set
his sail for La paz. We threw the sad
dies in the boat and in two days was
across the gulf in the Capital OF La
Baya, Cali 'ornia, and sitting there in
that sleepy town Of pearl fishers over
a bottle of good mesCa. Bob told me
all he knew of the Slack Diamond
fields of Arizona. Now Bob Slack
spoke English trimmed with many
cuss words 50 1 will cut of the trim
hih ttll NOh III MS va tS utdI
as ! remember.
when we left you last year 10 60 to
the bay we were just about iuked |
We had been prospecting for pay but
wife was in the city andhad been draw |
ing. | only hoped had enough to take /.
me TO Australia II think I'll make it !
now," Arnold had quartz mine in /
Nevada county, but could not sell, so !
things looked blue. We went to /
ArnOld'S, got logged up and down to /
B;ll Lent'S Office We went. II seemed /
in a good humor and said well. never /
As we were leaving Arnold showed /
him his rocks he took the right one.
the shining red stone, leaving him the
bag. Arnold said | let ny wife pick
lut the best, we'll you just get them
and bring the lot down To the Occi-
dental to night. There is an expert
there who has come from South
Africa. We went home and at supper
told Mrs. Arnold She spoke right up
and said we are about at the end of
street where are some rough real dia-
monds that did come from Africa |
will get them if l have to put up my
trinkets. Just mix them in with this
lot, take them down, play your cards
all right and there will come the big
yest kind OF q prospecting stake.
Now she did this very thing that night.
We found Lent at the Occidental and
handed him that same buckshin sack.
The expert was playing billiards so W
vent in and Bill poured the contents
IF the bag out on the bright green
,loth under the glare of the spectator,
md oh, my, how they did shine. the ex-
pert knew his biz, as far as dia-
uonds went. He picked on: at once
he good ones but the rubies they took
lis eye, and he did lot of book talk
md took LenEs advice and by and by
We aud Lent went over to the Poodle
Dog and we did lot more talking and
frank stuff that fzzed and woke up
lext day with a headache and feel
ng on my part that We had bitten of
more than we could chew.
ARNOLD was sent tor next dav aud at
night told how he met Drage and
sharon and all the outfit was told
hat on Montgomery street they had
been valued. They were diamonds and