The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-05-21
rnE SECOND eNocH ARoEn
written for the 0cala Banner
By A. Finley Joyner. Jr.)


Yes. darling" said Hal, 1T has got
90 be done. as can't find a thing to
do here that viii keep US alive, and
conditions are not very likely to i'm
prove. 30 guess I will leave for Den
yer as soon as can get straight.
can sell our furniture, and that will be |
enough to pay my fare there and start
me a few days. You can stay with
your sister until you hear from me,
then you can come out to see me, and
II you like we will stay out there.
II is a good country out there, you
know. and il | get good work it will
pay me TO stay out there instead of
here. You know the doctor said that
IL I kept so close TO business in the
Office IL would soon wear me out, and
I was only getting enough then to
keep us going, and save a few dollars
a month"
We'll. dear" said his wife, If you
must go | guess you must go, but /
certainly dislike the idea of you go
ing out there and working with that
class of men. but If you think it is
for the best, don't let me keep you
from going"
II was in the year 1879, when the
panic was raging so terribly, and Hal
Durant had been let out on account
of business stagnatiOn, and had been
trying to get work in the city, but
there was nothing there to do except
a few extra jobs, which would not
keep them alive.
Hal Durant had married a few
months before with high hopes of a
raise and better times, and the pres
ent conditions weighed heavily on his
mind. He had finally decided 20 go
out west and seek work out there. He
had recommendations from his for
mer employer to the mining firm of
WyckOff & Steinberger of Denver,
and was going to them for position
An their mine in THE yellow Streak
and had high hopes.
IL seemed hard to have TO break up
the little home. just begun to get
hOmelike to him. and he felt a bitter
pang M every piece of furniture he
was compelled 60 sell
After the talk with his wife, he
went 90 see his friend and former
roommate. Jim Whitney, an enter
prising Young doctor i'm the village, to
see IL he could not effect loan of a
few dollars until he should be able to
pay him from his earnings in the
yellow Streak"
he was received very cordially by
his friend. who was only too glad to
advance him the amount asked for.
Soon all was completed and he was
an his way TO Denver.
After reaching Denver he was
shown to the Office of Wyckoff &
Steinberger by a man sent to meet
him.
tie was received very cordially by
Mr. Wyckof. and was sent out to the
yellow Streak" mine the same day
ON his arrival at the mines he was
met by the foreman and assigned t.
his duties. AS he was going to his
boarding house after work that night
he was accOsted by a miner who was
an honest-loOking fellow. and the!
talked together on the way to tbs
boarding house. The next mOrnin;
he met the same man, and they walk
ed together as far as the Office. ant
as they separated the miner, who's
name was Blossman. said: Meet m
al the Red Blossom saloon tonight a
eight O'Clock: / have something YER
important to tell YOU
"AIl right" said Durant. Il will b
there
Good said the miner. Don
fail TO be there at eight" and passe
on.
After supper that night Duran
went over to the Red Blossom saloo
and found the miDer waiting for hin
Come outside: | wish to speak [
You" he said. and Duran followe
him for some distance from the S;
loon.
Can l trust you with a secret, Nj
Durant." he asked.
Certainly" answered Durant, ''bu
why an this secrecy"
4 believe YOU 10 be an honest MAJ
Mr. .Durant. and l am going to trus
you. I have discovered a vein a fe'
miles from here. and from all appear
ances il is a very valuable mine.
have not got very much money, an
can't start to working on the min
until get some. Will you go in wit
me and work the mine with me unit
We get enough money to run it on a
active scale?? We can take out pa
~. o.. la ana %, ~ H., 90. IL,