The Holly chieftain., 1904-07-22

of all profits payable to me. | wish to
feel that you will always have an in
terest in the Sailor mine"
"All right, john said jim. finally.
Now well play that game of seven
up"
Blake won the first game and John
the second. In the third game John
had two to go, and Blake lacked six
points. 1t was his deal. He turned
two jacks before the trump was Sc.
lected. and then made high, low, jack,
and the game. and won the rubber and
the first choice.
Lucky in cards, unlucky in love-"
laughed Blake as he arose from the ta-
BILE. Sailor A is mine-subject to
your option, John"
John drew up an agreement and an
option, which both signed, and the
firm of Burton & Blake was dissolved.
Blake accepted twenty-five hundred
dollars in cash, and three days later
both arrived in the little mining town
of Auburn. from which they sent
trustworthy man back to the cabin, to
remain on guard until John Burt re-
turned.
Bidding Blake adieu for week or
more, Burt proceeded to San Fran
| cisco.
He engaged rooms in the Palace no.
| tel-registering under the name OF
| John Burton-and made inquiries con-
| cerning the leading mining experts of
the city. He decided to present his
case to David Parker. He wrote the
| famous expert brief letter, and was
| duly accorded an interview.
During the brief preliminary CON-
versation, John Burt studied David
| Parker and decided to trust him. Then
| he related the story of the discovery
of the Sailor mine.
Il have always believed that those
hills - that those hills - contained
gold" said David Parker hesitatingly.
| Why do you come to me, Mr.. Bur
ton?' he asked. Il am not an-an in-
vestor I'm an expert-at least, ar
an alleged expert
Il wish you to refer me to an IN
vestor," replied John Burt. You are
an expert in metals and should be in
| capitalists. You know them; don't
Go and see John Hawkins" said
David Parker as a faint smile froze
on his face. He is honest-but hard
hard as granite. | hope you may sue
ceed with him-Mr. Burton. If You
and-Mr. Hawkins cannot come to
terms, II might refer you to others.
Good day; good day, strand good
luck"
AS David Parker predicted. John
Burt had little trouble in securing an
interview with John Hawkins, million
aire mine owner and investor.
He wrote the name John Burton
on card and gave it to an attendant.
| Two burly men stood in the doorway,
pousing to make some parting re-
mark, which was followed by roars of
merriment. The attendant brushed
past them as they closed the door.
Tell him to come in was the or
der given in voice sonorous through
the heavy partition.
John Burt's education in tho eti-
| quette of servility and in adulation of
material things was singularly defec-
tive. This may have been due to his
country training. 1t never occurred to
John Burt that eshould stand in awe
of the Hawkins millions. He was in-
pressed by the leonine head and Si-
| gantic proportions Of the magnate, as
| an artist is when he cOntemplates for
the first time some stupendous work
of nature He returned the great
mans gaze, before which most strang-
ers quailed and faltered. with an an
swering look which calmly asserted
an equality, yielding Difference only
to seniority of years.
How do you do? What can I do
for you. sir? Take a chair" Mr..
| Hawkins glanced again at the card,
tossed ii on his desk. and wheeled and
confronted John Burt. who had ac-
cepted this Gruff invitation.
Il own OF control some recently dis
covered gold mines, and am in San
| Francisco for the purpose of interest
ing capital in their development
said John Burt Il am informed that
you are an investor in mining proper
| ty am in position to submit prop
ositions which may result to our
mutual advantage
Where are they?" growled Mr..
| John Hawkins
For an answer John stepped behir d
the capitalist and placed his fingers
on a point indicated on large map D.
| California which hung on the wall.
They are located on the west slope
of the Sierra Nevadas, at an altitude
of about two thousand feet above the