The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-10-16

SiOu IuIOuSu uIuCu N'lASuiVJ1 onN
want to- show my employers that l can
be trusted. This ming has been turned
down by older experts, but there has
been rumor abroad that there was gold
in it. l heard of it, and my employers
heard of it about the same time; they
wanted a young mining engineer, and
my old college professor recommended
me. Now if I can prove this mine is
rich one I'll find it easier to get an
other commission"
Apparently deeply interested in this
simple recital of his story, the woman
stood just under the shadow listening,
glancing up encouragingty at times.
When he had finished she commented:
"But sometimes rocks are deceptive,
aren't they?'
"Not according to modern tests-and
examinations" :.
"But don't they salt mines some
times-that is, I've read Of such
things?" Hudson smiled down on her
with condescension.
"These are old fakes" he said. "No
man could salt mine today to deceive
an expert engineer. We assay the
rocks gathered from all parts Of the
mine, and it will be utterly impossible
to deceive US"
She responded with gentle inclina-
tion of the head, which did not seem
to add approval to his words: II sup
pose you are right; bat am some
times little old-fashioned and cling
to the old beliefs"
A moment later she was swallowed
up in the darkness, and Hudson asked:
"Lukens, who was that lady?' i.
"She? Why: that's a niece of Mr..
Borden, the biggest stockholder in this
mine. He's said to be-
"Miss Borden is her name?' Hudson
interrupted. :.
Lukens grumbled an affirmative.
"And she lives with her uncle?"
Again Lukens made his affirmative
reply short monosyllable. ."
I'LL 60 up now," Hudson added.
You'll help me with this sack? It's
mighty heavy" .:'s.
At the entrance to the mine he
looked eagerly for a glimpse of Miss
Borden; but she and her grimy guides
had disappeared completely: Hudson
turned away with an audible sigh,
wondering at the adventure and. its
commonplace termination. There was
one chance in dozen that he would
meet her again, for his business was
with the Gold King Company, and its
stockholders, among whom Richard
Borden was prominent. s.sa..
He had received for his Eastern
company price option on the Gold
King, which would prove ridiculously
small if his assay Of the specimens
proved up to his anticipations. But
through one fatality and another which
be could not control-including a=rail-
road wreck and a broken mine cage
and shaft-he had been delayed in his
inspection of the mine until the very
day before the option expired. More
than that, his own company had tele-
graphed him that very morning of a
decision reached by the Directors. II
the assay did not prove satisfactory
by the 10th the order to purchase the
mine would be rescinded. New plans
would he formulated at a meeting of
the Directors, and if the deal had not
been consummated by that time it
would be dropped. ~-5
Hudson saw his first commission
slipping from his hands, either through b
the expiration of the option on the
mine or by the action of the Board of
Directors of his Eastern company.
Either way it would be aggravating
to him. He must not only get his re-
port in before the morrow, but he must
see Richard B orden, the chief owner
and President of the Gold King:
With that purpose in view he hur.
ricd back to his hotel and proceeded
to make an assay of his rocks, with
their fine fakes of gold scattered
through them. He was thoroughly
convinced that the Older portion of the
mine was rich in streaks of gold ore
A few hours. later, when be. finished
his assay, this was demonstrated be-
yond a doubt. Carefully. poising the
gold be had extracted from the frag
ments of rock, he said aloud: :.
"That's a rich find. : It will rur
from fifty to one hundred dollars ton
1t will be the, making of my reputa
ton: Now tor. Richard Borden, and
then for a report to the Eastern Min
ing Company" i ..
He drew a time table of the narrow