Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-07-08

one, and know that my own iudg-
ment Is not infallible.
Suppose tell you how I agreed
with Juan to buy the house, to give
him q few thousand for himself
those poems don't know what to do
with money III they get more thansS 50
at a time-and how the next day
urgent business called me to New
York. The Aztec treasure still lies
where 1t was buried, and 1 can do
nothing toward reaching it at pres
ent.. Suppose my story interested
you, would you care to put any
money into a matter of that kind?"
The faces of the two men were a
study. The mining mans, which had
lighted up with the dramatic telling
of the story, had now settled back
into its usual aspect OF shrewdness,
overlaid with look Of never-failing
good humor. The capitalist had been
fascinated by the tale. He was lean
ing forward In his chair tensely,
showing absorbing interest in the re-
cital, his lips were drawn hack q 1T
tie.
There was a moments silence.
How much would 1t cost to buy
the house, asked the capitalist.
about s50,OO0."
How much to buy the Indian, this
Juan, so as to satisfy him and keep
him quiet?"
1.-TWO or three thousand would do
it."
81 suppose the Mexican govern
ment couldn't claim the treasurer"
No. l. am quite sure they
couldn't"
'.How soon could you go with me
to Mexico?"
Tomorrow. What is your pro-
position?"
wen start tomorrow afternoon
Well buy the house, the Indians
silence and anything else that is nec-
essary. III put up all the money and
will divide with you the difference
between the gross amount of the
treasure and what money l have to
spend to get 1t. Is that salts factory?
All right. You may be little short
I'll give you check for, say, cou-
pie Of thousand now. Look up the
fastest trains, get the tickets and so
on. and phone me tomorrow morn
ing at my house where to meet you
and when"
The mining man reached for his
hat and rose from his chair with a
a broad smile on his face.
Now, SIR" he said, eve got you
just where ! want you. The tale
have just told is fantastic romance.
The treasure may exist, but I don't
know. where it is. You will recall
that related the story as supposi-
ton, so as to see what you would
do under certain circumstances.
81 am comparative stranger to
YOU, yet you swallowed the bait, hook
and line. You were ready to invest
hundred thousand dollars in some
thing as intangible as a moonbeam.
yet few minutes ago you turned
down, almost discourteOusly, a sound,
safe mining proposition.
Il told you that there were hun
dred thousand tons OF ore In sight
that averaged $50 ton IN value.
That's $5,OOO,OOO. / showed you re-
ports of mining engineers Of high
standing to prove my statements. Yet
all that did not interest you.
''Then l decided to spin this yarn
of the Aztec treasure, and you lis
tened to 1t like little girl to fairy
tale, have finished my experiment
and will now bid you good day."
The mining man was half way to
the door before the capitalist had re-
covered from his establishment. Dis
appointment, chagrin and anger
swept across his face. Finally he
smiled, and the smile stayed. He
jumped from his chair and dragged
the mining man back. ..t'
you're right" he said. you've
taught me lesson that Is worth a
million dollars to me. I'll take $780,
900 worth of your stock and I'll sign
the subscription list now. Wen set
tie any further details tomorrow af-
ternoon at 3. o'clock, instead Of TAX
ing the fastest train to Mexico,
In another case the promoter took
quite different tact. This happened
up In Toronto.
The promoter was New Yorker.
Negotiations had been going on for
several days. There had been much
lunching together, and finally the Ca
| madam capitalist announced his viii
lingness to take $1,000 worth OF
stock. ...
The promoter did not show the
least trace of disappointment at the
| smallness of the subscription-much
to the Canadians surprise. In fact
| he seemed pleased, and bade him
| goodbye with profuse thanks.
The next morning the promoter
burst into the Canadians private
office. breathless and apparently
much agitated.
81 am ashamed and humiliated at
what | must tell YOU" he said, "but
as an honest man | cannot do other
| wise than be. absolutely frank and
| straightforward with you.
when sold you that stocl- yes
terday and got your check for SIS, 900
| thoroughly believed that was put
| ting you in the way Of splendid
investment. When returned to my
hotel to pack up and get the night
train for New York found letter
| there from an old chum who is the