Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-04-12


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-seekers. and many |
others In the crowd carried letters |
4-om contributors to the fund which |
we're not to be ignored. II 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 il |
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
IL it was being thoroughly explained
to each applicant that the non-specNla.
tive clause in the government con
tract would be rigidly enforced. II also
brought in '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.
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
innocentsi were eager and willing &c
do anything In return for the boon OF
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 OPP
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 Tous
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 tC
make a speech-Gimbold made 1t 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 wai
forced to retreat into the car There
he met the government inspector face
/ to face. Back of the inspector stooC
Q the plain clothes man" from polio,
e headquarters.
And now. Mr.. Glmbold,' began tn,
/ inspector, without preamble. "ant
now that you have excited those limo
i. cents until their feelings are at tn,
I breaking-point, what do you think the
d would do to you If | were to tell then
d that those options of yours rendered
), their homestead claim inyalid?"
t why, II stammered Gimbold
v taken aback, '.I-I-don't know wha
you mean"
r. "Oh. yes you do" replied the inspec
tor. calmly. You have with yol
= signed options on all the ore bodie
n underlying the claims of these people
O Suppose | tell them they have inval
e dated their titles?''
II Il don't believe II" clustered Gin
bold, holly. It's a point of Law
n would have to be proved"
l. Granted" said the inspector: "bu
those fellows wouldn't wait for tn
a. law to settle ii If | told them OF m
e doubts,
e We'll. what are you going to d
1t about it," demanded Gimbold, rever
If ing to that time-worn defiance.
1t Why, I'm going to tell them. unles
1. you hand over those options"
n, Never"
It II guess you'd better give them vi
Gimbold." put In the "plain-clotns
Id man" Il don't believe Inc chief woul
le like IL to be found out that you ha
II disregarded his advice"
n Gimbold thought a moment The
ar the futility of resistance must hav
le struck him. for with an imprecatio
he pulled a thick wallet from hi
i'd pocket and handed 1t to the inspe.
he tor.
ie The crowd outside surged up III
ne steps and into the car. calling loud
II. for GimboId and his partner The De.
b. pie wanted to see more OF the me
Of who had done so much for them.