The Washington herald., 1909-07-18

he muttered for the hundredth time as ne
neared the little town of Ouray Il am
surely due for a change of luck. I've got
20 win: that's al there is to il"
On reaching the hotel he threw the
bride over the horses head. vaulted
lightly TO the ground. and br.skly entered
the Office. The clerk was not back OF the
desk. and Baldwin stood in front Of It
and looked eagerly at the "B' box. There
was one letter in IT, Was II for him? He
was meditating a leap over the barrier
when the clerk appeared.
SIS that letter mine, Jack?'' impatiently
demanded Tom Baldwin. not for mo-
ment taking his eyes from Il.
Leisurely the clerk turned 20 the boxes
and took from its place the letter which
had so riveted Baldwin's attention. With
a careless glance al the address he hand
ed It 10 the new arrival
1T came this morning he said.
Tom Baldwin ripped of the envelope.
and as he read a flush OF pleasure came
10 his face
The letter which thus excited the owner
and discovered OF the IAttle Uncompha
gre mine in the hills back Of Telluride
read as follows:
Oace OF Briscom & Storey.
New York City May
Thomas Baldwin. ESQ., Ouray Colo
DEER SIR: letter from London informs us that
the Anglo American Mining Investment Company
viii consider the purchase Of your Little Uucom-
rhsgre mine II you viii reduce your Price from
$4,000 20 Ss0,el0 We advise you 10 dc 50. and
also suggest that yce come 70 New York and meet
their representative who sails shortly for this city
Please wire your decision; also advise when
may expect you. Very truly. ). p BRISCOM.
He went 10 q seat on the vernada and
again read the letter.
THAT means that the dearest little
woman a& I will be married IN Denver on
the 18th OF next September" he joyously
reflected Il was beginning to fear that
we'd have TO wait. but now I've got a
photograph in my head of the two OF US
sitting out on the deck OF a steamship as
she plows past Gibraltar and heads for
those isles we used to see in the school
Biographies.
The Little UncOmpahgre was a prop
erty requiring considerable money for its
proper development. and until now the
good fortune which favored others in in
teresting investors seemed bent on tan
talizing Baldwin by dangling capital be-.
fore his eyes. only to flip It out Of reach
when he grasped for it.
His parents were dead. and the settling
OF his fathers estate left the boy with a
few thousand dollars and theoretical
knowledge Of mining acquired in an IiI-
MOS technical school. Baldwin had nc
wealthy relatives and no influential men,
tor, but he had youth. strength, good
looks. ambition. and daring-a little too
much Of the latter. perhaps He went 70
Denver. obtained a foothoId there. and
then tempted fate b. falling wildly in love
with Florence Reeves. The recklessness
OF this infatuatiOn is manifested when Il
is told that the paternal Reeves was a
well-to-do banker. and by the further fact
that the~s and heir of smelter mag
nate was paying desperate court 20 this
Charming daughter OF Colorado.
TO the surprise Of Denver social circles.
the dismay OF the banker and his wife,
and 70 the sorrow and chagrin of the
young millionaire suitor. Tom Baldwin,
whose fortune yet lay hidden In the
mountains to the west. easily won favor
Ia the eyes Of Florence Reeves.
The parents Of this fair young lady
eagerly humored her whim to study paint
ing, and bundled her of TO New York
with the shrewd purpose OF placing half
the width Of a continent between her and
the young mining engineer. Tom plunged
into the mountains. and after many ex-
periences and disappointments discovered
the rich ore Of the mine he later named
the Little Uncomphagre. For a year and
more he and Florence had exchanged let
ters which increased in length. frequency.
and ardor. out when the ore was tested I
he wrote a triumphant one which insisted |
that his fortune was assured, and in Il he
declared MS undying love. asked for hers
IN return. and begged her to name the
day-all IN one letter, inspired by the dis
covery of an innOcent-appearing streak
OF rock at the far end Of a long and black
tunnel.
Cf course. Florence did not grant all
these fervid appeals at once but Tom
finally received for a Christmas present
the tender promise which made him su-
premely happy, and it was arranged that
the wedding should be celebrated on her
twentieth birthday, September u. Where
upon Florence returned 10 New York and
her art and Tom 70 his search for an in |
vestor with faith in the future OF the Lit
tie UncOmphagre.
Finally the representative of Briscom & !
Storey was induced 20 make an investi- !
tons were opened with London capital
lists. with the eventual sending Of the let
ter which lifted Tom BaIdwin's hopes to
the seventh heaven
Beautiful were the castles he built in
those days pending his Journey to New
York. and as the train bore him swiftly |
toward the metropolis he added new
do
lection Of fragile edihces.
Tom took out his wallet and laughed as
he counted its contents-ss10 It was all |
the money he had in the world. but II was |
enough He was well satisfied with his
shrewdness in leading BriscOm & Storey /
20 believe in HIS affluence He had even /
threatened 10 call on all negotiations and /
proceed to put $4,000. or some such alb
srrd amount. OF his own money in a |
stamp mill and in the further develop
ment Of the mine.
Thomas Baldwin. Denver, Colo" was 4
the inscription which appeared on the
register Of one Of New Yorks great ho-
tells on May Is. He was in no hurry to /
call on Briscom & Storey II was well 10 /
give them TO understand that little mat
ter Ike 100000 did not excite him, and be- 1
sides. the fair Florence was far more in
teresting
Tom chartered 6n automobile and from /
Il entered her studio. Their happy greet /
Ing over. he carried her away in triumph /
and INDUCED in a preliminary inspection /
of the parks and show places OF the great /
city. Tom lay back IN the tonneau. the /
dearest girl in all the world by his side,
the purring Of the huge machine and her
sweet accents music in his ears. the glo-
ries Of a radiant May day adding to his
bliss The world had surrendered at his /