The new era., 1909-09-02
By JOHN RvNsc DAY

will, now that you have given me a
piece of good news. To tell you the
truth, I'm up against 1t hard. It's
tough thing to say but haven't had
anything but hard luck since got
married, year ago this spring"
"And you are married. are you?"
I'm glad to hear that. It's good thing
for you, but I'm sorry II you're hav-
ing run of tough luck. But I want
you to tell me about what happened
your fortune in"
well, that won't take long to tell"
replied the young man. Il was the
easy mark for cid Maj Skinner, one
Of the slickest mining promoters that
ever got money for pieces of paper.
Everybody around this town had the
gold fever here a year or so ago and
when got married my wife and
took a trip up to tho wild country
just for a change. L had months
vacation coming to me and was crazy
to see the town of Goldfield that I'd
heard so much about We went up
there and that was where we first met
Maj Skinner. The major was man
of affairs and pretended to take a
great interest in us as young mar
ried couple.
Il don't know how 1t ever happened.
but the major talked me into his net
just as easy as catching trout in the
Truckee. We had $4,000, most of
which was my wife's money. The
major had the Shawlneck mining
claim which he had capitalized at a
million dollars. with a million shares
with a par value of 81 each. He pro-
fessed to be a little short of ready
money to either promote the stock or
! go ahead with the development on the
property. My $1,000 looked good to
him and he hypnotized me SO that his
proposition looked like quick way
of getting hold of a fortune to me.
The strike came and then the
financial panic. The Shawlneck was
given up as bad proposition and
was broke. Maj. Skinner, still had my
$4,000. and when the panic came he
picked up another piece of property
in the new camp of Rawhide that is
making him one of the richest men in
the state of Nevada. l had given up
my job to make fortune In Goldfield
and when I was cleaned out and came
back here and tried to get back in
| the railroad ONCE was informed that
they didn't care to have a man who
had been mixed up In a wildcat min
ing proposition. You see some Of the
people had bought stock in the Shawl
neck ON my recommendation and
couldn't blame them for being sore
/ AynI kH,Hks rk, <H,k
all, guess"
"And you say Mai. Skinner has
struck 1t rich?" inquired Floyd when
young jackson had finished his story.
Wouldn't he put your stock back or
give you a chance in his new propo-
sition?"
mo, when wrote him about the
position was in here, he simply re-
piled that while he was sorry to learn
of my temporary hard luck, business
was business and a trade was trade.
He reminded me that the Shawlneck
property was still there to be worked
and that might go and try to get
some one to buy more of the develop
digging deeper"
well. you've been properly stung.
Tommy" continued Floyd. but maybe
we can get even. Cleland and | had
Just been talking about little trip
through the Nevada camps. Your
story has decided me. I'm going up
to get acquainted with your friend.
Mai. Skinner. He's a 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 Mai. Skinner
I'll see that you get your stock back
but I've an idea that l will own what
ever portion of the Shawlneck prop
erty that Maj. Skinner now has. beiure
leave this part of the country. And
by the way, 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 1t all
right. Tell your wife that there Is a
good chance of her getting back that
$1,000 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
4 itself upon the mining map. of Nevada
and being boomed In the outside world
as one OF the richest discoveries OF a
decade. Though but yearling In age.
1t boasted an alleged hrst-class hotel.