Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1909-04-02
EPSTINE
BECOMES VICTIM
OF own JOKE
is CALLED FROM HIS BED BY
CROWD OF APRIL FOOL
JOKERS.
April fool!

Not today, but yesterday. And
many were the schemes for catching
the unwary which if successful. re-
suited in one big laugh at some poor
fellow who happened to forget the
date. The best of all was conceived
by Harry Epstine, the broker, who
exhibited a specimen in the window
of his Office that was literally plast-
cred with gold. The plastering was
work of art and was done by genial
Jones, the painter.
The rock attracted great deal of
attention and many after a short
examination from the sidewalk
would walk inside the office for a
better view, which usually resulted
in a quick departure or cordial in
vitation to hoist one
F. G. Warehouse, general mana
ger of the Nevada Telephone-Tele-
graph company, was attracted to the
window by the large and curious
crowd and after short glance walk
ed inside for more particulars. After
hearing how a new strike had been
made within ten feet of the surface
and that the specimen assayed
$19S,000 to the ton, he became in
terested and picking up the high
grade for closer inspection.
by jove, but that is a pretty piece
of rock" exclaimed Mr.. WaterhoNse.
Looks like a Pioneer specimen,
stated Senator Zeb Kendall, who is
well informed on mines and mining.
mo, it looks more like Round
Mountain high grade,'' contested
George Thatcher, who delves into
mining occasionally,
well, let's get an auto and go to
the strike" suggested Jim began,
who had been caught shortly before
and was now trying to get even.
I'm with YOU" responded Zeb,
and both gentlemen liked out to Sc
cure a machine.
All this time Mr.. Waterhouse con-
tinued to examine the gold plastered
|piece of quartz, and when he finally
managed to scrape off a small par
ticle of the gold leaf he became
suspicious, and when the crowd
started to laugh he realized he had
been stung.
But it was a pretty piece of rock
at that" he stated as he led the way
to the thirst emporium with the
crowd at his heels. "And l was
thinking of building telephone line
to the secene of the strike" he said
sadly as he journeyed back to the
Office with the bunch, to wait for a
new victim.
This happened to be Charles Wit
[tenberg, who heard Of the strike
while down at the depot. He enter
ed the Office on the run and grabbed
the sample from the window. One
glance was enough for Charley, for
he recollected that the had business
down the street.
Jack Mcnamara was also affected
with curious mind and was giving
expert testimony concerning the val
ne of the specimen when the horrible
realization of being buncoed dawned
upon him.
The best part of the affair hap
pened about IL O'Clock last night
when one of the bunch telephoned
to Harry Epstine that somebody had
broken the front window of his Of
flee and stolen the valuable speci-
men. Hastily donning his clothes he
came down the street on the run.
Quite a crowd had assembled to wit
ness Harry's arrival, the majority of
them being the ones who had been
caught during the day and were now
thirsting for revenge. They receiv-
edit, for Harry arrived breathless
and after one short glance at the
large plate glass window that fronts
his Office, he knew he had been
duped and straightway led the re-
vengeful ones into a thirst empor-
iun.