The Detroit times., 1909-02-11
BY WILLIAM WALLACE COOK.

tons that ever occurred In the south
west was the one engineered by Ed
Noyes and Doc" Bigby; they put
something like fifty charges OF gold
into the lucky strike with Il shotguL
and worked the property off upon VIII
Carver for $4,000 Aside from the
metal Noyes and Bigby blew into the
mine, there was about as much gold
! In IL as In an ordinary sandbank.
Carver had just arrived in Phoenix.
lie was well-dressed. mild-mannerei
young fellow and 50 confidential about
himself that he hadn't been in town
two days before IL was known that
he had come To the territory with ten
thousand and determination 10 make
or break. Il was also 10 understand
that there was a young lady III the
case; that the young lady was
wealthy: that Carver had asked pater-
familias for her hand and thai sold
pater had told the young man 10 take
Greeleys advice. prove that he had
brains and could make money. and
then come back and ask for the daugh-
ter again
Noyes and Bgby figured that man
who would let out that much OF his-
family history before he had been for
ty-eight hours in strange town would
make good picking. So they sailed the
Lucky Strife, took every dollar the
ycung fastener had. and then laughed
about H.
AS the whole town knew that Carve
had come west 10 demonstrate his
sharpness and his ability TO amass
wealth. all for the purpose OF winning
the girl OF his choice, SO the public
knew that he had lost all at the very
start of People sympathized with
him on account OF the girl, but felt
certain that he was a good ways from
Milling his prospective father-in-law's
specifications. Unkind remarks reach
ed Carver about IA tool and his mon
ey," but the young man merely smiled
BIN a mysterious way and gave every
one the impression that there was
something he knew which he could
keep TO himself.
At any rate, he secured sufficient
tunds--it afterwards developed thai
the girl had sent him her pin money
End started in to work the Strike
The Strike was just over the ridge
from Baldwin's Prize, and the Prize
was a true assure. iree-gold PROPOSE
ion that paid regular dividends OF 100
per cent. When Noyes and Bigby had
coated the Strike. they felt positive
that IL was on Baldwin's vein, but
fifty-foot shaft and hundred-foot
evel, all In country rock. convinced
hem that the Prize" dyke was IL
bther ground.
Carver laid in supply Of powder
drills, picks. shovels and wheelbar-
rows. bought himself a working suit
Ind went up TO the Strike and pitched
his camp Week after week and month
bitter month he and colored man,
s1hom he had hired, worked away
with tremendous industry. A noun
ain OF rock. as bare OF color as Mlchl-
gan hardheads, grew up around the
yindlass at the month OF the SHAFT
Miners from the Prize used 10 stand
bn the ridge and joke with Carver as
ne toiled away at a window ON the
platform below"
IF that gal waits till we find pay
E;reak In them diggins,' they tainted
she'll have to get old Methusaleh'5
receipt for a long life
Carver, however. paid no heed. lie
: orked like beaver and he kept II up
until people got disguised with him
ind declared that he ought to be put
a straitjacket and kept in restraint
rhey thought his hard luck had gone
@ his he adj and unbalanced him. car
yer never left the mine and never al
owed anyone TO enter IL but himself
and old Jack, the Negro Old Jack
irifted into Phoenix periodically for
supplies and mail, and when question
I'D in n sarcastic way as TO whether
Carver had found anything. his in
ariable reply was: Not yit. but he
Say he shore gwine tub
At last, Phoenix was startled by a
Eeport that Old Jack had brought into
own piece OF ore that essayed $500
O the ton. People scoffed at the news,
md even after they had handled the
sample and looked at the assayers
certificate. they were inclined to think
hat Jack had got the ore out of some
bther mine than the Strike.
AS for Noyes and Bigby. they show
ID signs Of panic, and when they got
rig and drove out into the hills and
Vaw Carver hauling up bucket after
yucket OF as fine rock as ever came
mi of ground they were a sad looking
pair.
I'm not as young as you gentlemen
thought" Carver explained pleasantly.
l.You see. | took q course in mineral
bgy at college, and when | bought this
nine | knew II was simply matter
bf working until | struck Baldwin
blyke. That's what I've done. But
IN no hog. and | realize that | got
his mine cheap. Any time YOU TWO
gentlemen wish TO hand me $4,000
Tor half interest. you're welcome 10
tio So"
Carver still refused to let anyone go
lown in the mine except himself ana
Did Jack, but Moves and Bgby re-
pnained al the Strike for two weeks
and presided at the windlass. In that
lime. as Noyes calculated, they bad
flrawn ND more than $4,000 worth OF
Nock and thought il safe To pass over
he $4,000 and take deed To half
interest
Carver. old Jack, Noyes and Bigby
rent into town and there the deal
Vas contaminated.
Jacob served seven years for
Rachel" Carver remarked. as they all
stood in the bank. and I've served
seven months at hard labor to con-
fince certain old gentleman back
EAST that I've got brains enough TO