The Cairo bulletin., 1909-05-19

countered water in the lower leNeIs'
and TO them the mystery of the fall In
the water OF the lake was explained.
1t was decided to send a man into
the Savage. to watch for the piece or
pine with Meeker's initials on. But
why trust it to third party? Meeker
himself went to Virginia City, and, on
a letter of recommendation from COL
Clair, was given work in the Savage
and placed at the foot of the Incline as
a station tender,
He had not been long at his post
when the little piece of wood with the
initials w NJ. came up on the surface
of the waters of the stump and MS
heart gave great bound Of joy That
night he was flying to San Francisco
on fast train. and next morning was
closeted with Col. Clair. the mining OPP
orator and millionaire.
The plan these two men fixed on was
the boldest ever conceived in the an
nails of stock speculation. 1t was moth
ing less than method by which the
hole in the bottom of Tahoe might be
stopped by mechanical contl1vance
and then opened and closed at Will. BY
this means the mines might be cleared
of water or flooded to suit the con
yenience of the two operators, ana
this condition, having its influence on
| the stock market would make millions
| of money for the men who had con
| ceived the bold design.
Before the week was over. Meeker,
backed with the money OF Col. CIair,
was back at Lake Tahoe. He ordered
large fiatboat. built ostensiby for
| fishing purposes 1t was completed III
a couple of weeks and fitted with q
good cabin and here he took up ms
| abode. From that on lot OF mystefi
| GUS consignments reached Tahoe ioi
| Meeker, and he received them on his
! tlatboat at Tahoe city and moved the
| boat from place to place by the aid oi
small gasoline launch.
TO all intents and purposes 1t was
an anglers craft, the mere pastlme oi
a man who had the money at his dis
posal to catch Tahoe trout in his own
way
II proved really a simple matter to
| stop the hole in the lake, Careful IN
vestigation showed it to be nearly cir
cular and about four feet across The
dimensions of the hole being known
approximately was sufficient, The butt
of a log about FIVE feet In diameter
was given a conical shape and bolts
| we're sunk into the end, to which
heavy chain was attached. rms was
| connected with windlass and lei
down through the well i'll the botto-
of the boat.
During the next ten days brokers
who watched the market noticed tina
the firm of Goodman & Crowley were
buying Savage In any lots offered
There was nothing special In the wa
of developments in the mine, and thos
who had become tired OF holding SAY
age began to unload on rising MAJ
ket. Presently the brokers who la
the handling of the deal were actlV
bidders on the stock. The tall form 0
Ioe Goodman was soon noticeable y
the center of a gesticulating Grove
bidding up Savage The price ros
gradually, and still he stood calm an
serene, as was his won't and taking !
all the Savage offered.
Something was on, The broker
scented big deal In Savage,
t The wires were hot between Sa
| Francisco and Virginia City with ciphe
: dispatches, but no one could repoi
ANYTHING extraordinary in Savage
} | There was no development, and tn
: water In the lower levels required tn
f full working capacity Of the big Co
. nish pumps to hold 1t In control.
= Goodman was commission broke
t and evidently not specializing on h'
G own hook, and Col. Glars broker
\ were selling Savage-but in might
= small lots.
+ Col Clair was moving about III
n street In front of the Exchange bull
k ing, deprecating the idea OF rise
s stocks not based on actual merit
n ME son" he said to one OF II
curbstone brokers, there can never
ANYTHING in buying Savage until tt
g water Ia out of the lower levels.
Inside week the water was near
IL all out of the Savage, and also out
; the adjoining mines, and stocks bes'
TO soar The pumps all along the b
d lead were slowing down and the wo
u went out that the water had been co
+ ouered at last and now the big bona
zas were going 10 be uncovered. VI
ginia City was happy and the STOCK
u change in San Francisco was whl
= of speculation.
Then came a series OF rises al
II breaks in the market and Cot. Cla
IL always "hit them just right No ma
e seemed so shrewd as he, and 80 II
d deals went on and his wealth acc
1t nulated. William Meeker had but
raise or lower the plug In Lake ant
u according to advices.
y One night as Meeker was raisii
II the plug with the biz windlass. he b
came aware of a figure behind him.
q was Col. Clair, who had reached u
spot by boat
d f.Ir,-z. ts ubs unrking?"