The Irish standard., 1903-09-12
Mystery Of the
Bayou Woods
By WALKER KENNEDY.
Copyright, 1903, by A. N. Kellogg Newspaper Co.
CHAPTER NVI.-CoNrINuEp.

that l should go to Colorado and find
out the actual facts about the min
ing tract. l made my way to the
mine adjoining the Wright tract, and
there found horde Of miners wait
ing hungrily for the signal to begin
work in the new field. y great stony
wedge which marked one of the boun-
diaries 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. Old
gold hunters told me that it was
probably the most valuable piece of
land in the state, and that it would
make its owners fabulously rich.
"It was my good fortune while I
was loafng about the mine to become
acquainted with Mr.. Frederick Meri-
vale, the chief stakeholder 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 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.
1t was registered in the name of the
Diamond Mining company, of which
E,,op Ill
dent and chief stakeholder. 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 I 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,
do not propose to part with it for 3
song
Several letters passed between
them, and finally Merivale 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. y letter to this
effect is also in my possession.
L.; u,
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.. Denmson
rather plumed himself i'll his sagacity
in having picked out such Il big thing
20 years before, and he wrote to
Wright in very enthusiastic man
ner. NLerivale got wind of the fact
through Dennison that Wright
claimed the ownership, and he wrote
to Franklin to know whether he
could give IL clear title. by various
misrepresentation, which the letters
managed to get considerable sums
out OF Mervale, and with the money
thus obtained the work of thievery
and assassination was carried on.
Il found Merivale to be very good
sort Of a fellow, ana straight as that
kind OF man generally is. lie was
tricky and coldbloodcd when it came
fn L., II, r.,
didn't care where he hit provided he
had his own way, and he was not the
kind OF man to stop and shed any
tears over the corpscs cast along the
shores OF finance by the flood of
speculation; but he wasn't Il thief, a
murderer or an assassin, nor know
lnyly partner of one. He received
got fairly acquainted with him gave
him an inliliny Of my business, and
then | began to stuff him full of my
suspicious and surlnises regarding
Franklin. satisfied him that Frank,
lin had been using his money fol
criminal projects, carried out to Sc
cure unlawful possession of the prop
erty. l persuaded him that Franklin
was deceiving him in Il most indie.
feasible manner, and that he was
doing himself an injustice in further.
ing his schemes.
II then made proposition tc
Merivale. l told him that / would
alter my appearance and go back tc
Nilus, taking his name; and that by
pretending to sympathizc with all OF
Franllin's schemes l should get into
his confidence and worm from him
the truth. In return for this priv
lege, 1 promised Merivalc that
would use all the influence | had, re-
enforced by Mr.. Everett, to induce
the real owners of the mine to con
sent to the proposition he had made
to Franklin. lie studied over it for /;
while. l could see that he rather
enjoyed the idea. 1t would be rare
joke and rare revenge, but l coult
see that he hesitated. Doubtless Ii,
was little apprehcnsive as to wha
use [ would make of his name; so
told him that he could write to Mr.
Everett, and that gentleman would
stand for my doing nothing tina
would bring discrcdit on his name
AT last he consented, and at my sug
gestion he wrote u letter to Col
Franklin stating that he would be il
Nilus in short time. He then mad
arrangements to depart for Sal
Francisco, where he had some inter
ests demanding his attention. Befor
l left he placed in my possession al
of Col. Erankliu's letters to him. q