Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-14

1sy
"'You have doubtless been attracted
to our small but growing city from the
reports-which are happily true-of the
inexhaustible mineral wealth of the
surrounding region says he
'No-o-not exactly says L; but l
do want to hear something about
mines. Mr.. Hotelman out there who's
a gentleman of the old school If ever
there lived one) told me that you might
put me on to good thing
Precisely says he. Now, sir. my
name is Jones-Agamemnon G. Jones
and my pardner, Mr.. II. Smith. is on
business trip, selling shares of our
mine, which we have called "The
Treasury" from reasons which we can
make obvious to any investor. The
shares, Mr.
"'Saunders-Red Saunders-Chanta
Seechee Red
"'Mr. Saunders, are so cents apiece,
which price is really only put upon
them to avoid the offensive attitude of
dealing them out as charity. AS a
matter of fact, this mine Of ours con-
set the commercial world were the
bare facts of its extent known. There
is neither sense nor amusement in
combining such enormous treasure in
the hands of two people. Consequent
ly my pardner and are presenting an
interest to the public, putting the NOM
inal figure of so cents share upon it,
to save the feelings of our beneficial.
rieS.'
"'What the devil do careT says 1.
I'm looking for chance to dig. Could
you tell a man where to go?
ooh says he when you come to
that, that's different. Strictly speak
ing, my pardner Hy hasn't gone off
on business trip. AS a matter of
fact, he left town night before last
with two-thirds of the money we'd
pulled out of pocket up on Silver
creek in the company of two half
breed Injuns, a Chinaman and four
more sons of guns not classified, all
In such a state of beastly intoxication
that their purpose, route and destina-
ton are matters of the widest con-
lecture. I've been laying around town
here hating myself to death, thinking
perhaps | could sell some shares in a
mine that We'll find yet, if we have
good luck. If you want to go wild
eating over the hills and far away,
I'm your huckleberry.'
THAT hits me all right says L.
For what don't know about mining
| nobody don't know. When do we
start?'
"'This or any other minute says he,
getting up from the table.
"'NVait till l finish up these eggs
says /. And there's matter of one
drink coming to me outside. l may as
well put that where it won't harm
any one else before we start
"'All right says he, waving his
hand. You'll find me outside, at your
pleasure, sir
Il swallered the rest of my break
fast whole and hustled out to the bar,
| where my friend and the hotel man
was waiting. Now I'll take that drink
that's coming, and rather than be
| small about it I'll buy one for you,
too, and then we're Off says 1.
"'You won't do no such thing says
| the hotel man. It's horse ON me,
and III supply the liquor. Mr.. Jones
| is in the play as much as anybody
$50 the hotel man set 'em up. and
| that made one drink. Then Jones said
| he'd never let drink suffer from
| lonesomeness yet when he had the
| price, and that made two drinks. 1
| had to uphold the honor of the ranch,
and that made three drinks. Hotel
man said it was up sticks now, and
he meant to pay his just debts like an
| honest man, and that made four
drinks. Then Jones said-wel, by this
| time 1 see l needn't have hurried
breakfast so much. More people came
| in. | woke up the next morning in
the same old bedroom. Every break
fast Aggy and me got ready to pull
| for the mines, and every morning !
| woke up in the bedroom. l should
like to draw veil over the next two
weeks, but 1t would have to be q
pretty strong veil to hold it. I tried
to keep level with Aggy. but he'd
spend three dollars to my one, and the
l consequence VI tlldI WIS tDdL we WEN
broke within fifteen minutes of each
other.
"Well. sir, we were mournful pain
TO draw to that day. We sat there
and cussed and said, Now. why didn't
we do this, that and t'other thing in
stead of blowing our hard earned
dough-? till bimeby we just dripped
melancholy, you might say. How
somever, we weren't booked for a dull
time just vet. That afternoon there
was a great popping Of whips like ar
Injun skirmish and into town comes
} bull train half mile long. Twelve
yoke of bulls to the team: lead, swing
and trail wagons for each, as big as
houses on wheels. You don't see the
like of that In this country. Dowr
the street they come the dust flying
whips cracking and the lads hollering
; whoa haw, Mary-up there! Wherp
| Whoa haw"'
"And those fellers had picked w
! dry throats walking In the dust; ais,
they had a months wages aching il
, their pockets. We hadn't much more'l