The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-06-11
'sCOTTY" HAS
BLUFF CALLED


world. was called, and called hard, ac
cording to group of Rhyoitc opera
tors who were discussing that spec
tacular individual in the cafe of the
Fairmont the other day, says a writer
in San Franoisco's Town Talk
"Scotty' behind four jumping mules
and a cloud of dust had Just whirled
into Rhyolitc from the desert whenc,
he had come from visit to his fa
nous "hiddeu mine.' 1t was the re
turn from that conspicuous trip OF
which Scotty had promised to show
his wife the wonders and riches of his
much discussed treasure crypt. Mrs
Scotty descended from the wagon in
an irritable frame of mind because at
the last moment her husband had
weakened on betraying his secret and
had left her out on the desert while
he drove off alone to fill his pockets
and several canvas bags from the rich
specimens littering his treasure house.
As usual he was bubbling over with
animal spirits and self-assurance and
invited all Rhyolite to take the first
drink with him.
That evening he drifted over to the
leading saloon where he butted into n
group of operators among whom was
Louis Schloss, just in from Goldfeld,
| to look over some of his holdings.
Schloss was in the act of peeling a
so bank note signed by Malcolm Mac
Donald off small wad of bills. "What
are those things good for'' demand
ed "Scotty," affecting curiosity.
Money responded Schloss, simply.
"They'll buy most anything" "Well,
they're poor specimens of what money
ought to be-, returned "Scotty"
glibly. "Now here s the real thing
and as usual his hands Owed into his
capacious pockets and brought out two
.fistfufls of ore fairly bristllng with
sparkling gold. "That IS the kind OF
stuff you can't mistake. There no
chance of fake about that and he
scattered them ostentatiously over the
bar with his usual air of triumphant
bravado. Then he added significantly,
land there's plenty more where that
came FROM, implying as usual that
he had the wealth of Golconda safely
slowed away within his fingers reach.
Yes, its the real thing sure
enough, responded Schloss in his cool
fashion, "but I'm not so sure about
the fake. / II tell you what III do,
Scotty, he went on, calmly diving
one hand into an inside pocket and
producing roll of bills that would
have paid his way around the world
several times over. He peeled off a
$1,000 bill and tossed it on the bar.
I'm tell you what ri do, 'Scotty.
III put that thousand against your
specimens and shake you for the lot
one rattle out or the box The crowd
craned closer and "Scotty IS" face be-
gan to set fxedly. "Just to keep up
the fun, IN go further" continued
Schloss, coolly peeling off another $1,000
bill and tossing it next its fellow -on
the bar. ''Dig up some more speci
mems and III put that against them
and Wen shake for the buncl-one
rattle out of the box. And just to
IN "a lfn riff inf MI
to keep up the fun go dig up the fancy
gold samples you say YOU got in
the canvas bags you'v just brought
to town and I'll put this wad against
them and shake you for the lot-one
rattle out of the box.
"Scotty's face was study for
caricaturist Opper. A broad grin be-
gan to break over the intent faces of
the increasing crowd, for the electric
whisper had shot through the town that
Scotty" was being called for a show
down. "I'n go further than that,
'Scotty'; just to keep up the fun"
went on Schloss. imperturbably. Set
price on this hidden mine of yours
and III send an expert to examine it
and if he says your figures are any
where within reason III dig up the
price of the mine and shake you for
the whole blamed outft-one rattle out |
of the box" "Scotty" gulped some.
thing and slowly began to gather up
the specimens scattered over the bar
You're blufiing," he said. weakly, but
his eoeksure air was gone, The crowd
laughed.
" scotty's a bluff, said sehloss to
a small group of his friends afterwards.
~ always thought 50 after ! had a
chance 10 examine fume Of the or9
specimens be finishes 50 freely on the
public. Amy man who knows Nevada
lfe anl tbs way a Is worked can tell
~ a glance how seolly manufacturer
bis gold ldsilIng specimens. lt's o.
uekl hut lfIek any man can do after
pa is taught H. As for his owning
leaerl mime Of fabulous values, ~
M guf H. fuHu NHk4 IA ffs4ua ....tt.... u