Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1907-05-04

an indiscriminate rlass of humanity
male, female, respectable, disreputable,
well-dressed, unkempt, native, for
eign-pushing and crowding, bah
bling and gesticulating.
There was no turning them away,
those poor fellows, for not only were
there clergymen among them, as Gin
bold had seen, but reverend gentlemen
were in many cases leaders of special
contingents of home-seeSers, and many
others in the crowd carried letters
from contributors to the fund which
were not to be ignored. 1t was late
In the day before the last application
was received, the last dreary explana-
ton made, the last golden promise ut
tered. Day after day the crowd surged
into the Office and out again. And 1t
grew not only in size, but in its ex-
actions, for humanity in general is
very insistent in the matter of its
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
If it was being thoroughly explained
to each applicant that the non-specula-
tive clause in the government con-
tract would be rigidly enforced. 1t also
brought in a 'plain-clothes man" from
Mulberry street, who caused the part
ners additional concern.
The contributions so far received
we're, ironically enough, no more than
sufficient to pay the expenses of all
those for whom governmental fees
had been forwarded and favorable an
swers filed. They decided to close the
deal at once, and the conclusion was
forced upon them that under the new
conditions it would be impossible to
exact the options in the railway de-
pot The very labor of it would re-
quire hours to perform. They must
risk getting them beforehand.
They set out upon their task with
callous disregard of the consequences.
| They were sending a horde Of unfor-
Inmates thousands of miles away from
familiar associations, to mountain
Businesses which in many cases would
yield nothing to the pillow, 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 one by one,
and in the private room the question
was put to each. Some of them, poor
| innocents! were eager and willing to
! do IN, g., /, %
a promised home. Some had to be
coaxed, some wheedled, some threat
ened, and few, who saw through the
whole business, placated. But on the
morning of departure Gimbold and
Hochheimer had secured signed op-
tions on mineral rights from three
fourths 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 handiwork 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 and their
children, helping them to seats in the
train and bidding them Godspeed with
benign courtesy that was beautiful
to behold.
In the end they were compelled to
make speech-Gimbold made it from
the rear platform of the train-a
speech so inspiring in its patriotism,
so tender in its pathos, that the en-
thusiasm invoked was tremendous,
and the people struggled with one an
other to get to the orator. who was
forced to retreat into the car. There
he met the government inspector face
to face. Back of the inspector stood
the plain clothes man" from police
headquarters.
"And now, Mr.. Gimbold," began the
inspector, without preamble, "and
now that you have excited those inno-
cents until their feelings are at the
breaking-point, what do you think they
would do to you if l were to tell them
that those options of yours rendered
their homestead claim invalid?"
"Why, IL" stammered Gimbold,
taken aback, "I-I-don't know what
you mean"
ooh, yes you do" replied the inspec-
tor, calmly. You have with you
signed options on all the ore bodies
underlying the claims of these people.
Suppose l tell them they have invali-
| dated their titles?"
81 don't believe it" clustered Gin
! bold, hotly. ITS a point of law-it
would have to be proved"
Granted" said the inspector; "but
those fellows wouldn't wait for the
law to settle it if l told them of my |
doubts"
well, what are you going to do
about it?' demanded Gimbold, revert |
ing to that time-worn defiance.
"Why, Pm going to tell them unless |