The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-03-29

In the day before the last application
was received, the last drcary eYplana
ton made, the last golden promise ut
tered. Day after day the crowd surged
INTO the Office and out again. And II
grew not only In size, but In It's ex
actions, for humanity In general Ia
very insistent In the matter OF ltd
rights when they involve free.for-all
schemes. Then the notoriety which
the newspapers gave the scheme not
only increased the size of the crowds,
but 1t brought in a couple OF govern.
ment inspectors, who wanted to know
II IL was being thoroughly explained
to each applicant that the n~on.specula.
tive clause In the government con
tract would be rigIdly enforced. II also
brought In a "plain-clothes man" from
Mulberry street, who caused the part.
ners additional concern.
They set out upon their task with
callous disregard Of the consequences.
They were sending a horde of unfor.
tnnates thousands OF miles away from
familiar associations, to mountain
Businesses which In man cases would
yield nothing to the plow, and In re-
turn they were exacting the only prod.
uct which made the land worth the
acquiring. Summoned to their office,
the home-seekers came n by one,
and In the private room the question
wa put to each. Some of them, poor
i%nnocents! were eager and willing to
do anything in return for the boon OF
a promised home. Some had to be
coaSed, some wheedled, some threat.
ened, and a few, who saw through the
whole business, placated. But on the
morning of departure Gimbold and
Hochheimer had secured signed op.
lions on mineral rights from three.
#fonrths Of the home.seekers. The rest
were considered too risky TO approach,
On the morning OF the departure
they went over to the railway station.
Nothing but the fascination of seeing
the last OF their handiwerk took them
there,
In the depot they were given a rous-
ing reception, and they beamed from
one to another OF their dupes, and
went among the mothers aud their
children, helping them TO seats In the
train and bidding them Godspeed with
u benign courtesy that was beautiful
10 behold.
In the end they were compelled 10
make a speech-Gimbold made It from
The rear platform OF the train--a
speech 80 inspiring in its patriotism,
40 tender in its pathos, that the IL.
thuslasm invoked was tremendous.
Ind the people struggled with one an
ather TO get to the orator, who was
forced to retreat into the car. There
Ae met the government inspector face
Up face. Back Of the Inspector stood
Lhe plain clothes man from police
headquarters.
And now. Mr.. Gimbold," began the
Inspector, without preamble. "and
row that you have excited those iuno.
'ents until their feelings are at the
,~reaking.point, what do you think they
would do to you If | we're to tell them
nat those options of yours rendered
Heir homestead claim inyalid?" /,
why, lH--l-" stammered Glmbold.
aken aha, "I-I--don't know what /,
tn mean"
"oh, yes you do" replied the inspec. !
or, calmly. You have with you
u ned options on all the ore bodies
Underlying the claims OF these people, /
suppose ] tell them they have invali. I
lated their titlesg" 8
Il don't believe IT," clustered Gin. {
old. holly. IT'S a point of law--!t
you'd have to be proyedi" 4
Granted said the inspector; "but /
hose fellows wouldn't wait for the q
to settle II If | told them of my 8
,
Well, what + you going to do !.
bout IT, demanded Gimbold, revert.
~ to that time-worn defiance,
why, I'm going to tell them, unless
Oh hand over those options"
rNeper!"
y guess you'd better give them nm.
nbold," put in the "plaln-clothes
an" u don't believe the chief would
KIP II to be found out that you had
lsregarded his advice"
Gimbold thought a moment. Then