River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-08-26


CT my temporary hard luck, business
was business and trade was trade.
He reminded me that the Shaw1neck
property was still there to be worked
and that l might go and try to get
some one to buy more of the develop
ment stock and put up the money for
digging deeper"
well, you've been properly stung,
Tommy" continued Floyd, "but maybe
we can get even. Cleland and l had
just been talking about a little trip
through the Nevada camps. Your
story has decided me. I'm going up
to get acquainted with your friend,
Maj. Skinner. He's man well worth
knowing, especially as he has got lots
of money. Bring me in the $4,000
shares of stock you hold in the Shawl
neck. 1t will give me an excuse for
getting acquainted with Maj Skinner.
I'll see that you get your stock back,
but I've an idea that I will own what
ever portion of the Shawlneck prop
erty that Maj. Skinner now has, before
l leave this part of the country. And
by the way, 1 will let you have $500
on account of that debt of George
Stewards and you can write him to
that effect and ask him to send along
the thousand he owes. He'll do it all
right. Tell your wife that there is a
good chance of her getting back that
$4,000 she said good-by to in the near
future and maybe We'll open up the
Shawlneck again."
Tommy Jackson hurried away to
carry the good news of his meeting
with Floyd to his young wife and when
he had taken his departure actually
smiled in contemplation of the game
he saw ahead for Floyd and himself
to play. Col. Powley was informed of
the change in plans of his companions
that night and announced that he would
return alone to Chicago.
The town of Rawhide was Haunting
itself upon the mining map of Nevada
and being doomed in the outside world
as one of the richest discoveries of a
decade. Though but yearling in age,
it boosted an alleged frst-class hotel,
a bank, several Offices of mining COM
panies with high sounding titles and
the usual number of saloons with the
customary attachments of gambling
houses.
Doc Floyd and Jack Cleland arrived
in the camp with enough money in
their pockets and travelling belts to
buy up few mining claims, but after
one look at the bank they concluded
| n nj 11nir
were few changes of raiment in Jack
Cleland's travelling trunk, but there
were other things more useful to him
in the way of gambling paraphernalia.
Floyd demanded three rooms in the
hotel and by paying an exorbitant
price was able to get one large enough
to fit up as a gambling room in addi-
ton to the living rooms required for
the two partners.
The morning after the arrival of
these two modern Jasons in the new
gold fields Maj. Skinner was sitting
in his up-to-date Office next door to
the State bank building. He had just
finished digesting the statement of
his financial condition which his one
clerk had prepared for him and was
full of proud satisfaction. Things
were indeed coming his way. Every
thing his indian fingers touched had
seemed to turn to gold within the past
six months. WherefSre the major
wore a pleased expression when Doc
Floyd, new arrival from the east in
search of mining investments, was
ushered into his presence by his Sec
rotary and man of all work.
The neatly engraved card which
Floyd presented gave no inkling of
his business to the man Of affairs in
Rawhide, but the presence of its
bearer was at once commanding and
engaging. The major at once put him
down as one well able to take care
of his end of any deal into which he
might enter. He was fiattered when
Floyd told him that he had sought him
out in quest of advice.
II am indeed, pleased to be at your
service, sir" the mining man an
nounced. at the same time producing
a box of the best cigars that could be
had in San Francisco and inviting
his caller to smoke. What can I do
for you?"
81 understand that you own the
controlling interest in a little piece
of property down in Goldfield, called
the Shawlneck," said Floyd. 81 don't
think much of the propert. which
looked over a few days ago, even if it
does seem to be we'll located How
ever, I've seen some of the stock Ger.
tificates and they are a work of art.
, I'd buy a wagon load of them or so if
the price was right"
The major noted the smile on the
face of his caller and wondered what
game he was up against. He was keen
enough to know that here was man
who would not buy gold brick, We,
here he was speaking of purchasing
worthless stock. He decided that
there was no use in claiming any
value for the Shawlneck mine. Be
ing in good humor, however, he an.
. nounced:
"Well, if you want to buy me out
I reckon we won't have much trouble
in making a trade. Why, I'd almost
play you a game of seven up for the
whole layout"
"Ha, ha,' laughed Floyd. $50 you're
game for little sporting proposition,
are you? I always did like to see a
4 rho xry0r1lI FOL ohonao Tgx~o